1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

issues with Prius being towed

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Former Member 68813, Nov 25, 2012.

  1. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Once I let my daughter drive my Prius on a longer trip as her car has no warranty and is not as fuel efficient.

    She parked illegally overnight and the car was towed away. I have no knowledge how the car was towed, but the distance was fairly short, several miles. There is no damage to the car that I can see.

    Does anyone know if the towing companies always use flat bed trucks for Prius towing and if not, how easy is it to damage Prius drivetrain by towing?

    This brings a memory when my wife's car, AWD Subaru, was in an accident and the tow track driver was planning to drag it on rear wheels. Fortunately, I intervened as AWD should be towed on a flat bad. Obviously the tow truck driver knew that too, but he didn't care.
     
    #1 Former Member 68813, Nov 25, 2012
  2. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    4,591
    5,292
    0
    Location:
    Palmdale, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    If they pick it up from the fnt wheels, the it was just a matter of releasing the parking brake......if it was applied.

    Now of it was picked up from the rear wheels, I hope that they used a dolly to set the fnt wheels on. If it was a smart tow truck driver, maybe he released the parking pawl which can be done from inside the fuse box.

    Either way, if they dragged it, u would see/feel a flat spot on the front wheels. If this is the case, I would file a claim for damages.
     
    #2 sfv41901, Nov 25, 2012
  3. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    How would they release the brake if car was locked?
     
    #3 Former Member 68813, Nov 25, 2012
  4. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    4,591
    5,292
    0
    Location:
    Palmdale, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Use a slim jim to open the driver door
     
    #4 sfv41901, Nov 25, 2012
  5. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    If that's the case, I shouldn't worry.

    Suffice to say, no prius for my daughter since that.
     
    #5 Former Member 68813, Nov 25, 2012
  6. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    4,591
    5,292
    0
    Location:
    Palmdale, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I would check under the engine for damage since the arm that sits under the engine is pretty close, if they went over any bumps it would have hit the bottom
     
    #6 sfv41901, Nov 25, 2012
  7. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    What arm?
     
    #7 Former Member 68813, Nov 25, 2012
  8. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2003
    5,339
    917
    251
    Location:
    Surprise, AZ (Phoenix)
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    If the car was locked and forcibly unlocked, an "alarm" would have sounded for sure.

    That all said, if the parking brake wasn't engaged, then it's just a matter of lifting the front wheels. Otherwise, jacking up the rear and placing it on a tow-dolly eliminates the need to "break and enter".

    Even if the parking prowl was disengaged, towing wheels-down is bad-news for the transmission as there's high risk of over-spinning MG1 (the smaller generator) beyond a certain speed (42-46mph).
     
    #8 HTMLSpinnr, Nov 25, 2012
  9. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    4,591
    5,292
    0
    Location:
    Palmdale, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Agreed

    Then why hasn't mine ever sounded on both my gen2 & gen3?

    The One that lifts the wheels
     
    #9 sfv41901, Nov 25, 2012
  10. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2003
    5,339
    917
    251
    Location:
    Surprise, AZ (Phoenix)
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Mod note: Please click reply on all posts before completing the post vs. posting 3 small responses!
    When I lock my car w/ the fob (or via interior switch, then close the last door), then my kids try to get out some seconds later (unlocking the car in the process), the horn will sound and lights will flash. Perhaps VIP is required now...
     
    #10 HTMLSpinnr, Nov 25, 2012
  11. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    4,591
    5,292
    0
    Location:
    Palmdale, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    This has never worked......guess I'm going to visit my dealer
     
    #11 sfv41901, Nov 25, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)