So I'm sitting in the back of my 300td at a dealership , probably going to sleep here tonight.

It all started when I tightened the parking brake a turn or so earlier today. Test drive it and seemed okay and the brake was working, which hadn't been the case since I bought the car. About 50 miles into the 80 mile drive I needed to make tonight, I started losing power, as I'm pulling over to check I out I smell burning brakes. Left rear was red hot, right rear catching fire. Got it put out but that was a scary few minutes.

After letting things cool I fired it up and tested the brakes - fluid leaking out of right rear caliper. I backed the brakes off and Free tow via geico to the nearest dealership. Then when we take it off the tow truck, it won't go into gear!! Not reverse or fwd. nothing. I'm freaking out.

The way he towed it was to lift the front end, put it in neutral, and go with the rear wheels rolling. Is the driveline supposed to be disconnected? Is it possible that he screwed something up?

The transmission was working when it went onto the tow truck because we had to move it a few feet (fwd and reverse). But is it possible I burned it with the extra drag from the brakes?

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Aaron
85' 300 TD

I have read that you should not tow it in neutral and that you should disconnect the DS but I don't know why. How fair was it towed?

Sticking rear brakes is a known failure mode of the master cylinder. It is suspicious this happened after messing with the parking brake, but then it shouldn't have taken 50 miles to heat up. Either way you are looking at the same damage - calipers, pads, rotors, lines, and probably sway bar links.

The car cannot be towed with the rear wheels on the ground. If the front pump is not turning - it's powered by the engine - lack of lubrication will destroy the trans.

I should know that. I just read the whole 722.118 rebuild thread.

Sounds like the OP has a destroyed trans, but that it wasn't his fault.

Sorry what do you mean by front pump?

It was only towed about 3 miles I guess. This guy is supposed to know what he's doing and I trusted him. Now my transmission is destroyed?

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Aaron
85' 300 TD

These cars have pumps in the transmission to circulate the fluid. If the back wheels are turning, so is something in the transmission. With out the motor spinning the front of the transmission, the front pump is not pumping.

I don't think it is destroyed from 3 miles. I think the owners manual talks about starting these by towing while pulling it in neutral. You have some time, see what the manual says.

How fast was it towed?

Sixto
87 300D

Thanks for that explanation. It wasn't towed at more than 40 miles per hour. Town driving.

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Aaron
85' 300 TD

I can't believe a tow truck driver would so stupid as to (a) tow any RWD car from the front, where circumstances did not demand it, and (b) to do so without using dollies (tow wheels) to ensure the rear wheels were off the ground.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Checking the manual it says a short tow under 30mph is okay with driveline connected. But it also says to be sure the best way is to disconnect. If this turns out to be a total transmission failure do I still have a case against the tow company?

I figure I'm basically kissing this car goodbye if the transmission is shot...

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Aaron
85' 300 TD

Well, that is a whole speed limit zone change where I come from. 30-40 mph translates to 48-64 km/h.

How did you adjust the parking brake? I just did this and it was simple.....don't push the emergency peddle down, keep it up.....tighten the stars, then loosen them two turns....

I don't think you have a case with the tow truck driver, would assume the problem was already created and it just gave it the finally push.....but if you told him the rear brakes were locked up, hints the tow....and he didn't flat bed it....then I can see a case...

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for 3 miles i probably would have taken the risk, the tow truck driver should not have

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"NEW" 1984 300D TD needs some love

So, to get this straight... you call in the tow truck, due to rear brakes locking up / catching fire and he tows you with those wheels on the ground.... yup sounds like he was an idiot. and I do think you would have a case. You don't even see those types of tow trucks around here anymore, everything is flatbed.

The manual says anything under 30 "might" be safe. He did over 30... again. his lack of knowledge and again his fault. Just like the law, a lack of knowledge is no defense. I would be all over them about this.

The small detail in the story that should not be overlooked is that the transmission was fine, even as he tells the story, the tow truck driver can't even dispute it.... They drove the car to maneuver it to hook up.

Does the fact that the car is old and he very well could have chopped the life of the transmission down by driving till the brakes started on fire seem a valid arguement, to the fact that, until the car came under the care of the tow company...the transmission was still working. I would say that the flip arguement the tow truck company could use about driving with locked up brakes is heresay since the transmission was still undisputably working.

I think he has a case, the transmission was working and they can't prove it was'nt with the tow truck driver himself as a witness against himself.

Worked when hooked up...did'nt work after towing it with the back wheels on the ground.

Phone some tow truck companies and ask their policy on towing rear wheel drive cars and why they don't do it with the rear wheels of rear wheel drive cars on the ground anymore. If they tell you because it burns out the tranny, then you have your answer.

Then go to the owner of the tow truck company that towed your car, ask him his policy, then reiterate the point in front of the actual guy that towed your car in front of his boss...tell him they owe you a tranny installed...video tape the whole thing and put it on you tube.