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Ms Grit

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Gonna try to make this long story short . . .

About 10 days ago when I went to start my 2001 Ford Escape, approx 120-125K miles on it, I had no reverse. Still have no reverse. Tried to put it in neutral to push it out of the driveway, but neutral thinks it is DRIVE. Reverse thinks it is PARK. And every other gear thinks it is also DRIVE. My Escape is now as far forward in my driveway as it can possibly go. I have also been dealing with a cracked transfer case for the past 2 years and dumping in a quart of trans fluid every 6 weeks.

Anyway, stopped at 2 local transmission shops yesterday and was given 2 prices for a re-built trans plus a junk yard pulled transfer case. The prices were $600 apart so I decided it was time to call Uncle Walt, Loreng Transmission in Paterson, about 35 miles away from me in Budd Lake, but I've got to get it there.

I called Triple A this morning only to find out that A) I ONLY have the 3 mile towing B) Every mile after that will be $5.00 per mile and C) I MUST GO WITH THE VEHICLE. My next step was to call my Car Insurance Company. I know I used to have towing, but turns out that for whatever reason, I do not have towing now.

If I could somehow get the vehicle out of my driveway, I could probably drive it down to Paterson, but the wheels (4 wheel drive) are either locked in park or in drive. If I put a tow rope and drag it out with the boys car, won't I be damaging the tires?

Suggestions ? Advice ?
Anybody near me have a flatbead cheaper than $5.00 a mile ?
 
Robin , I can't help you but do NOT drag the vehicle out with your sons car. Not only will it damage the tires but could also further damage other parts of the drive train. I was not aware that triple A had a three mile limit on tows, I will have to check my policy. Good Luck with the vehicle.
 
I had a similar dilemma a few years ago but by upgrading my AAA membership to platinum level (i think that's what they called it) i was able to have the tow for free.
 
Hey look underneath where you drive shaft cable connects to trans and see if you can move it by hand . If able too then you should be able to find park ect . Fyi make sure u do not have vehicle running and that all wheels are blocked off from moving . Just turn the ignition on but do not start !!!!!
 
Sounds like the shifter cable broke .There is a clip in the end of the cable on the transmission side that keeps it in adjustment that probley wore out. If you pop the hood look on the drivers side of the engine compartment the top of the trans and the cable are located there under the air intake tube.The cable is attached to the trans with a ball clip by sticking a flathead screwdriver under the cable as close as you can to the shifter linkage on the trans and pry up the cable will pop off.At that point you can move the shifter by hand to what ever gear you want. All the way foward should be park 1 click back reavrse 2 clicks back neutral 3 clicks back drive 4 drive 2 and so on .A couple of safty tips you should have to people to do this on u der the hood and one in the car with foot on brake.Car should be off.If by yourself e brake on and chock the wheel. If you decide to drag it out it will not hurt the tires best way to do it is with some dish soap lube the tire behind the tire so it slides over it and makes it drag easy and lay a blanket on the tow rope while you are pulling so if it brakes the rope falls straight to the ground not at you or either car .Good luck.
 
I called Triple A this morning only to find out that A) I ONLY have the 3 mile towing

Option #1:

If you have any service station or auto repair shop within 3 miles of home, call AAA & tell them that's where you want the car towed. Just make sure that when they drop it off, there's enough room for you to exit the lot in "Drive", & you can get it where you need to go from there.

Option #2:

Borrow or rent a floor jack & tow dollies ...





You'll need a jack rated for your vehicle's weight & dollies under the drive wheels that are stuck in gear (either 2 or 4 dollies).

Simply jack up the vehicle 1 wheel at a time, & slide the dolly underneath as pictured above. Repeat until all drive wheels are supported by dollies, & then simply push your car into the street, oriented so that when you remove the dollies you're in a position to drive away (forward).

Wheel dollies are how tow truck drivers get vehicles out of difficult-to-tow places (parking garages, tight parallel parking spots, etc.) [up]
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Option #1:

If you have any service station or auto repair shop within 3 miles of home, call AAA & tell them that's where you want the car towed. Just make sure that when they drop it off, there's enough room for you to exit the lot in "Drive", & you can get it where you need to go from there.
Now I LIKE that idea [up]
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Like I said on face book it's the linkage that goes from the shifter down to the trans it prob just slipped out of place I wish I was closer I could fix that for u along with welding the crack
Had the crack "Dry Welded" 3 times. It never held. Problem first showed up several weeks after I bought the car and I was stuck with it. The place I bought it from tried to fix it repeatedly, but it always continued to leak. I just have to get it to my Uncle in Paterson and I know he will be honest and fair with me.
 
AAA+ is 100 mile tow and the membership fee is double that of AAA regular.

AAA platinum gives you one 200 mile tow and the others are 100 and costs three times the AAA regular.

AAA platinum also gives you a 1 day free rental car with tow and AAA+ does not.

IMHO platinum is not worth it, but Plus definitely is.
 
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