Towing AWD Legacy

[Matthew Reese]

I am wanting to tow my 1991 Legacy T with 'automatic transmission' about 4
miles on snow packed roads. The engine is out and I am about to put the
rebuilt engine back in after relocating the car into a warm garage! Will I
damage the vehicle in this distance at low speed? I have considered the FWD
fuse option but with the engine out I was hesitant to install the battery
and power the car up electrically with so many connections disconnected...

Thanks,

Matt Reese

[Todd A Erickson]

The FWD fuse only works when the car it operating. What I mean is when the motor is off, there is no hydraulic pressure to release. The AWD clutch pack is already dead. I’d still pull the rear drive shaft. What do you have holding the front hubs together? Without the axel shafts, the hub can come out of the bearing.

Todd Erickson
Total Performance Center, Inc.
"Todd the tuner. Can he tune it? Yes he can!!!"
Servicing the Minneapolis MN area.

[Josh Colombo]

I think the owners manual states you could tow it short distances at slow speed with all four on the ground. I would definitey check the owner's manual just to confirm it. I know manual trannies can be towed this way. The problem with autos is they use a force fed lubrication to the gears not a splash fed like the manual trannies. So by towing it without the car actually running & turning the torque converter you aren't technically getting any lubrication to the gears.

Josh

[arktechca]

Thanks for the replies. I will check the owner's manual Josh and to
give you a little more of my story Todd, my tranny and axles are
still in place. I left the torque convertor attached as well. Let me
know what you think. Is it difficult to remove that drive shaft?

Thanks,

Matt

[ciper_]

Realise, fwd fuse may disable the clutches BUT THEY ARE STILL IN CONTACT!!!

For example, if you insert the FWD fuse and run on a 2wd dyno with the rear wheels still damage will still occur, since they arent moving.