Towing

[tut]

Luke's Focus has slipped the cambelt so the engine will not start. Car is not worth much now especially with the re-arranged bodywork, and MOT is shortly due which it will not pass, so it is really a case of writing it off. It is parked at College in Middlesbrough, still taxed, MOT, and insured, so will need towing to hopefully a car dismantler. It has not missed a beat in two years and we were hoping to sell it to webuyanycar.com as we did for Clare's Ka, but that has fallen through now.

Question is can a Focus be towed with no engine, ie it will have no power steering which is probably OK, but would it lose the brakes as well?

tut

[mckeann]

my understanding is that you dont lose the brakes, you just lose the servo assistance. So they will work,they just need a very very hefty shove

[campbell]

Yes it will lose the brakes, or rather, they will be less responsive and need standing on a lot due to loss of servo assistance. Not impossible to tow, however, I'd have thought, with a bit of care and providing not over a huge distance.

[Dominic]

;

Steering will be heavy, and brakes will require a strong leg. Make sure the ignition key is turned on far enough to prevent the steering lock coming on. The tow car driver will need to remember that he / she can't stop too quickly. Should be fine for a short distance.... assuming you are not the driver doing the towing, Tut?

Other option would be to find out how much the scrappy / dismantler would charge to pick it up.

[tut]

Thanks guys, it will only be for a short distance.

Remember once years ago in fuel shortage days turning the engine off on a long downhill only to find that I had almost no steering or brakes.

tut

[tut]

You would think that Dismantlers would happily pay for a non crashed car. They would sell on the separate components for hundreds, I know as I bought several for Luke's car.

tut

[roadboy]

Tut,

I'll give you a call this afternoon about this and other stuff. Got no mobile at the minute so will have to wait till I get home.

Cheers

Dan

[tut]

Thanks Dan.

tut

[Corranga]

You could do the towing with a rigid bar rather than a rope, then the tow car does all the braking?

I've been towed in an old Punto with an engine that wouldn't run and it wasn't too bad. With sensible tow driver and knowing the pedal will be heavy, it was fine.

Chris

[BiggestNizzy]

Rigid bar is best, The rope just takes a little more care. my forst cars were all sheds so I have done alot of towing (First time I was young and stupid and towed a mini with drums all round in my metro with 4 pot calipers at 90 tuts so lucky the mini driver didn't end up sitting next to me ) I have also done it with a rope thats so short the cars were only 1' apart this wasn't helped by my mates kids pulling faces out the back window.

Last time I fell asleep

that should be me talked out of helping

[OlberJ]

Foldable A-frame is what you want.

It doesn't lift the wheels off the ground, just tows it and steers and you're fixed for braking too. Bars and ropes are too dodgy for me, even a short tow.

[kerryxeg]

Screwfix do a towing bar for £20. It's certainly not indistructable, but I've used one a few times without problem.

A dolly trolley is obviously best, but probably need a pro to provide and use - AA family cover?

[tut]

Thanks for all the advice, but looks as if we have a solution. He had already used the AA from the breakdown to the local garage. Did not phone me as I would have arranged for it to be brought home.

Phoned a local breakers and he will pay a minimum of £150 to take it away.

tut