Towing with an automatic?

vweddy69 · Post by **vweddy69** » 20th March 2016 - 1:41pm

Hi all, our 1970 Sq is an automatic and we had planned to occassionally tow our Eriba Puck. Just learned that the original spec stated you should not tow a trailer with an auto. Amyone else out there with this set up? Have you towed or can anyone advise on the risks.

Many thanks,

Post by **937carrera** » 20th March 2016 - 5:46pm

Fundamentally I think it's down to the additional load, mechanical drag and consequential risks of overheating the torque converter.

You say a trailer (as opposed to a caravan). What sort of size / mass are you talking about. If it's only a couple of hundred kilos, then I would suggest that that is no different to a couple of adults and their luggage inside the car.

ps - just seen a reference to Eriba Puck and a quick google says that is going to be 536-700kg, so more than a couple of hundred kilos and a large proportion of the tow car mass. That's part of the problem with our eco-friendly lightweight cars

jmarkha1 · Post by **jmarkha1** » 21st March 2016 - 9:54am

I was concerned about using an auto to tow a trailer and also how it would handle extra power from the 2 ltr engine.
After lots of reading online the TC is apparently very tough but as 937carerra points out - heat will end up damaging the autobox.
I would keep the weight low and ideally add a n oil cooler to the autobox to keep it happy...

JSR-69 · Post by **JSR-69** » 21st March 2016 - 8:42pm

The original type 4 owner's manual says you should ask your dealer to make an adjustment to the box before towing ... I expect knowledge of the adjustment has become lost in the mists of time ... unless anyone can turn up a workshop manual on the subject?

Judi R

vweddy69 · Post by **vweddy69** » 23rd March 2016 - 8:28am

Thanks for the advice, going to find out about a cooler option and luckily we use a old school Vdub garage for servicing and will ask there for more advice.

s.unsworth · Post by **s.unsworth** » 20th July 2016 - 1:37pm

I don`t think I have a Type 4 Specific Instruction Manual any more but The Type 3 one says :-

Permissible Trailer Weights Trailer without brakes ( is that legal now ? ) Sedan 465 kg. Variant 490 kg

Trailer with brakes Sedan 800 kg Variant 800 kg

There is a whole page on Trailer Towing with the VW 1600 Automatic but no mention of having an adjustment made for towing by your VW Dealer. There is a warning against using engine braking for a long time, instead of using the Brakes, because prolonged slippage of the Torque Converter would cause the fluid to heat up excessively and damage the Seals in the Transmission. As far as I am aware the Type 3 and Type 4 Auto Transmission are the same, unless the Diff Ratio is different ? The only difference I know of is in the Type 3 and Type 4 Drive Plates.

Steve

Towing with an automatic?

Towing with an automatic?

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