Towing damage
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 20
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Towing damage
84 C4 cranked fine no fuel injectors no spray no problem flatbed tow truck 21 miles. driver strapped my wheels down and left car in park ok eng will not turn over not even with breaker bar on crank bolt. what damage could he have done while towing in park. anyone please any ideas anyone else ever run across similar situation
Last edited by rbrown6000; Aug 31, 2025 at 10:51 PM. Reason: miss spell
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,206
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From: LeClaire Iowa
If the car was on a flatbed the number of miles it went does not matter. I can't believe anyone operating a flatbed tow truck would pull a Corvette up on the flatbed in park unless it was an emergency and they could not put it in neutral. You need to explain better what happened. Dan
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2025
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I am sorry if there was a miss understanding. the car was in neutral when he winched it up on too the bed then after the tow I got into the car on the bed to steer it down that's when I noticed the car was in park the entire tow distance strapped the wheels down and towed the car in park when we winched the car back down
in neutral put it back in park now turn the car over Hurd a big clunk eng is seized it seems something is jammed won't turn over now put socket on crank bolt won't budge was trying to figure out what may have damaged the eng trans. I haven't raised the car yet too take a look any idea would help
in neutral put it back in park now turn the car over Hurd a big clunk eng is seized it seems something is jammed won't turn over now put socket on crank bolt won't budge was trying to figure out what may have damaged the eng trans. I haven't raised the car yet too take a look any idea would help
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 592
From: New Port Richey FL
I have experience on both sides of the isle, I spent many years as a Corvette mechanic and several years driving a tow truck and I see no reason the tow has anything to do with a locked up motor
For some reason the car wound up on the truck, so what could make a Claimed to be a free spinning motor be locked up in transit nothing, except something that has Nothing to do with the tow Fluid Lock/Hydraulic lock wheath a water jacket or dumped fuel something could be doing it.
So pull the plugs and try,
Truthfully the truck is not to blame
For some reason the car wound up on the truck, so what could make a Claimed to be a free spinning motor be locked up in transit nothing, except something that has Nothing to do with the tow Fluid Lock/Hydraulic lock wheath a water jacket or dumped fuel something could be doing it.
So pull the plugs and try,
Truthfully the truck is not to blame
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,206
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From: LeClaire Iowa
It seems pretty normal to me. Winch the car up in neutral and put in park for the travel and put back in neutral for lowering back down. I don't think anyone here will be able to tell how your engine seized up from the info you have given. Might want to talk more about why it needed to be towed. Dan
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 592
From: New Port Richey FL
It seems pretty normal to me. Winch the car up in neutral and put in park for the travel and put back in neutral for lowering back down. I don't think anyone here will be able to tell how your engine seized up from the info you have given. Might want to talk more about why it needed to be towed. Dan
Not trucks fault
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: LeClaire Iowa
Your car is probably hydro-locked. Either coolant or gas. Do not try to start it. Pull the spark plugs and try to turn by hand. Report back what comes out of what cylinder. If you don't know how to do this your other option is have it towed again to a mechanic who does. Dan
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 592
From: New Port Richey FL
It will be Hydro-Locked, let's all admit it we have done. Giver ah crank while pouring a water bottle of gas down the throat goes just before cranking
Last edited by s carter; Sep 1, 2025 at 08:02 PM.
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From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
If the car was on a flatbed the number of miles it went does not matter. I can't believe anyone operating a flatbed tow truck would pull a Corvette up on the flatbed in park unless it was an emergency and they could not put it in neutral. You need to explain better what happened. Dan
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From: LeClaire Iowa
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2025
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Thankyou everyone I was thinking the same thing Hydro Locked I will pull plugs tomorrow and check strange though turned over fine until tow winching it up on the bed so rear cylinders most likely thank you everyone
