- method of full loading of a faulty vehicle onto a tow truck platform (preferably);
- partial loading method (one axle on a hanging shelf of the tow truck, and the other one either on a special trolley or on the ground), subject to the restrictions below.
Please note the following restrictions:
- it is forbidden to tow without lifting the front wheels off the ground if there is no oil in the gearbox, or if the gearbox is damaged;
- it is forbidden to tow without lifting the front wheels off the ground if the steering wheel is locked with a discharged battery;
- models with a manual transmission without taking the drive wheels off the ground can only be towed at a speed of no more than 50 km / h and at a distance of no more than 50 km;
- models with DSG without taking the drive wheels off the ground can only be towed as a last resort, only in position "N", only at a speed of not more than 50 km / h and at a distance of not more than 50 km (otherwise the DSG may be damaged as oil pump not working in neutral);
- when towing models with all-wheel drive by partial loading (hanging front or rear axle) the engine must be off.
Preparing for towing
Note: Remember to comply with the legal requirement to turn on the exterior lights on the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle.
Removable towing eye (with left hand thread) included in the on-board tool kit (see illustration 4) and, if necessary, is screwed into the front or rear bumper. The hole for the towing eye is covered by a plug on the right side of the corresponding bumper. To remove the plug, press down on its bottom edge, carefully pry the plug from below, pull it out and let it hang (see illustrations 9a-b). Screw the eye firmly into the hole located behind the plug until it stops. To do this, it is convenient to insert a wheelbrace into the eyelet. At the end of towing, the eye should be unscrewed, cleaned and placed in the on-board tool kit. When installing the plug, push in the top of the plug and then the bottom.
9a Screwing the towing eye into the front bumper
9b Screwing the towing eye into the rear bumper
Attention: It is not allowed to use the towing eyes for other purposes (when transversely directed forces act on them), e.g. to lift a car; the connection of a rigid tow bar to the front of the vehicle is also not permitted.
Before towing, make sure that the steering column lock is released, put the transmission in neutral and release the parking brake. The ignition must be on so that the steering wheel is not locked, and the brake lights, direction indicators, windshield wipers and horn are operational.
Note: If the ignition is on but the engine is not running, the brake booster and power steering will not work either. Therefore, you will have to depress the brake pedal and turn the steering wheel with more effort than would be required with the engine running. The activated alarm is automatically turned off for the duration of the direction indicators.
It is most reasonable to tow on a rigid hitch, but in this case the towing eyes on both vehicles must be installed on the same side. If this condition is not met, lateral forces will act on the vehicle, and when cornering, the tow bar may damage the body. When towing on a flexible hitch, use only a specially designed elastic cable for this purpose.
Before driving, the drivers of both vehicles (towing and towed) the itinerary must be agreed upon.
Towing to start the engine
Note: Try starting the engine with the auxiliary battery first (see below). DSG models cannot be started by towing or pushing; on models with manual transmission, when starting the engine by towing, to avoid the possibility of damage to the catalytic converter, the towing distance should not exceed 50 m, and the engine should not be warmed up.
Note: It is not allowed to start the engine by towing on models with the system "KESSY" (Steering column lock may not disengage), as well as with a discharged battery (the engine control unit may not work satisfactorily).
Turn on the hazard warning lights if necessary.
Turn on the ignition (see chapter "Controls and methods of operation").
Engage 2nd or 3rd gear and depress the clutch pedal. When both vehicles are moving, slowly engage the clutch (release the pedal).
As soon as the engine starts, depress the clutch pedal and shift out of gear to avoid colliding with the towing vehicle.
Emergency vehicle towing
Note: Please note the limitations listed at the beginning of the section "Transportation of the emergency vehicle" (see above).
The driver of the towing vehicle should try to move as evenly as possible, releasing the clutch smoothly when changing gears and especially when starting off.
When driving a towed vehicle, make sure that during the movement the cable remains taut at all times, try to avoid sharp jerks and collisions with a loose cable.
Movement should be carried out along the shortest route. Observe traffic rules, avoid sudden braking, acceleration and excessive maneuvering. Be aware that when towing your vehicle on the edge of a dirt road, there is always a risk of drifting to the side of the road.