This Sucks!!!!!!!!!
and Weird! 
That totally sucks.Glad nobody got hurt.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,176
Likes: 0
From: Corona, California
It really sucks. It sounds like maybe an automatic, he didn't set the transfer case to N, just the transmission ? 
. I have read and heard on the news that it has happened before to tow trucks, when they tow a car with auto trans and they leave the traction wheels spinning (instead of towing the opposite way), driving for a long distance and through very hot weather it could lead to the trans fluid overheating.
"If the vehicle is a four-, rear- or all-wheel-drive, this usually means disconnecting or disengaging the drive shaft so the transmission doesn't overheat. Also, in the case of many vehicles with automatic transmissions, whether two-wheel-drive or otherwise, you can't just put the car in neutral, release the parking brake and get going .......The purpose of lube pumps for towing is to keep the towed vehicle's automatic transmission lubricated and cool. During operation, the radiator takes care of that job when the engine is running. However, when some vehicles are being towed, the engine is off but the transmission is still trying to keep up -- which can cause it to overheat."
Here is the link to this article:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-p....htm/printable
Good luck to this guy and RIP tho the JK
. I have read and heard on the news that it has happened before to tow trucks, when they tow a car with auto trans and they leave the traction wheels spinning (instead of towing the opposite way), driving for a long distance and through very hot weather it could lead to the trans fluid overheating."If the vehicle is a four-, rear- or all-wheel-drive, this usually means disconnecting or disengaging the drive shaft so the transmission doesn't overheat. Also, in the case of many vehicles with automatic transmissions, whether two-wheel-drive or otherwise, you can't just put the car in neutral, release the parking brake and get going .......The purpose of lube pumps for towing is to keep the towed vehicle's automatic transmission lubricated and cool. During operation, the radiator takes care of that job when the engine is running. However, when some vehicles are being towed, the engine is off but the transmission is still trying to keep up -- which can cause it to overheat."
Here is the link to this article:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-p....htm/printable
Good luck to this guy and RIP tho the JK
JK Junkie
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,855
Likes: 0
From: Vista, CA
It really sucks. It sounds like maybe an automatic, he didn't set the transfer case to N, just the transmission ? . I have read and heard on the news that it has happened before to tow trucks, when they tow a car with auto trans and they leave the traction wheels spinning (instead of towing the opposite way), driving for a long distance and through very hot weather it could lead to the trans fluid overheating.
"If the vehicle is a four-, rear- or all-wheel-drive, this usually means disconnecting or disengaging the drive shaft so the transmission doesn't overheat. Also, in the case of many vehicles with automatic transmissions, whether two-wheel-drive or otherwise, you can't just put the car in neutral, release the parking brake and get going .......The purpose of lube pumps for towing is to keep the towed vehicle's automatic transmission lubricated and cool. During operation, the radiator takes care of that job when the engine is running. However, when some vehicles are being towed, the engine is off but the transmission is still trying to keep up -- which can cause it to overheat."
Here is the link to this article:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-p....htm/printable
Good luck to this guy and RIP tho the JK
. I have read and heard on the news that it has happened before to tow trucks, when they tow a car with auto trans and they leave the traction wheels spinning (instead of towing the opposite way), driving for a long distance and through very hot weather it could lead to the trans fluid overheating."If the vehicle is a four-, rear- or all-wheel-drive, this usually means disconnecting or disengaging the drive shaft so the transmission doesn't overheat. Also, in the case of many vehicles with automatic transmissions, whether two-wheel-drive or otherwise, you can't just put the car in neutral, release the parking brake and get going .......The purpose of lube pumps for towing is to keep the towed vehicle's automatic transmission lubricated and cool. During operation, the radiator takes care of that job when the engine is running. However, when some vehicles are being towed, the engine is off but the transmission is still trying to keep up -- which can cause it to overheat."
Here is the link to this article:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-p....htm/printable
Good luck to this guy and RIP tho the JK
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,176
Likes: 0
From: Corona, California
I see your point. This is where I heard it first, Car Talk...love the show 
"Call 2: Frank, Los Angeles, CA
1997 Not Specified Not Specified
A towing/fire question. Tow truck driver--was towing a Chevy 4x4, heard loud bangs, and the Chevy exploded into flames! Was told it was the tranny--has wanted to know ever since if a transmission can catch fire while a car is being towed. Yes, it can. He was towing with rear wheels on the ground instead of on a flat-bed. That, along with the combination of a long drive, a hot day, and a leaking transmission could cause fire. Lucky he got the Chevy disconnected, so his tow truck didn't also explode!"
Link:
http://www.cartalk.com/ct/review/run...?showid=201033
"Call 2: Frank, Los Angeles, CA
1997 Not Specified Not Specified
A towing/fire question. Tow truck driver--was towing a Chevy 4x4, heard loud bangs, and the Chevy exploded into flames! Was told it was the tranny--has wanted to know ever since if a transmission can catch fire while a car is being towed. Yes, it can. He was towing with rear wheels on the ground instead of on a flat-bed. That, along with the combination of a long drive, a hot day, and a leaking transmission could cause fire. Lucky he got the Chevy disconnected, so his tow truck didn't also explode!"
Link:
http://www.cartalk.com/ct/review/run...?showid=201033
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: New Bern, North Carolina, United States
And just a side note everything has a flash point. As an X firefighter myself, I learned over years of training that when something reaches a certain temp. It will flash or catch fire. So I would think that in this case it is possible for the tranny fluid to ignite in extreme temps and the jeep not running to keep it cool.
I know if I ever tow mine behind a RV it will be on a trailer.
Besides all that I think I would sit down in the middle of the road and cry.
I know if I ever tow mine behind a RV it will be on a trailer.
Besides all that I think I would sit down in the middle of the road and cry.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Snohomish,Wa.
You're pretty quick to throw Chrysler under the bus when you don't even know WTF happened.
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 652
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Could be but browse any JK forum and look and see how many of these things are going up in flames. Do you work for Chrysler or something???