Stuck. Tow Hooks?

Wedge · Mar 16, 2012

Boy do I feel like a bone head! My beautiful Opera Red baby has been sitting on the lawn just a few feet from my driveway for the past two days...stuck.

I moved it there the other day to spray it off with the hose and then when I went to leave the next morning the tires just spun. Must be March in New Hampshire. Just a bit muddy and a slight incline.

What supprised me the most is when I looked under the car to find a tow hook. Wow...never seen anything like it. Engine compartment & suspension all sealed up tight as a drum behind a plastic door.

So I am going to have someone help me push the car back to safety later today. But if I had to pull it where would I hook onto???

I hope everyone has a good weekend and have a good laugh at my bone headedness!

VeeDubTDI · Mar 16, 2012

Tow hook should be located on the passenger's side of the front bumper, likely behind a cover of some sort.

Another option would be to take a tow strap and thread it through one of the rear wheels and pull gently.

tomc585 · Mar 16, 2012

I know my jetta has a little cover in the bumper that hides a hole where you screw in the recovery ring which is stowed with the spare tire

Niner · Mar 16, 2012

Crack open that Owners Manual and read up. It has answers to almost every question you could ask about your TDI. There's a lot of expensive components behind your grille in your engine compartment, that needs to stay salt free, for good reason. Hence why everything is sealed up.

TheGrove · Mar 16, 2012

Well if you believe what is posted on VW Vortex (http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5607384-2012-Passat-Tow-Hook) there is no tow hook, or place for one. The owners manual supposedly says (I have not confirmed this) that the vehicle is supposed to be towed by a special tow truck.

Wedge · Mar 16, 2012

Thanks for the speedy replies. I am going to check the owners manual as soon as I get home. At some point I am going to need to know.

Wedge · Mar 16, 2012

So it looks like it's the old heave hoe, no way to tow. Gotta move it soon, chickens are starting to peck at it!

VeeDubTDI · Mar 16, 2012

Tow strap through the rim... Damn those pesky yard birds.

TomB · Mar 17, 2012

Wedge said:
Boy do I feel like a bone head! My beautiful Opera Red baby has been sitting on the lawn just a few feet from my driveway for the past two days...stuck.

I moved it there the other day to spray it off with the hose and then when I went to leave the next morning the tires just spun. Must be March in New Hampshire. Just a bit muddy and a slight incline.

What supprised me the most is when I looked under the car to find a tow hook. Wow...never seen anything like it. Engine compartment & suspension all sealed up tight as a drum behind a plastic door.

So I am going to have someone help me push the car back to safety later today. But if I had to pull it where would I hook onto???

I hope everyone has a good weekend and have a good laugh at my bone headedness!

It is still winter where you are, right? LOL! Laughing with you, not at you.

VeeDubTDI · Mar 17, 2012

Did you get it unstuck yet?

Wedge · Mar 18, 2012

Yes, I got it moved Friday night. A couple boards in front of the wheels and a push. At least now I know that the car is not rope towable. Not sure if I would have the stomach for putting a strap thru the wheel.

Took it for a wash and a few other errands yesterday and got 47.1 MPG over a 30 mile trip (stopping at four stores!). And so much fun to drive.

TomB · Mar 18, 2012

Wedge said:
Yes, I got it moved Friday night. A couple boards in front of the wheels and a push. At least now I know that the car is not rope towable. Not sure if I would have the stomach for putting a strap thru the wheel.

Took it for a wash and a few other errands yesterday and got 47.1 MPG over a 30 mile trip (stopping at four stores!). And so much fun to drive.

Unless you are very good at measuring such a small amount when topping off the tank or had a separate tank with a known quantity of fuel (what they do in testing) then you cannot say the MPG on only 30 miles.

gergg · Mar 18, 2012

Unless you are very good at measuring such a small amount when topping off the tank or had a separate tank with a known quantity of fuel (what they do in testing) then you cannot say the MPG on only 30 miles

Sure he can, matter of fact he did

Come on Tom, the MFD on these cars is pretty darn accurate, just take the readings for what they are, close enough for this type of fun reporting.

Wedge · Mar 18, 2012

Just derived via MFD. I should have mentioned that.

Is it considered okay for the car to coast it in nutral? Without holding the clutch pedal down. Not at the expense of the brakes though.

Thanks.

VeeDubTDI · Mar 18, 2012

Wedge said:
Just derived via MFD. I should have mentioned that.

Is it considered okay for the car to coast it in nutral? Without holding the clutch pedal down. Not at the expense of the brakes though.

Thanks.

Yes. Coating in neutral with the clutch out won't hurt a thing.

kromicacid · Mar 19, 2012

Not close or consistant enough for me to rely on MFD...

I know my numbers are not great, but I live in a town with stops every block for 2.5 miles to my work. Then I get on the highway 2-3 times a week, and around Philly/NJ.

Stuck. Tow Hooks?

Wedge

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VeeDubTDI

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tomc585

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Niner

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TheGrove

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Wedge

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Wedge

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VeeDubTDI

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TomB

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VeeDubTDI

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Wedge

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TomB

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gergg

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Wedge

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VeeDubTDI

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kromicacid

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