MSV Towing

Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint I offer the following in rebuttal First of all, at the time that I contacted MSV for a tow my motor was still extremely warm and it would not turn over However, after waiting for nearly an hour for MSV towing to arrive the motor had significantly cooled and I was able to start the car In fact, I have an affidavit affirming such from the person who assisted me with the work on my car He heard the motor running over the phone immediately before MSV towing arrived We jointly decided to avoid the risk of having the motor overheat and to have the car towed I was able to drive the car at the time that MSV towing arrived The motor never failed when I was driving itSecondly, the MSV tow truck driver is incorrect After the incident, I entered the vehicle and discovered that the transmission was in first gear and that the key was in the run position If the vehicle was in neutral and the key in the off position, then how do you explain the following: 1) The tow truck driver noticed an enormous cloud of white smoke in his rear view mirror after towing the car several miles;2) Immediately after the white smoke appeared there was a high pitched noise coming from the rear of the vehicle;3) The tow truck driver had to pull to the side of the road and put the car on a tow dolly to complete the tow;4) There were fluids dripping from the back of the motor at the time that the tow truck driver pulled to the side of the road;5) When I exited the tow truck after the driver pulled to the side of the road there was an overwhelming smell of something burning In fact, I have never smelled anything quite like it and I work in manufacturing.I have spoken with automotive experts and it is very possible to start a car by towing it In fact, the high torque motor of a tow truck would have no difficulty starting it under those conditions It's called a tow start In addition, the white smoke billowing from the tail pipes at the time the MSV tow truck driver pulled to the side of the road is a sign of combustion The motor and transmission in my Mustang were in superb condition I have all of the service records and the emission tests from nearly years of ownership as proof MSV Towing has absolutely no evidence to support their claim that the head gaskets were in bad shape prior to the tow This is just an attempt to avoid paying for the damage to the motor and clutch You may note that I have worked on cars for nearly years and the person that assisted me with working on my vehicle has years of experience working on cars and has pulled at least motors In addition, we are both degreed engineers with significant manufacturing experience Regards, [redacted]

When Mr*** called in for his tow he told the driver that his car had overheated and would no longer turn over, he later confirmed this to me when I asked him. He then added that the engine started turning over again after that. This would indicate extreme overheating, and prior
engine damage before the tow. My driver insists that the car was in neutral and that he never touched the key. Mr*** was explained to by myself and his own mechanic that this is not possible, you cannot tow a rear wheel drive car while it’s in gear, it would drag and you most certainly couldn’t drive or mph. My driver did confirm there was smoke not to the extreme Mr*** says. Something happened that night which is why I told him if there was damage to the only thing that could get damaged by towing in gear, which is the transmission I would pay for it. I have talked to numerous mechanics including his mechanic about this and it just doesn’t add upMr*** also had removed the engine to repair a hole in the frame from rust because it wouldn’t pass inspection. When I went to see the car at his mechanic it was obvious that the engine had bad head gaskets as the oil had water most likely from overheating as you can see in the attached

Mr. *** I would like to just offer you dollars so we can all move forward I hope this is satisfactory if so please let me know

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.Given that it will cost $600 just to determine the extent of the damage done by the tow and there is engine, clutch and possibly transmission damage, $1000 is insufficient.
Regards,
[redacted]

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  I offer the following in rebuttal.
First of all, at the time that I contacted MSV for a tow my motor was still extremely warm and it would not turn over.  However, after waiting for nearly an hour for MSV towing to arrive the motor had significantly cooled and I was able to start the car.  In fact, I have an affidavit affirming such from the person who assisted me with the work on my car.  He heard the motor running over the phone immediately before MSV towing arrived.  We jointly decided to avoid the risk of having the motor overheat and to have the car towed.  I was able to drive the car at the time that MSV towing arrived.  The motor never failed when I was driving it. Secondly, the MSV tow truck driver is incorrect.  After the incident, I entered the vehicle and discovered that the transmission was in first gear and that the key was in the run position.  If the vehicle was in neutral and the key in the off position, then how do you explain the following:  1)  The tow truck driver noticed an enormous cloud of white smoke in his rear view mirror after towing the car several miles;2)  Immediately after the white smoke appeared there was a high pitched noise coming from the rear of the vehicle;3)  The tow truck driver had to pull to the side of the road and put the car on a tow dolly to complete the tow;4)  There were fluids dripping from the back of the motor at the time that the tow truck driver pulled to the side of the road;5)  When I exited the tow truck after the driver pulled to the side of the road there was an overwhelming smell of something burning.  In fact, I have never smelled anything quite like it and I work in manufacturing.I have spoken with automotive experts and it is very possible to start a car by towing it.  In fact, the high torque motor of a tow truck would have no difficulty starting it under those conditions.  It's called a tow start.  In addition, the white smoke billowing from the tail pipes at the time the MSV tow truck driver pulled to the side of the road is a sign of combustion.    The motor and transmission in my Mustang were in superb condition.  I have all of the service records and the emission tests from nearly 25 years of ownership as proof.  MSV Towing has absolutely no evidence to support their claim that the head gaskets were in bad shape prior to the tow.  This is just an attempt to avoid paying for the damage to the motor and clutch.   You may note that I have worked on cars for nearly 40 years and the person that assisted me with working on my vehicle has 20 years of experience working on cars and has pulled at least 9 motors.  In addition, we are both degreed engineers with significant manufacturing experience.
Regards,
[redacted]

Review: On the evening of July 5th, I contacted MSV towing company in Pittsburgh to tow my manual transmission vehicle on I-79, as it was overheating and I didn't want to risk damage to the engine. I was headed northbound and I was approximately 3 to 4 miles from Bridgeville at the time of pickup. At the time of the call, MSV towing said that they would use a tow dolly to transport the car.

After approximately an hour, MSV towing arrived and the operator connected my vehicle to the tow truck, but with the rear wheels in contact with the ground. I immediately asked the tow truck operator if he had released the parking brake. He assured me that he had. After several miles, the tow truck operator indicated that there was what appeared to be tire smoke coming from the rear of my car and I heard a high pitched whine, that subsided as we came to a stop on the side of the road on I-79.

We both exited the tow truck and I was overwhelmed by a thick cloud of white smoke. The tow truck operator said, "Is the car running?" In addition, there was a strong smell of burning fluids and overheated metal. I've never smelled anything quite like it. I immediately noticed a puddle of fluid dripping from the back of my engine and white smoke billowing out of my tail pipe. I wasn't quite sure of what had happened. I got into my car and the car was still in first gear and the key was in the run position. I believe that the tow truck operator started the car by pulling it in first gear with the key in the run position, causing catastrophic failure.

At that time, the tow truck operator placed the car on a tow dolly and I instructed him to take it to a service facility near my home. On Monday, July 6th the service facility checked the car and made the determination that the engine had seized.

The tow truck company owner called me on that same day and indicated that he would pay for the repair of the transmission, but claimed that I had caused the car to overheat and seize.

That would be physically impossible, as the car was running and was drivable at the time that MSV towing initiated the tow. Additionally, if the engine had seized with the transmission in first gear, the tow truck driver would have been dragging the car for miles, there would have been skid marks and significant flat spots on the rear tires.

I chose to have them tow the car, as I did not want to run the risk of having it overheat again or cause any engine damage. This is a classic vehicle that I have had for nearly 25 years.Desired Settlement: I want MSV Towing to pay for any and all costs related to the repair of the drivetrain on this vehicle. This includes the cost to restore the motor to running condition and any damage to the clutch, transmission and differential.

Business

Response:

When Mr. [redacted] called in for his tow he told the driver that his car had overheated and would no longer turn over, he later confirmed this to me when I asked him. He then added that the engine started turning over again after that. This would indicate extreme overheating, and prior engine damage before the tow. My driver insists that the car was in neutral and that he never touched the key. Mr. [redacted] was explained to by myself and his own mechanic that this is not possible, you cannot tow a rear wheel drive car while it’s in gear, it would drag and you most certainly couldn’t drive 45 or 50 mph. My driver did confirm there was smoke not to the extreme Mr. [redacted] says. Something happened that night which is why I told him if there was damage to the only thing that could get damaged by towing in gear, which is the transmission I would pay for it. I have talked to numerous mechanics including his mechanic about this and it just doesn’t add up. Mr. [redacted] also had removed the engine to repair a hole in the frame from rust because it wouldn’t pass inspection. When I went to see the car at his mechanic it was obvious that the engine had bad head gaskets as the oil had water most likely from overheating as you can see in the attached.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. I offer the following in rebuttal.

First of all, at the time that I contacted MSV for a tow my motor was still extremely warm and it would not turn over. However, after waiting for nearly an hour for MSV towing to arrive the motor had significantly cooled and I was able to start the car. In fact, I have an affidavit affirming such from the person who assisted me with the work on my car. He heard the motor running over the phone immediately before MSV towing arrived. We jointly decided to avoid the risk of having the motor overheat and to have the car towed. I was able to drive the car at the time that MSV towing arrived. The motor never failed when I was driving it.