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I have a 2000 Expedition Eddie Bauer AWD. The Starter went in it and left me 5 miles from home. I flat towed it home at about 30 mph, and it was -24c out with snowy, slippery roads. When I got home I found out that the manual says to not tow it wheels down at all.
Likely little damage but the reason is the rear drive shaft turns the transmission output section.
There is no lubrication for those parts when towing and forcing those parts to rotate.
I have a 2000 Expedition Eddie Bauer AWD. The Starter went in it and left me 5 miles from home. I flat towed it home at about 30 mph, and it was -24c out with snowy, slippery roads. When I got home I found out that the manual says to not tow it wheels down at all.
What damage can I expect?
Sorry wrong area, can't seem to delete it.
Yeah, 30MPH for five miles shouldn't hurt it, and the cold weather helps. It still had some fluid in the output bearing from recently driving it, but it didn't get any more. That's the problem. I'd listen for any new whining or growling sounds that increase and decrease with vehicle speed (not engine speed).
Used to be all the manuals said that if you were going to drag an automatic Ford somewhere, do it at 30mph or less and only for 15 miles at max. You met those older requirements, and I'd have to guess that parts (bearings, seals, etc.) have only gotten more-idiotproof and not less, so I'd not be worried about it to the point of preemptively changing anything out. As CC said, just listen to your horse, and it'll tell you if it's coming up lame