To Tow Or Not To Tow, That Is The Question...

[lovethatlexus]

Why does this happen? My 1997 Lexus with all of its glorious 88K miles, always working, always easy to drive...except two hours after my husband leaves for the airport to fly internationally. I start the motor and an unfamiliar loud noise. Car not starting first time ever and the smell of burning rubber. Okay, I'm not stupid. It must be a belt and has to do with the starter. End of knowledge. Anyway, the car is sitting in the garage. My husband doesn't like any of the car places nearby, but I might be able to get one place to come over here. So isn't it bad to have your car towed if you don't have to? You can tell I've led an automobiley sheltered life and let me say that the Lexus has certainly enabled that to happen. Should I just have it towed to the dealership or try to get the nearby guy to fix something. You should know that because my husband baulked at the $600 for the 60K tune-up, I checked around and got the idea that we would be needing $1000's of dollars of work probably. So I took it to the dealer and everything was okay for the $600, but later they though we needed something expensive and my husband got a seal changed (power steering or transmission??) and it works okay, but leaks on the garage floor...ha, ha that's fixed now. I think that the dealer is good, but hate to have the car towed up the freeway.

Any ideas? Please only serious replies, despite my banter. I'm old...forget it.

[azam_butt1]

Why does this happen?  My 1997 Lexus with all of its glorious 88K miles, always working, always easy to drive...except two hours after my husband leaves for the airport to fly internationally.  I start the motor and an unfamiliar loud noise.  Car not starting first time ever and the smell of burning rubber.  Okay, I'm not stupid.  It must be a belt and has to do with the starter.  End of knowledge.  Anyway, the car is sitting in the garage.  My husband doesn't like any of the car places nearby, but I might be able to get one place to come over here.  So isn't it bad to have your car towed if you don't have to?  You can tell I've led an automobiley sheltered life and let me say that the Lexus has certainly enabled that to happen.  Should I just have it towed to the dealership or try to get the nearby guy to fix something.  You should know that because my husband baulked at the $600 for the 60K tune-up, I checked around and got the idea that we would be needing $1000's of dollars of work probably.  So I took it to the dealer and everything was okay for the $600, but later they though we needed something expensive and my husband got a seal changed (power steering or transmission??) and it works okay, but leaks on the garage floor...ha, ha that's fixed now.  I think that the dealer is good, but hate to have the car towed up the freeway.

Any ideas?  Please only serious replies, despite my banter.  I'm old...forget it.

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You can get it towed if you want but my personal advise would be to use a Flat bed tow truck.

[lovethatlexus]

Yeah, sounds best. Thanks! LTL

[johnnygoodlife]

Why does this happen?  My 1997 Lexus with all of its glorious 88K miles, always working, always easy to drive...except two hours after my husband leaves for the airport to fly internationally.  I start the motor and an unfamiliar loud noise.  Car not starting first time ever and the smell of burning rubber.  Okay, I'm not stupid.  It must be a belt and has to do with the starter.  End of knowledge.  Anyway, the car is sitting in the garage.  My husband doesn't like any of the car places nearby, but I might be able to get one place to come over here.  So isn't it bad to have your car towed if you don't have to?  You can tell I've led an automobiley sheltered life and let me say that the Lexus has certainly enabled that to happen.  Should I just have it towed to the dealership or try to get the nearby guy to fix something.  You should know that because my husband baulked at the $600 for the 60K tune-up, I checked around and got the idea that we would be needing $1000's of dollars of work probably.  So I took it to the dealer and everything was okay for the $600, but later they though we needed something expensive and my husband got a seal changed (power steering or transmission??) and it works okay, but leaks on the garage floor...ha, ha that's fixed now.  I think that the dealer is good, but hate to have the car towed up the freeway.

Any ideas?  Please only serious replies, despite my banter.  I'm old...forget it.

←

You can get it towed if you want but my personal advise would be to use a Flat bed tow truck.

←

have you tried to start it again ?

[lovethatlexus]

Yes, it is a whiny thing with nothing, with no "turnover". Thanks, LTL

[SKperformance]

ok

the key turns then............?

nothing?

lights dim?

starter clicks?

engien turns over but does not start?

[SRK]

Don't try to second guess it. Fix it properly, and that will start after you have it picked up with a ramp truck - DO NOT tow it.

A shoddy repair by an unknown outfit, or a bit of damage from an old hook tow truck, will make the proper dealer repair seem cheap.

[evelynvang]

Do not tow it. I exprienced it and the tow truck made a dent on my back bumper. Had to replaced the whole thing. If you have to get it to the shop, make sure you get it on a ramp truck.

[lovethatlexus]

Update---thanks for the suggestion and the flatbed tow was the way to go---too much rhyming there.

I should say that I am in the wrong spot and should be hanging with the cheap ticket crowed in the ES300 room---pardon me.

I know that there are many waiting impatiently to hear what's up with my Lexus: So the Lexus dealership says it needs a new throttle body at $970.45 for parts and labor. Plus there is the power steering pump that needs replacing and the valve cover gaskets should be replaced. But the only "have to" is the throttle body.

It may be time for a new car .....thanks for your help!

LTL