Damaged from jack slipping off lift rail

[dbsb3233]

On another road trip to Las Vegas this week. Just as we're exiting I-15 a block from our hotel, the TPMS message pops up with the front-left tire showing 30psi. Dropped to 27 just at the stoplight. Pulled into the hotel lot and looked, and could hear air hissing out. Checked Google Maps in a hurry and found there was a Discount Tire a block away. Figured I could make it there so got there before it was fully flat. Parked out front.

The guy said they'd probably just jack it up where I parked since ot was safely out of the way and would be flat soon. We left it there. 90 minutes later they called to say the tire was repaired (picked up a screw), but they damaged the car with the jack. Walked over and they were very apologetic and already filled out the paperwork for a claim to pay for the damage. Their claims people will call me tomorrow to make arrangements.

The jack slipped off the lift rail, and the weight of the car came down on the outer trim, crunching it and the driver door. It appears they lifted just forward of the designated spot between the triangle marks, probably landing on the forward bolt then slipping off.

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[RickMachE]

Never should have left it. Stand there while they jack it.

 

[dbsb3233]

Never should have left it. Stand there while they jack it.

Yeah, easy to say now that I've ended up researching at the jack points since in detail. I had a diagram but never really checked closely. I did politely remind them there are specific jack points to avoid battery damage, but they said they knew. There was about an hour wait to get to it so we decided to leave it instead of waiting around. Obviously wished I'd hung around now, although standing over their shoulder making sure they do it right doesn't usually go over well either.

Honestly not sure I'd have prevented it anyway. Looks like they were really close and I wasn't likely to spot the error, short of doing it myself.

 

[stevec73]

I saw this thread and immediately thought “what a cool comic book character name.”

 

[NewGuy]

Look into diminished value claims in your state. I had a bit less damage and on top of their insurance covering the repair, I got a check for about 15% of the value of the vehicle.

Of course it’s something I had to bring up, though they didn’t fight me on it at all.

 

[Mach-Lee]

That's really unfortunate. This is what happens when the jack can't roll to pull itself under the car as the lift arm raises, due to being on a rough parking lot surface. The jack must be able to freely roll while the car is being lifted, otherwise the jack will pull itself off the lip while lifting, which is what happened here.

Do not use a floor jack on anything other than a smooth surface that allows it to roll forwards while the object is lifted. Notice the pad moves closer to the handle as the jack is raised, which is why the jack needs to freely roll:

 

[woody]

Never should have left it. Stand there while they jack it.

can you ever give it a rest?

 

[timbop]

Oh man that sucks Tim

 

[SWO]

That stinks. This is why I keep a plug kit in my cars.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

So sorry to hear about the damage they caused. I changed from all season to winter tires in Nov and based on where the lift points are located, the way to avoid damage is to use a block that fits between the battery rails and the plastic trim piece…in addition to the advice that @Mach-Lee cited above about a rolling jack. Even if the floor jack didn’t slip, simply lifting without blocks will cause some damage the outboard plastic trim piece.

I ended up taking another member’s advice and buying lift blocks and keeping them in the vehicle in case something like this happens.

 

[txaggies07]

That sucks. On the bright side they didn't try and hide it or blame something else.

 

[ChuckA]

So sorry to hear about the damage they caused. I changed from all season to winter tires in Nov and based on where the lift points are located, the way to avoid damage is to use a block that fits between the battery rails and the plastic trim piece…in addition to the advice that @Mach-Lee cited above about a rolling jack. Even if the floor jack didn’t slip, simply lifting without blocks will cause some damage the outboard plastic trim piece.

I ended up taking another member’s advice and buying lift blocks and keeping them in the vehicle in case something like this happens.

Also consider painting yellow the lift points or apply a strip of duct tape. Got to make things idiot proof.

 

[RickMachE]

That's really unfortunate. This is what happens when the jack can't roll to pull itself under the car as the lift arm raises, due to being on a rough parking lot surface. The jack must be able to freely roll while the car is being lifted, otherwise the jack will pull itself off the lip while lifting, which is what happened here.

Do not use a floor jack on anything other than a smooth surface that allows it to roll forwards while the object is lifted. Notice the pad moves closer to the handle as the jack is raised, which is why the jack needs to freely roll:

Very good point. Don't know that this would have crossed my mind until you pointed it out.

 

[markboris]

Also consider painting yellow the lift points or apply a strip of duct tape. Got to make things idiot proof.

Yes, something like this:

 

[dtbaker61]

On another road trip to Las Vegas this week. Just as we're exiting I-15 a block from our hotel, the TPMS message pops up with the front-left tire showing 30psi. Dropped to 27 just at the stoplight. Pulled into the hotel lot and looked, and could hear air hissing out. Checked Google Maps in a hurry and found there was a Discount Tire a block away. Figured I could make it there so got there before it was fully flat. Parked out front.

The guy said they'd probably just jack it up where I parked since ot was safely out of the way and would be flat soon. We left it there. 90 minutes later they called to say the tire was repaired (picked up a screw), but they damaged the car with the jack. Walked over and they were very apologetic and already filled out the paperwork for a claim to pay for the damage. Their claims people will call me tomorrow to make arrangements.

The jack slipped off the lift rail, and the weight of the car came down on the outer trim, crunching it and the driver door. It appears they lifted just forward of the designated spot between the triangle marks, probably landing on the forward bolt then slipping off.

idiots.....

I leave my jack-pads in for exactly this reason.... so any tire shop, tow truck driver, or whomever can avoid damage.

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