Be careful, Shake your Car

[Paul T. Casey]

Even on jackstands, or ramps, or even a lift, shake those cars HARD before you get under them.

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/pics-videos-buffet-149/710787-rip-ben-towle-purdueranger-you-will-missed.html

[offroadking208]

heard about that on the local news... very sad. RIP

[dohc324ci]

Yeah this is been posted everywhere pretty scary you could get crushed if you rush and not take the precautionary measures.

[Paul T. Casey]

I shake the crap out of my car everytime it's in the air. I'd rather knock it off the lift than have it come down on my fool butt.

[bawazir]

man that is sad

[DOOM]

shake those hard before you get under them.

that's what she said!!!

[Rocknthehawk]

that's what she said!!!

:shake::shake::shake::shake::s hake:

have some respect doom.

[justbob]

This is something that I have allways taken VERY seriously! I try to get it to shift/fall for piece of mind. I've allways hated reading things like this as I spend almost everyday under a car anymore.

[musclemerc]

Speaking from experience this is an easy way to find yourself in a 911 situation. I had a early 80's model FWD Eldorado fall off the stands while I was under it. It damn near killed me. Thank God my brother was there to get that biach off me.

[martyo]

Sad to hear.

Even with my two posts, I am awfully careful.

[Big Black Beast]

Very sad to hear. I'm wondering what the specifics were of what equipment was being used. I just spent an hour under the beast today replacing the passenger side o2 sensors. Safety is very important, and it's easy to get complacent if you've spent alot of time under a car and are used to it. Some basic rules I employ are:

Make sure all equipment is properly rated. I bought a 2 1/2 ton jack and while it should have been enough, it took everything I had to lift the front of the car. I returned it and bought a 6 ton jack that could lift the entire car if I wanted to.

Inspect equipment for damage or corrosion. If in doubt, replace it.

Jacks are for lifting only. Never get under a car only supported by a jack. Use properly rated jack stands.

Always use wheel chocks. They will prevent the car from rolling if the jackstands tip.

Always place the jack/ jackstands in the proper place, that is under frame members, not body/floor parts.

Bottle jacks must be used with caution. Basically, as far as I'm concerned, these are only good for changing a tire and little else. You have to remember to jack in netral with a bottle jack, then set the parking brake afterward, because bottle jacks will start to tip if the wheels aren't allowed to roll. Floor jacks have wheels so they roll as they lift.

Never let kids (or for that matter, anybody) sit in a car while you are working under it. They could move around and upset the balance or worse yet, take the car out of gear or try to start it. Yeah I know, it sounds stupid, but I've heard of stuff like this happening.

Never, ever, ever, use cinder blocks/bricks/ wooden boards, etc. to support a car. They can crack and break and if they fail, will fail suddenly.

Even if I have the car on jackstands, if possible I will usually place the jack somewhere under the car so that it is just touching some frame part but not loaded, as an added factor of safety. Sometimes this is not possible though.

Remember that the parking brake only works on the REAR wheels. If you are lifting the rear of the car use wheel chocks on the front wheels (use them anyway in every case anyway).

This last part may not apply to our cars, since they can't be started in gear, but with older cars, always make sure to remove the keys and disconnect the negative battery cable if there is any chance the starter could become engaged while the car is lifted.

I have never used ramps. I would imagine alot of the same common sense rules apply to their use.

I myself usually don't do the shaking thing. I think I may start that now...

If I have forgotten anything, or am wrong about anything here please feel free to add to or correct me here.

[babbage]

That's a very sad story. I'm paranoid about jacks and stands too. I need to get my pitted garage floor epoxied. It's dangerous when the jack wheels can't freely roll.

[Egon Spengler]

Very sad to hear. Always in the back of my head when I am under a car. Even when I test it!

RIP fellow gear head!

[Joe Walsh]

Very sad to hear. I'm wondering what the specifics were of what equipment was being used. I just spent an hour under the beast today replacing the passenger side o2 sensors. Safety is very important, and it's easy to get complacent if you've spent alot of time under a car and are used to it. Some basic rules I employ are:

Make sure all equipment is properly rated. I bought a 2 1/2 ton jack and while it should have been enough, it took everything I had to lift the front of the car. I returned it and bought a 6 ton jack that could lift the entire car if I wanted to.

Inspect equipment for damage or corrosion. If in doubt, replace it.

Jacks are for lifting only. Never get under a car only supported by a jack. Use properly rated jack stands.

Always use wheel chocks. They will prevent the car from rolling if the jackstands tip.

Always place the jack/ jackstands in the proper place, that is under frame members, not body/floor parts.

Bottle jacks must be used with caution. Basically, as far as I'm concerned, these are only good for changing a tire and little else. You have to remember to jack in netral with a bottle jack, then set the parking brake afterward, because bottle jacks will start to tip if the wheels aren't allowed to roll. Floor jacks have wheels so they roll as they lift.

Never let kids (or for that matter, anybody) sit in a car while you are working under it. They could move around and upset the balance or worse yet, take the car out of gear or try to start it. Yeah I know, it sounds stupid, but I've heard of stuff like this happening.

Never, ever, ever, use cinder blocks/bricks/ wooden boards, etc. to support a car. They can crack and break and if they fail, will fail suddenly.

Even if I have the car on jackstands, if possible I will usually place the jack somewhere under the car so that it is just touching some frame part but not loaded, as an added factor of safety. Sometimes this is not possible though.

Remember that the parking brake only works on the REAR wheels. If you are lifting the rear of the car use wheel chocks on the front wheels (use them anyway in every case anyway).

This last part may not apply to our cars, since they can't be started in gear, but with older cars, always make sure to remove the keys and disconnect the negative battery cable if there is any chance the starter could become engaged while the car is lifted.

I have never used ramps. I would imagine alot of the same common sense rules apply to their use.

I myself usually don't do the shaking thing. I think I may start that now...

If I have forgotten anything, or am wrong about anything here please feel free to add to or correct me here.


Great advise!

I always thought that I was anal retentive because I would 'back-up' my jackstands by placing the floorjack under the car just touching another support area.

I've never really shaken the car once it was on the jackstands, but that is probably a good safety check.

Bottlejacks are only good for punching holes in floorpans and bending frame rails.

Awful to read about that young guy getting crushed by his car.

[Egon Spengler]

Great advise!

I always thought that I was anal retentive because I would 'back-up' my jackstands by placing the floorjack under the car just touching another support area.
I always do this as well. I have the jack bumped up against a part of the car. The full weight is on the stands, but the jack is putting very light pressure on another area just in case it slips, it doesn't slip far. I usually try to put the jack around where my body is going to be under the car. That way if it slips, hopefully the jack will catch it and the car won't fall on me. I am very cautious! haha I miss my Ranger. Didn't need to jack it up to work underneath it!

[vtwoodsman]

Even on jackstands, or ramps, or even a lift, shake those cars HARD before you get under them.

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/pics-videos-buffet-149/710787-rip-ben-towle-purdueranger-you-will-missed.html

You are soooo right!
My Dad is 81 years old. He's an experienced car mechanic and taught me much over the years about cars and safety. However he had a lapse in judgement--got lazy and didn't follow his own rules. While changing oil on my Mom's 2003 Focus Sedan last year....with only a car jack ....the car shifted while he was wrenching the oil pan bolt off...and the car fell on top of him. It crushed it chest...broke most of his ribs...but that is what saved him. There was sufficient ground clearance for him to push back against the car suspension and slide his way from under the car gradually.
Fear and adrenalin gave him a chance to survive. While laying on the cement driveway he called 911. For the Grace of God he's alive today and doing well. Naturally I bust his chops every time I see him...and make sure all car maintenance is done by a local dealer. :argue:

[Bluerauder]

Even on jackstands, or ramps, or even a lift, shake those cars HARD before you get under them.

Very sad. This probably occurs more frequently than anyone really imagines. PWC lost a retired police officer about 2 weeks ago in a similar accident when his car fell on him. Can't remember the details... but it wasn't too long ago here in Virginia.

[musclemerc]

WOW 81 and still turnin wrench's my kinda guy. God Bless Him!

[vtwoodsman]

WOW 81 and still turnin wrench's my kinda guy. God Bless Him!

Yeah, he doesn't trust anyone with his cars, except me! He's old school...and tough. While in the hospital with 10 broken ribs...he didn't complain...not even a peep, and refused most of the medication.
A 30 something guy with one broken rib in a nearby triage section was howling with pain. The medical staff were wicked impressed!

[cougar9150]

My condolences to the family.

I learned this the hard way back in 03 when my wife's old Altima slipped and landed on me while I was under it. I luckily had some old wheels sitting under the frame so it only came down and broke a few ribs when the radiator mount smashed me in the chest.

Took me 45 minutes of rocking the car on the 2 wheels that the frame was sitting on to get out from underneath it. Had a bruise the about 1 foot and half thick that ran all teh way around my chest. Couldn't breath right for about 6-9 months form all the internal bruising and learned a life lesson. I always use 4 jackstands and something else to catch it if the wheels are off.

[RacerX]

That's sad. Hopefully others learn from his misfortune.
Old wheels under the frame is a good idea. Sometimes we forget to use that parking brake while the fronts in the air too. Better to be safe and take a few extra minutes.

[Bluerauder]

Sometimes we forget to use that parking brake while the fronts in the air too. Better to be safe and take a few extra minutes.
And chock the wheels too to keep it from rolling backwards with the fronts in the air.

[gdsqdcr]

Very sad to hear. I use ramps now if I can. In addition to that, chock the wheels and last the brakes. About a month ago, backed the car up the ramps, got out and shut the door. After a few minutes of grabbing gear, got ready to crawl under the car, and heard a crack. I then watched the back of the Marauder fall straight down as the ramps collapsed under them. They were rated, and have used them many times before. Ndont know why it happened. Got new ramps and now I put jack stands under the car in Addition to my ramps. SCARED the crap of me!

[computertech]

Even on jackstands, or ramps, or even a lift, shake those cars HARD before you get under them.

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/pics-videos-buffet-149/710787-rip-ben-towle-purdueranger-you-will-missed.html


What a way to go.......Be careful fellow MM.net members/friends
I always try and use my friends lift, on the back under the car is not only hard to work its just plain dangerous
RIP

[LeoVampire]

A definate tragedy!

So many accidents happen working on cars due to rushing and not paying attention to details.

It must have been very hard for the family to come out and find that they could not save his life and had to watch him pass away!

I feel very sorry for them! :depress:

[Master]

Brutally sad. Sad, too, that it was likely one of the things he enjoyed most in life that got him.
I'm always so paranoid about jack stands that I never get under unless there is a back-up stand and I always have an old wheel under the car in the area where I'm working.
I've yet to get the nerve up to get right under a car that is on axle stands only. Sadly, this is exactly what I have to do this weekend to remove the tranny from the MM. Third gear shift fork bent and now it won't come out of that gear. I dread getting under a car for this operation. I don't know if I have enough old wheels/tires to make me feel safe under a car sitting on four stands.

[LeoVampire]

Just an FYI Sears has a 4 ton 2 stage speed lift jack and 4 ton jack stands that are very reasonable in price and very heavy duty.

I bought them for the Marauder and other use and love them very stable.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00950156000P?prd No=15

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00950163000P?prd No=13

The jack weighs in @ 100 pounds with the rod on it so nothing light duty

[jerrym3]

In 1961, I worked in a body shop where I saw a mechanic drive a car on ramps, and roll underneath from the front, head first.

The car started to roll backwards off the ramps, but he had enough warning to grab the front bumper and yank himself out-almost.

He got a bloody nose.

[twin03]

R.i.p.....

[ctrlraven]

Very sad to hear, RIP.

I turn most of my wrenches at my shop after hours, if my car fell on me no one would hear me. That is why I always put the jackstands in the same places, always put the jack on whatever side I am working on to be somewhat load bearing. Many of times it will take me a lot longer to work around an extra jackstand or jack I put in place but I'd rather it take forever than to have the car drop on me.

[JimmyXR7]

I shake the crap out of my car everytime it's in the air. I'd rather knock it off the lift than have it come down on my fool butt.

I live in California, 5 miles from the San Andreas Earthquake Fault.
I always shake my vehicles before I crawl under them.
Usually I put a secondary set of blocks under the vehicles too.
Jim

[Joe Walsh]

I live in California, 5 miles from the San Andreas Earthquake Fault. I always shake my vehicles before I crawl under them.
Usually I put a secondary set of blocks under the vehicles too.
Jim

Having just experienced my first earthquake (living in the Mid-Atlantic region),
I never considered that happening...but in shaky California....maybe.
Talk about bad timing....

[Black_Out]

Jack stands are a must guys, the extra 2 minutes could save your life. This is a sad story and a tragic loss. It just goes to show you how quickly and easily you can lose your life if you are not careful. RIP.