just a reminder to all you enthusiasts who work on your own car...

frost · 07-18-2010, 10:52 AM

"He yelled for help but those around were unable to get the car off of him and when paramedics arrived he was pronounced dead"

So much for my hope he at least died quickly. Terrible.

m4a1mustang · 07-18-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMC Racing

One of the reasons I bought one of these: (company photo, not my car)

kwiklift.com

That's really nice.

VCuomo · 07-18-2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugoneus

What does it mean to choke the wheels?

BTW, it's "chock" the wheels...

spearfish25 · 07-18-2010, 05:28 PM

Few other useful tips.

Don't start a second task until you finish the first (eg. if you change the oil, don't go changing brake pads until you've refilled the oil.)

Always double and triple check your jack stands. Bending over one more time to see their position is worth the effort.

If your gut feeling tells you something isn't right, trust it. Doing anything that's risky, even for a couple seconds, isn't worth it.

If you're using jack stands: after they take the car's load, just leave your floor jack in place under the car a hair below where it would be holding the car's weight. It's a simple second-line safety. If you put wheels under the car, you've got your third-line.

Dying while working on your car is a terrible and needless way to 'go'. Prevent it with diligence and being over-cautious.

cab83_750 · 07-19-2010, 12:53 AM

Keep your cellphone in your pocket. There would be a strong chance that it could be reachable.

Waiz · 07-19-2010, 01:43 AM

Damn, this is sad.

LinPark · 07-19-2010, 11:18 AM

A sad day indeed - I honestly get incredibly nervous every single time I get under a car and I have one of those coming up soon to change my own oil. How safe is it to have one of these 370Z's up on 4 jack stands? I'd like the car to be as level as possible when draining but if its not worth the risk I could easily stick with just 2 stands and chocks.

kenchan · 07-19-2010, 11:20 AM

i use a ramp for oil changes. as long as you chock the rear tire it's fine. im not as anal as some of you about leveling off the car while draining. cant get all of it out anyway.

flashburn · 07-19-2010, 11:28 AM

How sturdy are jack stands usually? I'd be afraid of simply doing something like removing the lug's off the wheels and that forward/backwards motion causing the jack stands to tip over. Are their bases usually wide enough that this isn't a possibility?

Jeffblue · 07-19-2010, 11:28 AM

thats terrible. as far as the jack points on our cars are concerned... should you place the jack on the jack point and then place the jack stand as close as possible to that point, or should you jack the car up from close to the jack point, then place the jack stand on the jack point.

flashburn · 07-19-2010, 11:31 AM

I think we really need a good sort of DIY guide on jacking the car and using jack stands. This sort of question seems to come up quite a bit.

Modshack · 07-19-2010, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashburn

I'd be afraid of simply doing something like removing the lug's off the wheels and that forward/backwards motion causing the jack stands to tip over.

Always break the lugs loose while the car is on the ground. Same for re-torquing them when done.

m4a1mustang · 07-19-2010, 11:57 AM

When I was doing my spacers it kind of scared me how much force I had to apply to the caliper bolts while the front of the car was up in the air. You have to stick your head in the wheel well to get good leverage, so I just used a mallet to hit the wrench.

flashburn · 07-19-2010, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

Always break the lugs loose while the car is on the ground. Same for re-torquing them when done.

Oh yeah, I remember reading that, but I never connected the two. Makes sense! Sound's kind of scary though, I mean how gentle would you need to be while cranking on a bolt to say remove the exhaust?

kenchan · 07-19-2010, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

You have to stick your head in the wheel well to get good leverage, so I just used a mallet to hit the wrench.

yep, i do that sometimes too. just a closed wrench and a mallet and a few wacks instead of breaker bar and pulling at it. of course impact gun would be even more convenient.

(modshack laughing at us right about now with his nifty lift and shop)...

07-18-2010, 05:28 PM	#34 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Few other useful tips. Don't start a second task until you finish the first (eg. if you change the oil, don't go changing brake pads until you've refilled the oil.) Always double and triple check your jack stands. Bending over one more time to see their position is worth the effort. If your gut feeling tells you something isn't right, trust it. Doing anything that's risky, even for a couple seconds, isn't worth it. If you're using jack stands: after they take the car's load, just leave your floor jack in place under the car a hair below where it would be holding the car's weight. It's a simple second-line safety. If you put wheels under the car, you've got your third-line. Dying while working on your car is a terrible and needless way to 'go'. Prevent it with diligence and being over-cautious. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

07-19-2010, 11:57 AM	#43 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	When I was doing my spacers it kind of scared me how much force I had to apply to the caliper bolts while the front of the car was up in the air. You have to stick your head in the wheel well to get good leverage, so I just used a mallet to hit the wrench. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

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07-18-2010, 10:52 AM	#31 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	"He yelled for help but those around were unable to get the car off of him and when paramedics arrived he was pronounced dead" So much for my hope he at least died quickly. Terrible.

07-19-2010, 12:53 AM	#35 (permalink)
cab83_750 Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: CA Posts: 887 Drives: 09 NISSAN 370Z Rep Power: 417	Keep your cellphone in your pocket. There would be a strong chance that it could be reachable.

07-19-2010, 01:43 AM	#36 (permalink)
Waiz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 9,262 Drives: Z33 & GE8 Rep Power: 459	Damn, this is sad.

07-19-2010, 11:18 AM	#37 (permalink)
LinPark A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,077 Drives: '17 Camaro 2SS A8 Rep Power: 23	A sad day indeed - I honestly get incredibly nervous every single time I get under a car and I have one of those coming up soon to change my own oil. How safe is it to have one of these 370Z's up on 4 jack stands? I'd like the car to be as level as possible when draining but if its not worth the risk I could easily stick with just 2 stands and chocks.

07-19-2010, 11:20 AM	#38 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	i use a ramp for oil changes. as long as you chock the rear tire it's fine. im not as anal as some of you about leveling off the car while draining. cant get all of it out anyway.

07-19-2010, 11:28 AM	#39 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 19	How sturdy are jack stands usually? I'd be afraid of simply doing something like removing the lug's off the wheels and that forward/backwards motion causing the jack stands to tip over. Are their bases usually wide enough that this isn't a possibility?

07-19-2010, 11:28 AM	#40 (permalink)
Jeffblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NY Age: 36 Posts: 9,192 Drives: Z32TT & 335xi Coupe Rep Power: 37	thats terrible. as far as the jack points on our cars are concerned... should you place the jack on the jack point and then place the jack stand as close as possible to that point, or should you jack the car up from close to the jack point, then place the jack stand on the jack point.

07-19-2010, 11:31 AM	#41 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 19	I think we really need a good sort of DIY guide on jacking the car and using jack stands. This sort of question seems to come up quite a bit.