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Mr.scotty
Enthusiast
Oct 8, 2011, 6:32 PM
Post #1 of 31
(3614 views)
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Crazy things We've seen.
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I thought it might be cool to have a thread about the crazy stuff we have seen while we do our thing.
Heres on that came to me today.
It's a 99 Plymouth van. The owner said she was hearing a really bad noise coming from the left front drivers wheel, she had a new hub bearing put on in july. So i went to remove the wheel to have a look and look what i found! So i had another wheel for it laying around so i swaped the tire over to other wheel. I put on a new hub bearing and lug nuts, and sent her on her way for only $75 bucks.., She's a good friend of my mothers so i wanted to give her a good deal.
http://postimage.org/image/bali9mdg/
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Your only as good as your tools!
(This post was edited by Mr.scotty on Oct 8, 2011, 6:47 PM)
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 8, 2011, 7:32 PM
Post #2 of 31
(3577 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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Wow, she is lucky that thing didn't fall off.
I am sure your going to get a lot of stories on this thread.
I've seen a few crazy things roll into the shop, but I will have to say the craziest and funny thing that I have ever seen was by one of the techs that I worked with.
Working at a dealer, one of the techs was the oil change guy. The dealer had purchased a new oil drainer, that held a large amount of waste oil, which could be drained by connecting to shop air. Nobody trained the tech on how to use it and he didn't read the instructions.
Everyone was at lunch except for a few of us including the lube monkey. He was at the very end of the shop rolling his now full drainer over to the waste barrel against the wall in the last bay. He connects a shop air hose into to the drainer. At that moment the waste hose on the drainer stands straight up in the air and sprays oil all over the place including the cars in the vicinity. From our vantage it looks like a kid playing in a lawn sprinkler spewing brown mud everywhere.
The tech must been in complete shock and was trying to grab the waste hoses that was flailing around. He was completely covered in oil and slipping and sliding around on the floor trying to tame the wild beast. He slipped and fell and was able to finally crawl over to the drainer and close the waste valve.
We were laughing so freaking hard that he started laughing too. Cars, walls, toolboxes, and clothes covered in oil. That will be a day that I will remember till I die.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 8, 2011, 8:06 PM
Post #3 of 31
(3566 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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Are you kidding. I thought that has happened at every shop. I know I've seen it personally a couple times. Everyone forgets to shut off the top before putting air to it. Maybe not the part about slip sliding around covered in oil. That part's pretty funny.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Mr.scotty
Enthusiast
Oct 8, 2011, 8:22 PM
Post #4 of 31
(3562 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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haha..,wow.
I love hearing and seeing this kinda stuf..
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Your only as good as your tools!
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Blulakr
User
Oct 10, 2011, 11:37 PM
Post #5 of 31
(3539 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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I've seen the oil volcano myself as well.
Working at Ford dealer, late '90s v6 mustang towed in. Stalled while driving, cranks no start. I pop the hood and immediately see ignition coil connector loose. Nothing wrong with connector. Re connected it and fired right up. No other problems found. Brief road test and parked it. Next day same car towed in, same symptoms, same loose coil connector. HMMM, i think somebody's screwing with me. I reconnect it, start the car and let it run in the shop. I'm looking around the shop for someone smirking or other telltale sign of foul play, all appears normal. While filling out the paperwork I hear the car stall. I walk over to find the coil unplugged and the culprit. A bad coolant hose that would swell when under pressure and push on the connector just right to unplug it. Then shrink back and appear normal when cooled down.
While repairing rodent damaged wiring on an escort the culprit came out of his hiding spot, ran up my arm and inside my jacket via the loose fitting collar. I'm told I jump pretty high for an overweight white guy.
Recently heard a popping noise from the engine on a Mitsubishi. Sounded like spark but it ran fine. Found static electricity from drive belt arcing from crank pulley to engine block.
just a few I can remember.
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Mr.scotty
Enthusiast
Oct 11, 2011, 10:29 AM
Post #6 of 31
(3528 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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haha, Gosh..thats crazy!
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Your only as good as your tools!
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nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 11, 2011, 2:53 PM
Post #7 of 31
(3523 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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On two different occasions customers came in with a complaint of poor brakes. One said it was like that for a week or better and they thought it needed pads. Pulled off the wheel and saw the cooling fins of the rotor, as the outside was gone. Neither guy liked me much when they got the bill. To think anyone could even drive that down the road reminds me how dumb some people really are.
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Mr.scotty
Enthusiast
Oct 11, 2011, 6:09 PM
Post #8 of 31
(3517 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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I did brakes on a 99 chevy malibu that was like that, They ended up needing a new caliper too cause the piston came out to far.
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Your only as good as your tools!
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 11, 2011, 6:22 PM
Post #9 of 31
(3516 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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I didn't know the oil volcano was so common.
Had an old two post in the ground lift that snapped on me at the dealer coming down. About Sh!t my pants because one side came down and the other was jammed. Closed the air valve in time, so the car didn't fall off the lift. They had to call a lift tech out to get the car off the lift. I've seen techs flip the lever and strap the release handle and walk away to go get coffee or to play in their tool box while the lift is coming down. Good idea to stay at the controls on any type of lift.
The next month all in ground lifts were torn out and all new rotaries installed after a chain snapped on an old rotary lift with a car on it in the stall next to me. I looked over and LJ (the tech in that stall) was white as a ghost. Sometimes dealers can be really cheap with their equipment, so beware.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Oct 11, 2011, 6:38 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 11, 2011, 6:37 PM
Post #10 of 31
(3507 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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I used to use one of those old twin post (front and rear) lifts and the front one leaks. I left a car up in the air one night and the front came down overnight. The rear consisted of a half moon cradle that grabbed the rear axle real close to the pumpkin so when the front went down, the rear shifted slightly and I came into the car laying on it's side in the bay.
Another thing that some of the south Florida guys may remember is there was a Midas store down in Davie, near Ft Lauderdale. They use propane for their torches and had an underground storage tank and overhead reels for the torches. Apparently, late in the afternoon they lifted a car that contacted the line connections. They didn't think too much about it and went home for the night. That line was leaking all night long and totally filled the entire building with propane. When the guys were arriving in the morning, one of them went inside to open up. When he threw the light switch, the building went up like Hiroshima. It broke windows 5 miles away. There was nothing left but a flagpole and the slab that looked like it was swept clean. Of course there were a few fatalities. Some of the inventory landed over a mile away.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 11, 2011, 6:46 PM
Post #11 of 31
(3503 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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Sometimes you forget just how dangerous your job really is.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 11, 2011, 6:59 PM
Post #12 of 31
(3497 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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I've seen a lot in my years. I could tell a lot of stories. I was the manager at a Tire Kingdom back in the 80's and my store had all outside lifts with no cover. One of the morons I had working for me had a car in the air changing shocks and the customer was watching from the waiting area. Apparently he couldn't get the shock loose and broke out the torch. We were watching out the window when we saw the flames coming out of the windows with the car all the way up on the lift. We couldn't do much but watch it burn to rubble. The customer was not a happy camper.
I was running another tire store for another big tire chain one day. The store had 6 bays across the front and tire racks across the end of the bays. My asst. manager was walking along the outside edge of the tire racks and a tech working on a car in one of the bays did something that caused the car to launch forward just as he was walking by. He was pinned between the tire racks and a work bench with the force of the car. Needless to say, he spent some serious time in the hospital.
I don't even want to get into the accidents I'm aware of caused by mounting split rims. And all the wheels that my guys left loose and fell off over the years. That's another whole story.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Oct 11, 2011, 7:00 PM)
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Mr.scotty
Enthusiast
Oct 11, 2011, 8:31 PM
Post #13 of 31
(3491 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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Those are some scary storys.., I don't know if i even want a lift now after hearing all that. lol
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Your only as good as your tools!
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 14, 2011, 5:23 PM
Post #14 of 31
(3472 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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I know what you mean. You know when your going up with a lift and you hear a popping because one of the lift pads settled. I hate that and always jump. Got one lift at work that has a fraying steel cable. Been on my boss's for that for 3 weeks now and he is still lolly gagging. I don't know how much force that cable is storing, but I don't want to find out.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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re-tired
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 14, 2011, 7:29 PM
Post #15 of 31
(3462 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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Quick grab the hot dogs ;
FLAME JOB Whilst working fo a cheby dealer i was witness to the following brain fart.In the bay next to me a newbie was replacing valve stem seals on a 5.7 . Airhose attached to a cyl , key was left on , coil wire was lying in TBI. As eng was turned by hand to better seal valve , intake valve popped open,injector fired,coil sparked. A flame pushed by 120 psi airflow shot up from TBI-it looked like an f-14 on afterburner . It blistered hood in seconds. 3 extingushers had no effect. Finally i thought to pull airhose.
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
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re-tired
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 14, 2011, 7:34 PM
Post #16 of 31
(3461 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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I've been there ,seen that.
During hunting season a friend and avid hunter drove up to the shop in his F-250 4x4 . Engine was smoking badly and leaving a trail of oil. He hops out and exclaims "My engine`s shot". I said calm down its prob just a rear seal. he says, no you dont understand , i`ve SHOT my engine.Turns out as he was getting into truck with a large caliber rifle , he tossed rifle into floor, a chambered bullet fired .Went thru floor , bell housing , just missed torque converter ,thru back of engine and embedding itself on camshaft. You could sight thru holes and see bullet spinning. NOW before you all start, I climbed all over him. Dont put gun away with shell in chamber,dont throw gun into truck, QUIT using steel jacketed bullets !!
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
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Mr.scotty
Enthusiast
Oct 14, 2011, 9:24 PM
Post #17 of 31
(3457 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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That could have been much worse.
You'd think he would have known to disarm the gun before loading it up.
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Your only as good as your tools!
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zmame
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 14, 2011, 9:57 PM
Post #18 of 31
(3456 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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Well I have a story of the most crazy person I have met lol.. I brougt this grand marquis in to put a mud flap back on that has been torn off for 15th time. So I decided to remove a corner of the bumper cover and put bolts and large washers so the next time it came off it would take the bumper off... Anyways I put the car up on the hoist started working away.. about 5mins later my manager comes out and says " Are you eating her groceries?" I replyed "umm.. no".. so I go back to work confused 5 mins later the owner of the shop comes out asks "Are you eating her groceries?".. I replyed "No!... what the hell is the deal with the groceries?".. owner says "The owner of the car says she knows your eating her groceries." so i said whatever 5mins later i start putting the car down she comes in the shop yelling and screaming "Get the F*** away from my car!, I'm never coming back here again!!" Kicked the legs out from the hoist opened the door she peeled rubber all the way out onto the road. Never even payed her bill.
about a month later I seen the same lady in local grocery store yelling at the stock guy for selling baby potatoes lol.
Far as crazy stuff that has happened to me on the job. The guy in the bay next to me almost killed me. He was picking up an ambulance on his hoist. Not only was the vechical to heavy for the hoist the rear leg on the hoist was damaged. So he put a block of wood between the hoist arm and the frame. Ambulance made it all the way to the top of the hoist and once it stopped rising the sudden jolt of it stopping knocked the wood out then it danced around for a while. then the hole thing slid backwards off the hoist and through the garage door. Loudest thing i've herd shook the whole building... Although the ambulanced faired well bent bumper, few broken platic lenses and stuff shook up inside.. Had to get it inspected by somone MOT (ministry of transportation).
Lots of other interesting stuff happends all the time.
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Mr.scotty
Enthusiast
Oct 15, 2011, 8:08 PM
Post #19 of 31
(3433 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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HAHAHA....., What in the heck was wrong with her?
Thats crazy though man.
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Your only as good as your tools!
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 16, 2011, 11:10 PM
Post #20 of 31
(3418 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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This is a very dangerous job..........There are so many different ways to hurt or kill yourself I don't think I could count them all....
The closest I came, I was working in a shop with bays across from each other with a walk way in the middle. I had a Mits p/u up on a single post I was doing frt end & brk work to on the RF. I was buried under the fenderwell when I heard an engine rev up & tires squeel, I took my head out of the well & stepped back to see what it was only to see a Mazda p/u come flying across the walkway, plow into the Mits and push it almost all the way off the rack. It was so far back on the rack the frt wheels were over the center of the rack & the back end was hanging completely off the back. I have no idea how it didn't fall off the back of the rack. The Mazda's bumper was wrapped around the center ram of the rack & when it hit the Mits the hood got wrapped over the windshield & top of the truck.
A tire installer had been doing an LOF on it, it was a 5 sp, in gear & the carb on fast idle with no clutch sw. He reach in thru the window to start it up & the rest was history.....
The bad thing there was he was a good kid, who was a great worker (other than that brain fart), just married with a new baby. We tried everything we could to save his job but it didn't fly. The Mazda was an employees truck from inside. I had talked to him & he was ok with me putting a frt clip & windshield on it but the other truck was a regular customers truck & the rack had been damaged........
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re-tired
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 17, 2011, 7:32 AM
Post #21 of 31
(3406 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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I dont know how many future really good techs this industry has lost to the BEAT THE CLOCK syndrom. > Young techs trying to learn a very demanding skill while having the clock ticking in their head. We once lost a very dedicated tech in training ,been doing every sh-- job that was asked of him , first in ,last out.A real team player. The bean counters decided it was a great idea to do lof's in 30 mins or free., From the time the service writer wrote the ticket ,till the customer paid the bill . The kid was volunteered to be THE lube tech. He was paid .3 per car. he was doing 3 cars at a time . Made it about 3 weeks till it caught up with him . Forgot to put oil in one. Same ending . Just married , one kid with one in the oven . Had just dropped $2500 to snap off for a new box .They did not even pay him thru the rest of the day.
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 17, 2011, 9:41 AM
Post #22 of 31
(3401 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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Yea thats a tough way to go. I've seen that before, usually it's a double gasket, most don't make it out of the shop but unforunately some do...
I saw an old Dodge Dart come in with a 340 that just been rebuild, balanced & blueprinted. This was it's 1st oil change. They had painted the block so the gasket was sticking pretty good to surface so it got about 20 miles out before the gasket gave way. The guy did have & oil pressure gauge so it got shut down but a brand new motor, you know how that goes.
That one went to court, never did find out the out come.
The crazy thing is the guy that did that job was constantly double gasketing them. Of course it was always 5qts of oil in the bay but not that time & yea that was the final straw...
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 17, 2011, 5:07 PM
Post #23 of 31
(3389 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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Why we aren't all dead from doing this crap is a mystery!
My own, a '73 Caddy (about the weight of a cargo ship) on just ramps probably just oil change or whatever but properly rated ramps slowly folded down to flat and I was under the thing. Skinny little sh*t that I am escaped unscathed. All ages ago.
OMG what kind of insanity does it take to do this stuff?
Oh well,
Tom
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 17, 2011, 5:45 PM
Post #24 of 31
(3381 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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That's what happened to my boss's father. He was working at the Ford dealer and was under a car on jacks. Somehow the car fell on him. He was pinned under it, but was able to somehow push the car up off himself and get out. I don't think he picked the car up off the ground, but pushed up on it to unload the suspension. He is a big ole mofo and was too proud to say anything to anyone. He got home after work and told his wife that his chest was killing him and what had happened at work. She made him go to the hospital and they told him he had broken his sternum.
He's in his 70's now and he still is a proud ornry bastard...lol.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Oct 17, 2011, 5:46 PM)
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re-tired
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 17, 2011, 7:38 PM
Post #25 of 31
(3367 views)
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Re: Crazy things We've seen.
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Reminded me of a tragic ending to a similar story. LOOOOONG time ago a single guy was changing rear shocks in his one car garage . It was winter and he had the door down . Had car jacked up , jackstands under axle for safety . The K-MART specials , stamped steel kind . Jack failed . car came down hard on the stands which folded and shot out . One puntured the gas tank. Gas sprayed out onto drop light . Guy was pinned but not crushed . Fire burned itself out . You know what happened to the guy. To this day I will not get under a car without a pair of quality stands AND a quality jack. If I have a tire off I will slide it under the frame .I still am as jumpy as a mouse in a cat house.
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
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