Work was being done on a classic car, but things quickly took a turn when the scissor lift it was sitting on malfunctioned, leaving the vehicle at a dangerous angle.
The unusual predicament was shared on the subreddit r/MechanicAdvice on Oct. 22. In the post, pictures were shared of what looks to be a Morris Minor, and it was said that the vehicle was put on the lift for some annual tinkering.
The vehicle was supported using a combination of rubber and timber blocks on the recognized jacking points. However, something went wrong when the lift appeared to come out of its steel track.
A wire was crushed by the lift, despite not even touching it, according to the post. Now the person conducting the work faces a challenge of getting the vehicle safely back on the ground without causing further damage.
A Bizarre Malfunction
Car stuck on failed scissor lift – HELP!
by
u/Desperate_Bike8508 in
MechanicAdvice
The person conducting the work said they contacted the manufacturer, which reportedly blamed user error and told them they would have to resolve the issue without their help.
However, the poster wasn’t convinced that they were responsible for what happened and said they intended to investigate whether a manufacturing fault was to blame once the problem had been resolved.
They considered using a forklift to raise one side of the vehicle but didn’t know the best way to go about doing it. They also noted the lift came from a reputable UK-based supplier, rather than being a cheap product from Amazon.
Users Suggest Calling the Fire Department
One commenter on the post suggested calling the local fire department’s non-emergency line and explaining the situation. They pointed out that the incident could provide firefighters with a training opportunity. Firefighters also have access to equipment such as airbags, jacks, and support tools that could potentially help with the recovery.
The poster replied and admitted that wasn’t something they would have thought of. They said they would make the call to see whether it was a viable option.
Forklift Expected To Help With Recovery
In an update to the original post, they explained that the lift had a pressure-relief system, which might provide a way forward if it could be used alongside a secondary means of securing the lift, such as a forklift.
The poster also said they were trying not to panic while working out how to resolve the problem. After searching online for a solution, they found the situation so unusual that they couldn’t even find a name for the type of malfunction.
A forklift was expected to arrive the following day, leaving the poster hoping the lift would hold until then.
As of this writing, no further updates have been posted, leaving the outcome of the unusual situation uncertain.