So it's a lovely day, and since my short antenna (courtesy of Lord Takuban over on SC) came Friday I thought I'd get up early and get it installed, before settling down to watch the Leeds Utd game.
It was going quite well, until I tried to pull one of the clips out from underneath the storage compartment...
(http://ekona.my-bulldog.com/pages/ekona_my-bulldog_com/accident1.jpg)
(http://ekona.my-bulldog.com/pages/ekona_my-bulldog_com/accident2.jpg)
(http://ekona.my-bulldog.com/pages/ekona_my-bulldog_com/accident3.jpg)
Yup, the handbrake slipped, the jack went and my car fell down, landing neatly on the rear brake disc. B*ll*cks.
I couldn't slide the jack back under the jacking point, so I rang my Dad and he came round and lifted the car up (from the heavy end!) just enough so I could slide the jack back under and re-lift the car. I wasn't actually too worried about the whole thing, as I'm in on the GB for the Black Diamond discs so even if the whole of the rear disc was fubar'd, I've got a new one on the way, but...
There's no damage at all! All that happened was that the metal cover that protects the back of the disc took the full weight and bent slightly, but not actually enough to even be touching the disc (it bent straight back out easily enough with a screwdriver). Heh, I thought that was all the damage anyway, until I tried putting the wheel arch lining back in...
I couldn't quite work out why I couldn't get the plastic to sit back in properly on the right hand side of the arch, until I realised exactly what had happened. The car hadn't actually just landed on the disc, it had landed on my nice new side skirt which (and I'm so lucky for this!) had simply bent up, pushed the actual bodypanel into a stupid shape, and then bent straight back into shape again! There's a small scratch on the bottom of the skirt, but you can't see it from the top. I managed to manhandle the panel underneath it into enough of a shape that I could tuck the liner away again. Fitted the aerial, took the car out for a spin and everything is hunky-dory.
So all in all, I'm having a very lucky day really. Yes, I know everyone's going to tell me that the handbrake is rubbish (it was on as far as possible anyway), and that you shouldn't jack the car up on a slope ( I know, but I've done it loads of times before). You're right, of course, but meh. It's been an experience, anyway. s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Bloody hell s:shock: :shock: s:shock: Just as well you weren't underneath it at the time. Amazed there is no damage - you really were lucky to have gotton away with it!!!!
Outch s:? :? s:?
Btw, that metal disc cover couldn't hold a thing, it's actually pretty flexy.
s:shock: :shock: s:shock: Lucky escape for you - glad you didn't catch the car on a body part and everything can be salvaged.
Quote from: "Ekona"I rang my Dad and he came round and lifted the car up (from the heavy end!)
SuperDad! They're handy to have around, aren't they - I'm sure we've all been rescued from many "oops" situations like this.
Hang in there, bud.
oooh F**K Dan s:shock: :shock: s:shock: , your a scummy bugger getting away with that one. perhaps a 2-tonne jack should be added to the Christmas list already
You know what the worst part of all is (and something I forgot to mention in the post above)?
When putting the inner liner back on, I must've been leaning in the rear quarter panel a wee bit too much, as I've managed to push the bloody thing in! There's no damage to the paintwork or anything as it's such a gentle 'dent', but I can't be arsed to take the wheel and liner out again just to push it out: I'm going to order a set of the mini dent-puller things and do it the lazy way. s8) 8) s8)
I've really had one of those days today. I don't think I ever want to touch my car again. s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
Well, I have to say I am impressed mate.
Your car trips up and lands on its bum, and you ensure you get some great images of said accident.
A true photographic professional - ever thought of becoming a on-the-spot reporter?
Glad all is well, you lucky get'
Quote from: "Ekona"I can't be arsed to take the wheel and liner out again just to push it out
Do it! Now!
Metal stretches when it's dented. Wait a while and you'll never get it back to level again s:? :? s:?
yeah pull your finger out you lazy git s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted:
Dan! s:shock: :shock: s:shock: Thank god you weren't underneath that, hope its all ok.
Quote from: "kanujunkie"oooh F**K Dan s:shock: :shock: s:shock: , your a scummy bugger getting away with that one. perhaps a 2-tonne jack should be added to the Christmas list already
And axle stands..
Dan.. you're never working on my car s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Lucky so and so though!
Now.. if you get those dent pullers.. can you come and try them on my dents? s;) ;) s;)
I've a set of (nearly new and still boxed) axle stands and 2 tonne trolley jack redundant in my garage and they need to be sold s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
I did exactly the same thing with my wife's new BMW 3 series coupe a few weeks ago whilst fitting some mud flaps. Absolutely sh*t myself!
Still makes me feel sick when I think about it!
The dent's out now (no noticable imprint left), and I've even cleaned the air filter and MAF to try and make up for dropping my poor car on it's arse yesterday! s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
I must admit, I'm finding the whole situation kinda weird. I love my car to pieces and yet I almost break the damn thing and I find it amusing, rather than crying buckets and swearing lots. Still, I guess that's a good thing.
Quote from: "Ekona"So it's a lovely day, and since my short antenna (courtesy of Lord Takuban over on SC) came Friday I thought I'd get up early and get it installed, before settling down to watch the Leeds Utd game.
You really were having a lucky day, Leeds won s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
No luck there, we'll be back in the Premier League before you know it! Eddie Lewis is going to be a great buy for us, he was outstanding yesterday.
I think I would opt for the crying buckets and swearing lots myself!
Now I'm scared when it comes to fitting my LT antenna! Although it won't be too soon, got a lovely note from the post office saying I owe them £11.58 cause of customs...b****rds
Quote from: "IHateJam"got a lovely note from the post office saying I owe them £11.58 cause of customs.
Jeez s:shock: :shock: s:shock: How much was the antenna? Is it diamond encrusted or something?
Quote from: "IHateJam"..b****rds
Bollards? Blagards? s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
It was about £60, got the conversion from a power antenna to standard with it
Ekona - please do us all a favor and get a trolley jack and set of jack stands. The emergency jack is not meant for anything except changing a tire and the bloody things have killed a lot of people. Don't be one of them.
A 2-ton trolley low-profile racing jack runs about $40, stands can be had as cheaply as $10 per pair. Now, you know the car has a jacking point just forward of the differential and just behind the front axle. So you slide the jack in there, give it five or six pumps and slip the stands in. Give the jack handle a turn and the car is safe and ready to work on. Takes no more than 2 or 3 minutes, tops. Compare that to removing, unpacking, and fitting the emergency jack, fiddling with the crank rod, turning it 50 times around and slipping, cursing, etc. Just to get one wheel up.
I do commend you on getting a better antenna solution. Makes a big improvement.
Quote from: "southerneditor"Ekona - please do us all a favor and get a trolley jack and set of jack stands. The emergency jack is not meant for anything except changing a tire and the bloody things have killed a lot of people. Don't be one of them.
You're right, of course. I have made light of the whole situation really, but the truth remains that had I been under the car at the time, I'd be dead now.
Please everyone, don't be as stupid as me. I certainly won't make the same mistake again.
How about a stub nose arial fitting meet? Where it can be done safely s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Good idea: I'll even show you how to do it if you want... s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
s:) :) s:)
Philster_d
*Secretly glad that he used his old sierra jack to swap the wheels on his new car*
hmm wondering what I should do to fit mine now. Don't want my car to fall on me s:shock: :shock: s:shock:
Mind you, doesn't really matter yet as royal mail are still holding on the bloody thing s:evil: :evil: s:evil: