i bet if enough of us write in to AoA, something could be done. I personally had mine fail on me as i was taking my front wheel off, all lug bolts were off the wheel and the jack just failed and car came down on the wheel.
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i bet if enough of us write in to AoA, something could be done. I personally had mine fail on me as i was taking my front wheel off, all lug bolts were off the wheel and the jack just failed and car came down on the wheel.
The OEM jack is meant to be used when changing a flat on the road, not as an all purpose shop jack. It is perfectly fine for its intended use. Even with that said, I've used my OEM jack probably 100 times. I've used it in situations I probably shouldn't have, and while I don't do that anymore...it did work fine.
i had my jack bend and the car fell. Thank God the tire was still on or it woulda been ulgy
someone should start a new thread somewhere on the site where they list their address or a willing attorney's address so that everyone can mail in a formatted letter outlining what happened to them, and any pictures or description of possible damage.
all that could then be put into a folder and mailed out to AoA as a packet to their legal department.
I've had mine fail on me as well . . . it just bent in half sideways, buckled and slid out from under the car. I would never use it for any real work where I can use my real jack. In a pinch though, I still have used the OEM one a few more times when I had flats on the side of the road though. Just work fast . . .
jesus christ.... I have 2 of these things and I refuse to use them. One sits in the trunk just in case I REALLY need it. Have a 4 ton floor jack for major work. I will never feel right if I have to use this on the side of the road to change a flat.
sorry... but this is bull. you've just been very lucky that you've used it so many times and its still hasn't failed on you.Quote:
Originally Posted by b6onboost
i don't care if the OEM jack is only designed to be used once or many times or emergencies only, that thing is unsafe and should not be used period. wether you're changing the tire on the side of the road or actaully stupid enough to do any kind of a repair with it. like i said all i was doing was jackin car up to get my big jack under it and it failed on me, same hapenned to many other people. that thing is tragedy waiting to happen.
Quote:
Originally Posted by turbo kraut
Mine did the exact same thing on perfectly level concrtete inside an aircraft hangar while i was at the tool box 100 feet away. I threw that pos out
I can't imagine getting under that thing
i know a guy in the area that was working on his car with one of these jacks in front of his driveway. He was under the car when the jack failed and burned off layers of his face because he was working on a vehicle before cooldown. Basically the oil pan melted his face
pictures of said face please.
forget the coilpack recall we need these to be recalled..
^^^ hard to recall when its already in the trash :-)
It's not bull. I am not exaggerating the 100 either. Yes, for years it was my only jack and was always used for minor work at each corner. Mainly wheel swapping, never with me under the car. Posts like these have scared me into not using it anymore though, but I cannot personally say anything bad about it. Mine has far exceeded the intended use without issue.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alexza4
/\Quote:
Originally Posted by IVRINGS
That is the way to do it.
BUT.
I prefer to use my Hi-Lift jack to swap my wheels.
http://jeepin.com/features/revolvers/revolver5.jpg
yeah, cause hi-lift's are safe to use anywhere (as long as anywhere is a garage floor).... [rolleyes]Quote:
Originally Posted by dougyfresh
just bustin balls - but really... i HATE using them. they work great if you have an intentionally placed part on your car for use with one, and if you're on good, hard, level ground....
aka never when you need one
Quote:
Originally Posted by BNZ TOY
Same here mine walked the car sideways and bent the lip of the jack.
I was trying to get the car up to use my jack stands too.
Carry a scissor jack and block of wood for the front. Jack fits under the rear jack points fine.
I still got mine somewhere I think so I'm down for a joint class action lawsuit. [mad]
Audi definitely failed on the jackstand..that shit happened to me a month after i bought my car when i was changing a tire..it scared the shit out of me..so i went a bought one of those floor jacks
can you imagine having to use that POS on the side of the road with 18wheelers thundering by or on some gravel or grass on the edge of the road? forget it......
when i was working roadside assistance - half my calls for "flats" were cars (of all makes and models, yes i had 2 audis) that had fallen off the jacks for that exact reason. 18 wheeler roars by @ around 80mph and woosh - car comes down. hard.Quote:
Originally Posted by Papachristou
I was joking about the Hi-Lift and the Audi. I use a hydraulic floor jack like this on with the Audi.Quote:
Originally Posted by B6Lovin
http://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/397680...FLOOR_JACK.jpg
Also use that with the Jeep unless I'm offroad and fubared a wheel. Then I use my Hi-Lift.
THAT THING SHOULD NOT BE USED.... EVER>> PERIOD never know when it can fall never know when ur luck runs out
FOR SALE: One brand new, never-used Audi OEM manual jack. Item still in its original location in trunk. A1 condition. Reason for selling: I have a trusty old reliable and safe 2.5-ton hydraulic jack in my trunk already. Best offer, no low ballers please.
[:p]
Same thing happened to me a few weeks ago. I had my hand on top of the wheel and the car came down. My finger is still a bit fucked up from that. Hurt like hell!Quote:
Originally Posted by manguyen
yeahp. When i got a flat on the side of a highway during rush hour, the thing popped off while I had the whole wheel off of the car, so of course my audi just fell to the ground.
After 45 minutes of standing there like an idiot unable to contact anybody who would actually be able to help me, a technician that actually worked at the Audi Dealer where I bought the car stopped and helped me out.
I still don't have a replacement, so if I get another flat im SOL to change the tire myself.
2nd. I've used mine uncountable times. It's the only jack I've ever used on my car. I still use it. I always use a jack stand though. But reading this thread has scared me a little so I think I'll go grab a nice floor jack before mine fails.Quote:
Originally Posted by b6onboost
then both you guys are lucky. that's all i got to say. and i'm actually glad that this thread has possibly made you change your minds. cause' sooner or later that thing will fail and at the worst possible time. and there's nothing worse then false sence of security.Quote:
Originally Posted by a4wheelin
Well thanks for sharing your shitty experience so that the rest of us can learn. [up]Quote:
Originally Posted by alexza4
I took it out of my trunk once and after about 10 minutes of fiddling with it, I couldn't ever figure out how to use it.
No problem bud. I can't beleivE this thread keeps popping up but it's good I suppose.... Many people know how big of a POS thta Jack is but a lot don't so if thus thread has helped to change someones mind about using it i'm happy.Quote:
Originally Posted by a4wheelin
haha good one.Quote:
Originally Posted by GermanAudi
Hello-
I work at a law firm and we have a client with severe injuries from proper use of the widow maker jack.
If anyone else out there also became injured after using the jack please call or email our office. 818-528-7600.
My email is [email protected]
Thank you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 377Z
People use these for things other than rolling fenders?
Do they still use this design on the current generation cars?
Widow maker failed badly on my Jetta.
I went out and picked up a Honda jack (made of steel) to replace my Alum. and plastic VW one.
I wont go near these things anymore.
Lesson learned, and lucky neither me or the car was damaged.
Was taking tire off to put spare on, just as I had started to take tire from hub, widowmaker broke and car fell on the tire, heres what it did to my fender :(
http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMAG0199.jpg
http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMAG0200.jpg
sorry about the muddy tires, it was raining that day :/
I kept my jack from the mustang I used to own. It's nice and low and a better design than the Audi jack.
I just use my low profile floor jack when I'm at home though.