Widow Maker Jack Strikes Again

**Brooklyn** · 05-14-2016 03:56 PM

Pot hole takes out tire. Rgr that. No biggie - swap to spare and switch to my all-season shod rotor replicas until the local shop opens on Monday. Break out the widow maker after loosening bolts and carefully jack car up. Parking brake is set. Remove first bolt and turn to put it down just in time to hear the jack collapse. Lower trim where the jack mounts has cracked. Bunch of small pieces that apparently hold the fender in place are broken. I'm guessing $1500 easily? Already soaked by rain, I wimped out and called roadside assistance.
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**HeelBuff** · 05-14-2016 04:07 PM

Dude... Watch out for black cats.

**Barritia** · 05-14-2016 04:08 PM

This jack in these cars is so damn dangerous it's not even funny. I took mine out the car so there's no way to even use it. I have nitro fill so I will call them if I need roadside.

**b8audis4** · 05-14-2016 04:28 PM

It is almost an insult to include a jack that unusable in a car. Sorry to hear about your incident, but glad you are ok. Reminder to just call roadside when it is needed.

**jfeger** · 05-14-2016 07:52 PM

Wow glad your ok. It's probably also good you weren't in the middle of swapping the wheel. Had this dropped without a wheel on you'd likely have a much more expensive repair. Also, I had no idea these jacks were this bad. I might look into a replacement option.

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**VVG** · 05-15-2016 04:21 AM

If the jack collapsed, Audi should pick up the tab on the repair and cover any diminished value to the car as a result.

**redrocker55** · 05-15-2016 08:05 AM

Just an FYI for anyone who needs to use the OEM jack...it's a smart idea to loosen the lug bolts before you jack the car up. This way you have much less chance of rocking the car on that small jack and risking a fall. I had this happen to me on a Expedition I used to own. It's scary when that car comes crashing down.

**AudiA6A5** · 05-15-2016 08:54 AM

screw that POS jack!....AAA or road side assistance every time, that's why we have it.....glad your wife isn't a widow!

**Brooklyn** · 05-15-2016 09:25 AM

Lug bolts were completely loosened. Failure occurred while I was pulling the bolts out with my hand. Just glad it didn't happen while the wheel was off.

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**agent47** · 05-15-2016 09:38 AM

Tbh I am glad on this thread since it shows how shitty the jack is and I am not the only one who got fucked. I hit a pothole, tire blew out on an embanked road. I was stranded on a curve. Already knew it wont be a good idea to use the car's jack so called up Audi roadside. Mother****** contractor took up the job and then called them about 90mins later to cancel saying he didnt have the right equipment. Wtf? Same stuff happened with Michelin's roadside assistance- same contractor. After about 2hrs out on the road, pulled the jack out, yanked the car up, only for the jack to roll a bit and end up sliding inside the rocker panel. Luckily the rocker panel didnt crack. Took about 2 more tries and a rock to stabilize it. I hate that jack with a burning heart.

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**chucky0731** · 05-15-2016 12:49 PM

Ouch...that was so dangerous.

I always call AAA and have them change the tire for me if I ever get a flat. Too much trouble and dangerous to change a tire on a busy Frwy in Los Angeles.

**B-Time** · 05-15-2016 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by redrocker55

Just an FYI for anyone who needs to use the OEM jack...it's a smart idea to loosen the lug bolts before you jack the car up. This way you have much less chance of rocking the car on that small jack and risking a fall.

That is the proper procedure for any jack.

**Serpent** · 05-15-2016 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by chucky0731

Ouch...that was so dangerous.

I always call AAA and have them change the tire for me if I ever get a flat. Too much trouble and dangerous to change a tire on a busy Frwy in Los Angeles.

+1, agreed.

**AudiS4SD** · 05-17-2016 07:23 AM

Good info. I assume this car jack is the same used on the S4?

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**Brooklyn** · 05-17-2016 02:30 PM

VW has been shipping that jack since at least my 1998 Passat. Estimated damage is coming in surprisingly low. Apparently the side skirt and associated small parts come in at about $450 unpainted. All together, I might walk out of this for about $2k total, including the replacement Conti DW. I took a closer look and it appears the jack was so well seated in the factory pocket, that once the car started coming down the jack's angle eventually reached a point where it wouldn't give any more. When that happened, the side skirt gave. The jack "pocket" completely ripped out and the side skirt snapped near that area, as did a couple of clips under there. I'm hoping the front fender just needs to be re-secured to the side skirt once its been replaced. Going to go ahead and have my front and rear bumpers repainted as well. Someone parked on my rear bumper last year, and my front bumper is littered with rock chips. Debating now whether to have the entire wheel refinished or just touch up the small area that looks to have had some paint chipped away. Of course, the county filled the potholes on that road two days later.

**ayoo456** · 05-17-2016 05:20 PM

I hate that jack as well. Dropped on me the second day I had the car

Galaxy S7

**RRF985** · 05-17-2016 05:59 PM

Since you're having your bumper repainted you should consider a clear bra after the cure time. Glad that the damage is coming in relatively low. Those widow makers suck.

**Brooklyn** · 05-17-2016 10:59 PM

Definitely. Had planned to do that as soon as a bought the car but the paint was jacked up from jump street!

Originally Posted by RRF985

Since you're having your bumper repainted you should consider a clear bra after the cure time. Glad that the damage is coming in relatively low. Those widow makers suck.

**tph4m86** · 05-18-2016 12:26 AM

Details on your brake setup, it looks so nice! Did you powder coat your calipers?

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**RAF_S7** · 05-18-2016 02:21 AM

Ive been driving Audis and using Audi jacks for the best part of 15 years and never had one collapse on me when using it for intended purpose (Changing out a flat tire)

What are you guys doing to them??

**MyXbfS4** · 05-21-2016 11:59 PM

So this happened right now while my bf was changing his tire. the jack fell and smashed his arm. even crazier the fire dept attempted to put the tire back on (see red arrow) and the jack fell again, luckily not injuring anyone this time.

....look at the the fire man's expression if you zoom in. even he's like wtf lol