Local Dealer messed up lifting my car. How can I know what damage was done?
- Thread starter GTJack
- Start date
STORMCAT
GT
If It's any piece of mind the GT's frame is so stiff you can pretty much jack up the whole car from one side. I've jacked my car up numerous times while being under the car. You can see that the side with out the jack starts to come up not to far behind the side with the jack. A true test to the frames stiffness I would doubt that you have incurred any major frame twisting or damage.
I would remove both rear belly pans and you will be able to see if they have been bent , twisted or cracked. Get the car up on a 4 post lift and inspect all other areas. ( belly pans, side splitters, wheel well liners etc.. )
I would say if there was any damage it would be to components that can be replaced so I wouldn't lose sleep over the potential of the frame being damaged
Also for the record I've been using a simple scissors type jack at each jack point and they work quite well !!
I would remove both rear belly pans and you will be able to see if they have been bent , twisted or cracked. Get the car up on a 4 post lift and inspect all other areas. ( belly pans, side splitters, wheel well liners etc.. )
I would say if there was any damage it would be to components that can be replaced so I wouldn't lose sleep over the potential of the frame being damaged
Also for the record I've been using a simple scissors type jack at each jack point and they work quite well !!
fjpikul
GT Owner
FUNat50, we have a thread covering those better dealerships. Lists location and who to talk you.
I second what stormcat posted. At the rally I was at Steve A.'s shop watching The GT GUYS work and it was incredable how the car would not twist when being lifted. They lifted the left side rear with a floor jack and the whole left side of the car lifted. Then when they let the car down on a jack stand the car shifted and set the front left tire down and the right rear tire lifted. very strong and stiff frame. I would also guess at most you just have a bent belly pan.
Jones
GT Owner
My pop has been a frame alignment specialist for 20+ years and suggests that the lift alone would not have bent the frame. As Stormcat stated perhaps other components may have been damage but not the frame.
The GT guys lifted the entire side of my car up with one floor jack. The car is built tough. (ok....Ford tough....I beat you guys to it)
And yes, the GT guys are the best!
The GT guys lifted the entire side of my car up with one floor jack. The car is built tough. (ok....Ford tough....I beat you guys to it)
And yes, the GT guys are the best!
GTNJ
GT Owner
STORMCAT ......... This is also the result of improper lifting by a Ford dealer in NY State. The GT guys lifted the car and inspected the damage and replaced the belly pans. Check out the frame and please feel free to comment. I wonder if the frame "rail" is repairable?
From what I am seeing, it looks like that is the BOTTOM (?) of one of the frame rails which has a little dent from the lift pushing against it. I dont think it would or could be replaced, but easily repaired as it looks to be more cosmetic damage than structural. Without seeing it in person its a little hard for me to tell if it has damaged the actual structure strength of the frame, but from the picture I am seeing I would say it has not. Again, this is just an observation from what I can see from the pic which is not much. If someone was to repair that spot, the low gloss silver on the frame should not be hard to match, and on top of all this it is gonna be covered by the belly pan. Just let this be a lesson to all, MAKE YOUR FORD DEALER SHOW YOU THE LIFT THEY ARE USING AND SHOW YOU WHERE THEY PLAN TO MAKE CONTACT UNDER THE CAR. If they wont, move on to the next FORD dealer. Any dealer that will NOT let you see the entire process is NOT WORTH USING. They may give you all this BS about insurance not allowing you to be back there, etc, but 95% of dealers allow people back in there shop for different reasons. Remember, taking these cars to your ford dealer is like taking a ROLEX to the WALMART jewelry repair center. This is NOT a car that 90% of these dealers have ever touched as far as any repair work is concerned. Nothing on these cars is rocket science. Any experienced FORD Mechanic that takes their time to read, research, study this car can do it. Have a sit down conversation with the Tech that the ford dealer is going to have work on your car. I know that we should not HAVE to do this, but it will save all of you time and aggravation if you follow these steps. If anyone is unsure about the tech that is going to work on your car, get your tech on the phone, call me 3 way (870-931-8004) and let me talk to them. I will be able to tell you real quick if they are qualified to do such and will also be willing to give him tips if he needs them.
STORMCAT
GT
It is very sad to see for sure.. But I agree with Shelby. Those frame rails are welded in and there would be more exposure to damage to other parts of the car if you tried to repair them. The dents will be covered by the belly pans. I really doubt it will affect the rigidity or alignment of the frame. If it were me I would be PO'ed for sure !! I would make the dealer pay some how ?? But at the end of the day the new belly pans should hide the scar and life will be fine !! Sorry for your trouble. I am fortunate to have lifts and do my own work. But I encourage all owners to be educated about the car. You don't need to work on it just know what is correct. Before any work is performed do some home work here. it will pay off !!
BlackICE
GT Owner
What a bummer! From what I can see in from the pictures, the frame damage probably isn't serious enough to raise concerns about safety. However, it is serious enough to somewhat devalue the car and piss you off! It cannot be repaired correctly without replacing the frame and that would be much worse in the end than leaving it alone. The dealer should compensate you for the damage and repair what they can (new belly pans). The rails can be cosmedically "repaired" so that it would look good as new. I can't say how, or Shadowman may shoot me. I am sure many of shops have done more questionable work on salvage cars to get them back on the road. That reminds me that all PPI should remove the belly pans and inspect for Bondo repairs on the frame as well has the body.
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GTNJ
GT Owner
What should the dealer pay?
Sad thing is the damage was done before I bought the car (NEW) !
There was no reason at all to lift the car. :rofl
...And yet my dealer thought it was unnecessarilly silly of me to ask for a flashlight so I could check out the underside of my car there on the showroom floor. (Nothing was actually SAID. It was the facial expressions and body language.) 'TUFF!'
fjpikul
GT Owner
You might want to look at the old posts by Enzo Beater and the problems he had in Texas with a joy riding dealership mechanic.
STORMCAT
GT
I would hit them up for for some oil changes & air filters and maybe something out of the Ford Racing catalog. A tranny cooler or the pulley kit would help ease my pain !! If you don't drive that much than you may need to think of something else but I wouldn't let them get off with just a "sorry..."
As you've pbly figured out, you're up the creek getting ANYTHING this late in the game 'cause it'll be a case of, "He says ...he says". The dealer will claim YOU or your mechanic did it after you got it home, blah, blah, blah.
Unless you can get the guy in the service dept who actually CAUSED the damage to come forward (Ya! Like that's gunna happen!), U B holdin' th' bag fer th' fixin', son.
ByeEnzo
GT
Hey Frankie! Thanks for bringing up this old painful episode in my life! Almost 8K miles on the car 2 1/2 years after the "incident". Fortunately, I had no frame damage. New under panels and a new nose cover. The old nose has been cut flat and is on my garage wall next to the Saleen wall art. I spent a few hrs yesterday getting all the rubber and track grime marks off my car... using a clay bar and a fresh coat of wax. Car looks brand new. Ready to go to the Lambo Consorso in a couple of weeks. Gotta represent with some American iron at the car show.
TifosiTed
GT Owner
The factory videos show them using Rotary two post lifts during the assembly process. I just installed a Rotary with three stage arms that are supposed to have a longer reach. I have not had the GT on it yet. I sure hope your wrong as I bought it to work on the GT. As soon as I get the old Jag off it I'll try putting the GT up and take some pictures.
If you saw vids of the factory usin' 'em one would hafta think it's a dunn deal. Setting Murphy's Law aside, why wouldn't they work for you too?
IMO driving it on is the only way to go.
I don't think any of our lifts have 3 stage arms but a lot of different sizes none would work to the exact points.
I really don't see how you can line up the jack points either. Maybe with mirrors. But my car has been lowered and that does not make it any easier.
I don't think any of our lifts have 3 stage arms but a lot of different sizes none would work to the exact points.
I really don't see how you can line up the jack points either. Maybe with mirrors. But my car has been lowered and that does not make it any easier.