I jumped my oil change ramps and hurt my vibe.

chris777 · Post by **chris777** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:41 am

I am sick.I was going to change the oil this morning, to see how it was.And when I tried going up the ramps, the smooth garage floor, apparently combined with the vibes power sucked them both completely through to the other side. The exact details are another story, but their definitely seems to be some bending particularly under the drivers side, is it hopefully just superficial, or do I need to take the vibe to a mechanic, or the dealer?

nygiantzz1 · Post by **nygiantzz1** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:55 am

Ouch! I watched my father in law do that once with a Ford taurus. You need to take it to a shop and get it on a lift. You could have damaged your brake lines, fuel line, oil pan, transmission pan, etc.

chris777 · Post by **chris777** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:02 am

I hope its little more than cosmetic, I was mostly concerned with possible frame damage. It has been an awful day, and totally drained me, Ill try and explain what happend when I get rested up.

lovemyraffe · Post by **lovemyraffe** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:20 am

+1 on getting it to a shop and on a lift.

random · Post by **random** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:22 am

Good luck with whatever it may be.When I changed my oil, I did not even raise the car, just slid an oil pan underneath and got on my back. This car is easy especially for the oil filter. All my previous vehicles have had a much more difficult oil filter to get at.

WaveAction · Post by **WaveAction** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:10 am

i hate the ramps..prefer floor jack and stands..or a hoist if you have the luxury

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:14 am

Front wheel drive and ramps just don't mix. Hope it's not too serious.

kevera · Post by **kevera** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:18 am

Lowered Vibe and wheel ramps=winTry changing your oil when your slammed.

chris777 · Post by **chris777** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:59 pm

Quote, originally posted by kevera Â»Lowered Vibe and wheel ramps=winTry changing your oil when your slammed.thats what happened Igot slammed lol.

ClunkClunk · Post by **ClunkClunk** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:13 pm

I've never had issues with all the FWD cars I've owned and using ramps. I just keep a foot/hand on the ebrake and verrrry gently roll it up. I've done it probably 40 to 50 times without issue.Sorry to hear of your problems, Chris. I hope they turn out to be minor.

ToolGuy · Post by **ToolGuy** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:58 pm

Oh boy Chris, I feel bad for you! Man does that suck. I have never done that but the thought crosses my mind when I use mine. Two things to consider... I bought a set of Rhino Ramps due to their low profile and my Corvette. I use them on every car now because they are made of plastic and are light weight. You may want to look into a set and can be found at most auto stores.OR lift the car with a floor jack first and then slide a ramp under each wheel. Lower and remove the jack to work on the car. Do the opposite when you are done. Again, sorry to hear about this...

isaaclud · Post by **isaaclud** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:07 pm

I feel your pain brother....I was using ramps for YEARS until i got the5-speed VIBE....i cant seem to get the damn thingup the ramps without smelling something thatreminds me of a burnt clutch....so i jack it now...(especially since I rotate tires every 10,000 miles.FUNNY STORY....i used to have a '95 SHO and when i first took it up the ramps I overshot them....3 TIMES IN A ROW!!!! that car just kept leaping no matter how easy i was on the gas...that afternoon involved ALOT of sweat andprofanity.....i kept having to pull the ramps out fromunderneath the car and try again.....ONE OF THE WORST AUTOMOTIVE AFTERNOONSOF MY LIFE......feel free to laugh at my expense....I miss that car

kevera · Post by **kevera** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:37 pm

Rhino ramps FTW.Love those things,light and tough as steel.

NibCrom · Post by **NibCrom** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:18 am

Quote, originally posted by ToolGuy Â»Oh boy Chris, I feel bad for you! Man does that suck. I have never done that but the thought crosses my mind when I use mine. Two things to consider... I bought a set of Rhino Ramps due to their low profile and my Corvette. I use them on every car now because they are made of plastic and are light weight. You may want to look into a set and can be found at most auto stores.OR lift the car with a floor jack first and then slide a ramp under each wheel. Lower and remove the jack to work on the car. Do the opposite when you are done. Again, sorry to hear about this...Could not have said it better.

KNINE · Post by **KNINE** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:45 am

Quote, originally posted by kevera Â»Rhino ramps FTW.Love those things,light and tough as steel.+1 on Rhino ramps. They are prone to slide on a smooth or wet garage floor.I have the 5-speed and everytime a get into the gas, I think about overshooting the ramps. I usually end up stalling the car at least once, because I'm afraid of giving it too much gas. I thought I was just phobic. It feels good to share.

ToolGuy · Post by **ToolGuy** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:18 pm

Forgot to add how I get all my cars on my ramps...Start with the ramps wedged under the tires. Then I put the window all the way down. Look out at the ramp as far as I can and with my left foot on the brake, I give it gas to get it going. The left foot is there to brake at any time. If for some reason I cannot drive it up, I keep my foot on the brake, give it gas and gently take my foot off the brake. Doing a brake torque kind of thing. Will not hurt the car at all! Hope your damage was minimal...

ClunkClunk · Post by **ClunkClunk** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:15 am

Another tip - if you have Rhino Ramps, or some kind of ramps with rubber underneath to increase the ramp's traction on the floor, make sure to clean it once in a while. A little bit of dust on those and they can slide across a garage floor instead of sticking and staying put.

chris777 · Post by **chris777** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:37 pm

The ramps are pretty old, and the vibe just ate em lol, I have had them slide several times before, on other vehicles, and I have overshot before on a civic, but the vibe sucked em under. I think that unless I have any issues with alignment or something else I am gonna hold off on having it looked at, as my family suspects the best it will get me is a large bill on cosmetic damage to a part of the car few people see.I am looking at rhino ramps, but since I wont be changing the oil for at least 3k, I have a little bit to wait, I am torn though If I thought I could take it somewhere and get it done right for a fair price I would, But I just don't know if I can. I know their is no way I can wax it myself, I have too many problems to do something like that.something like oil, that I only have to yank a wrench once in a while maybe.on the floor jack notes I had a hard time with that getting the jacks out, I kept having the whole side of the car go up on whatever side I was raising up, then once I got one side on a ramp, it slid around as I raised the other side.But other than having to get a crush washer plus Ihave a minor fill issue, It was fine.my other queston is I spilled some oil with the poor design of the oil bottle, so Ibught a quart and topped it off, now its is about the width of one of the measure indents too high, should Igo to the trouble of trying to drain it back down for that small of an amout over mayby a 16th of an inch?

I jumped my oil change ramps and hurt my vibe.

I jumped my oil change ramps and hurt my vibe.

Re: I jumped my oil change ramps and hurt my vibe. (chris777)

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Re: I jumped my oil change ramps and hurt my vibe. (chris777)

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Re: I jumped my oil change ramps and hurt my vibe. (ToolGuy)

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Re: I jumped my oil change ramps and hurt my vibe. (chris777)