The Quickjack systems is designed to raise a car off the ground quick. This design allow a person to change the tires on a car without using ramps or floor jack. If a Quickjack system work properly, the car will rise quick.
However, if a person encounter problems with a Quickjack system, the car may only be half-raised off the ground. The system might display error light, as well. In the worst case, a person might of lost money buying the car with a Quickjack system that had these problem.
Most people encounter the same few problem, and they typically occur in the first year of ownership of a car with a Quickjack system. However, if a person know these problems and their causes, they can avoid having these issue affect the operation of the system to the same extent that the manufacturer advertise in there commercials for the product. One of the first problem that most people encounter is that the Quickjack system do not raise the car equally on each side of the car.
Common Problems With Your Quickjack System
1. Uneven Lifting on Each Side
A person may hear the systems pump make noise as the Quickjack system raise the car. However, one side of the system might stop raising the car one or two inches higher then the other side of the system. This problem occurs because air is trap in the hydraulic system or there is a small leak in the system.
Because the system is designed to use hydraulic fluid to lift a car, any air or leaks in the system can create problem. If a person catches the problem early, the person can bleed the system to remove the trapped air or to add hydraulic fluid to fix the leak in the system.
2. System Refusal to Raise
Another problem with Quickjack system occurs when the system will not raise a car.
The car might be within the weight limit for the Quickjack system, yet it will refuse to raise. This problem occurs with low hydraulic fluid in the system or the hydraulic filter might be clog with debris. Because the hydraulic fluid circulate through the system, if a person does not change the fluid in the system at least once every twelve months, the system will develop this problem.
If a person maintain their Quickjack system properly, they will not experience these problems. A third problem that occur is with the safety lock of a Quickjack system. A person might raise the car and hear the safety locks click into place.
However, the car might still settle between half an inch and an eighth of an inch when the person release the safety lock button. This problem occurs because the safety locks has worn with the weight of the car over time. The weight of the car has cause the locks to settle into an angle that cause them to wear down over time.
If a person raise the Quickjack system an extra two inches past the locks, let the car settle, and then raise the Quickjack system again, the locks will engage with the car proper and the locks will not wear out as quick. One of the other problem with a Quickjack system is an electrical problem. The electrical control pendant might not respond to a person’s command or one side of the system might shut off while the car is being raised.
This problem occurs due to corrosion in the electrical connection to the system, which can happen due to the moisture or debris in the car while the car is being raised on the Quickjack system. If a person apply contact cleaner and dielectric grease to the electrical connections of the Quickjack system every time they change the hydraulic fluid in the system, the Quickjack system will last longer and have fewer electrical problem.
3. Slow Lifting Speed
Another problem occur when the Quickjack system does not raise as quickly as when the system was new.
This problem occurs when the hydraulic fluid in the Quickjack system have thickened due to the car missing an oil change. If a person use the wrong viscosity of hydraulic oil in their Quickjack system or use an oil other than the specified Quickjack hydraulic oil, the system will have a short lifespan. Because the pumps create the hydraulic fluid that lift the car, using the wrong oil will damage these hydraulic pump motor quick.
4. Improper Frame Rail Contact
One issue that occur due to the design of Quickjack system is the cars frame rail may not be in proper contact with the Quickjack system. This problem will cause a loud metallic sound as the car might shift sideways between one and two inches from the vertical position of the car. This problem is more common in cars with aluminum body or aftermarket side skirt.
The solution to this problem is to purchase a good set of rubber frame rail adapter for the Quickjack system. By taking an extra thirty second to place the Quickjack system into proper contact with the car’s frame rail, a person can avoid having to replace the Quickjack system due to a bent frame rail.
5. Unusual Grinding or Rattling Noises
A fourth problem with a Quickjack system is that it make unusual noise while the car is being raised.
A person might hear grinding, rattling, and knocking sound from the system. These sound indicate that the Quickjack system component are not functioning correctly. If the car make these sound, the most common cause of the problem is a loose setscrew in one of the motor or a failing bearing in the motor.
Because the Quickjack system is low to the ground in a garage, the Quickjack system collect grit and moisture that will damage the motor bearing over time. If a person take the time to spray contact cleaner and dielectric grease into the motor every time they change the hydraulic fluid, the motor will last longer.
6. Hydraulic Cylinder Seal Leakage
The fifth problem that occur in a Quickjack system is slow leakage from the systems hydraulic cylinder seal.
After a period of time, the seal wear against the chrome rod that raise the car and the system will leak fluid. Additionally, the rod may have pick up grit from the ground while the car is parked in the driveway. Quickjack system are relatively easy to rebuild the hydraulic cylinder.
However, if a person wipe the chrome rod after using the Quickjack system and store the system in a dry corner in the garage, the system’s seal will last longer. Spending a few minute each month to maintain the Quickjack system will ensure that the system will not become a five-hour repair job when something go wrong with it. While there will be problem with a Quickjack system with time, most car owner will enjoy the benefit of the system for many year of car ownership.
If a person learn the common cause of the problems with a Quickjack system, they can avoid these problem. The Quickjack system is a clever design and is helpful when all the specification of the car and the system are met. The likelihood of a person encounter a problem with the system is based off their knowledge of the system.
By paying attention to the small detail with a Quickjack system, a person will be able to enjoy the benefit of the system for many year.
