Please use jack stands.

[Senor_Taylor]

Really sad news today, as a Miata.net member has passed away after his car fell from a scissor jack onto him. His wife found him.

Most people are making a point about scissor jacks, but I feel the need to point out that NO jack is acceptable to leave your car on. Jack stands are a must, and it frightens me how often I see people get under a car while on jacks, or on jack stands that are on a soft or uneven surface. Even when using jack stands, have the jack under another part of the car in case the stands fail, and always always always let someone know when you're under the car and get them to check on you every 30 minutes or so.

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So, a few weeks ago I got a hold from an administrator in a different Miata forum, that knew that Garret and I were friends.

This administrator, had received an email stating that Soledad had passed away.

I posted a thread in the Mid Atlantic sub-forum here @ M.Net, inquiring Soledad's status. Forum member Kevin Spann (kevinspann), PM stating that Garret in fact had passed away.

This past weekend, I received a PM from forum member Jerry (bassman1) and he gave me his phone number to contact him, as he was a VERY close friend of Garret's.

Evidently, in a completely out of character move, Garret, lifted his '90 silver NA (Soledad), with scissor jacks, to install a wideband. Though he had a real floor jack and jackstands, Gar decided to use the scissors to lift the car.

At some point, the car fell on him, and Garret was found dead by his wife.

I'm in tears as I type this. Please, use proper jacking methods to work on your car. Garret was in his mid 30's and had a lot to live for.

I miss my friend.

[ScottyB]

that's super tragic. just a completely avoidable situation. hell i wouldn't even climb under a car that was up on just a hydraulic jack let alone one of those scissor contraptions. i can't imagine being his wife and finding your husband like that.

its said a lot, but seriously, there's no excuse not to have jack stands if you can afford a jack + your own tools and work on a car in the first place. they aren't even that expensive. have at least 2. even the Harbor Freight ones are fine for general use. the shitty scissor jacks are good for two things only, and that's quickly changing a tire or being thrown in the trash.

i get super nervous being under a car, so its 4 jack stands + i lay the tires up under the frame rails too. if my car still manages to kill me after all that, then i guess it really was my time to bite the dust.

[Senor_Taylor]

I really don't trust scissor jacks at all. Mine from my original Miata actually broke one time when I was using it.

[CaptainHenreh]

I would use a scissor jack to change a tire if I were stranded with a flat and precisely no other time.

Jack + rest on jackstands + reset the jack. I ain't goin' out like that, don't be a lazy fuck.

[SlimKlim]

Shame. Seems like this story comes up every couple of years. Some things just aren't worth cutting corners.

One thing I always do when I get the car on stands is just grab the A-pillar and shake the shit out of it, just to make sure all of them are firmly seated before I roll under there.

[JPolen01]

Shame. Seems like this story comes up every couple of years. Some things just aren't worth cutting corners.

Yup. A few years back a guy in MD was crushed by his civic doing the same thing. Completely avoidable. Sad nonetheless.

[Scott]

Really sad news today, as a Miata.net member has passed away after his car fell from a scissor jack onto him. His wife found him.

Garret was from Richmond and was a good friend of mine. This happened several months ago actually, I was at his funeral with several people in the Miata community, he was a really good guy. The evening before I started my new job in Richmond, the slave cylinder failed in my Miata leaving my stranded in the ghetto at dusk. He was the first to come to my assistance with parts and tools. He would give anyone the shirt off of his back. Whenever we would have a tech day, he would be the one preaching safety to everyone, I still can't wrap my head around him getting under a car with just a scissor jack.

I have since upgraded all of my jack stands and jacks, even in my "track kit"


Please everyone be safe when working on cars.

[Senor_Taylor]

I see. I guess I didn't understand the wording in the post on M.net. Sorry for your loss, man.