Crushed Sills

[chromedome]

After picking my Galaxy up from the Ford dealer following some work, I noticed that both sills had been crushed by jacking the car up on them.

 

Both sills are being repaired but when asked if it's normal to jack a car up using the sills they said it's OK with Ford.

 

Some feedback would be appreciated, I don't fancy knackered sills every time my Galaxy takes a trip to the garage.

 

Thanks

[Guest SA Intruder]

The practice of jacking on the sills is pathetic.

 

The Owners' manual shows the points to do this to change a wheel.

 

If you do this, you buckle the sills and remove loads of paint. What a friggin' joke.

 

On the Mondeos, most tyre places hoist the rear of the estates on the long arms and bend them. Sick. Dangerous. Costly.

 

The Shalaxy should be lifted by hoist using pads in the predefined points. But this is not the case usually....crap aint it? And basic too. I can't believe that a main dealer jacks on the sills. Oh, wait a minute - Ford Main dealers are exempted.

[Guest SA Intruder]

Doesn't work very well Fred, proper jack.

 

Have you tried it?

 

Makes an utter balls of the sills. Try it if you dare.

[chromedome]

To Fredt.

 

Hi

 

Where do you get the special tool from?

 

I'd like one to use with my trolley jack.

 

 

Thanks.

 

PS. I might even show it to the Ford dealer, might start some bell ringing!! he he he.

[Guest VW Infiltrator]

i'm just glad that its not just our Sharan which has crushed sills; didn't notice it until after we'd bought it (privately).

 

It's only the front where this has happened (i think the rear is reinforced); the standard jack will still fit in case we should need it. It is only the downward projection which has been damaged although on one side this has slightly bulged apart.

 

My only concern is wherther there is any loss of strength?

 

Richard

[Guest SA Intruder]

The sills form part of the structure of the vehicle.

 

Any splitting will have an impact. The other concern would be corrosion through water ingress.

[chromedome]

I would think a damaged sill would fail the MOT as well.

[chromedome]

To Fredt again.

 

What make trolley jack do you have. I might then be able to order one with the sill adapter.

 

Most trolley jacks I've looked at just have a rotating metal saddle. I would imagine these would chew up the underseal protection.

 

Thanks again for everyones comments.

 

I have got my Galaxy back again complete with proper sills, until the service is due!!!! Aghhhhhhhh not again.

[Guest Andy]

I must say if you jack a vehicle up where you are not supposed to then yes you will get into big trouble thank goodness that at my depot ALL jacks and 2 poster ramps have PROPER RUBBER PADS which i think make all the difference.The rubber pads for a large jack are about a fiver::

:( :( :( :rolleyes:

[Eddie]

Obviously it depends on the extent of the damage, but how much are people typically paying for this repair.

[grifjl]

Bought my Sharan 2nd hand from Dealer in February and have just noticed I have the same problem.

 

I am going to try and get them to repair it as it seems pretty structural and I certainly have not jacked the car up since purchased. Just wonder if I have any rights at all? Certainly do not want to pay for the repair and it is not something that is immediately noticeable on purchase inspection.

 

What do you all think? The car was registered July 02 and was owned by the Dealership MD's Wife for the whole time.

[grifjl]

Sorted!!!!

 

Took car in last week and booked in for yesterday to get sills repaired. Was in for the whole day, and no courtesy car, but the job was done and the underside of the sill resealed for the full ength. No cost (see above post).

 

VW seem to be providing a decent service at the moment. Would recommend them - VW Colbornes in Guildford. :angry:

[chromedome]

Glad you got yours sills done.

 

The dealers should do something about the moronic mechanics who jack any vehicle up using the sills in the first place. Perhaps they should deduct the cost of the repairs from their wages!!

 

They straightened my sills Ok, but when I asked the service manager what guarantee he could give for it not happening again, his reply was "My crystal ball isn't that big". Inspires confidence, not!!!

 

I personally will be on my hands and knees checking the sills following any work done by the dealer.

 

Perhaps someone could gather up all the comments made on the forum and send them to Ford, Volkswagen and Seat, oh and don't forget Kwik Fit.

[jkspoff]

A follow up to an old post:

 

I have been reading some old posts and found that my sills too look crushed as mentioned above, but I am not too sure how long they've been like this or who did it........anyone any idea how much it costs to get Ford or like to fix them and re-seal them back to how they should be ??? They don't appear so bad as to cause corrosion, just mis-shaped, which actually looks to the untrained eye the normal design.

[Guest ksjdfbgkj]

which actually looks to the untrained eye the normal design.

 

CAn someone please post a picture of a crushed sill? I did doubt this on my car but then thought it was the design or it was slightly curved so that we would know where to insert the jack....

thanks