Help! My Car is stuck on my steps! (now RESOLVED - Explanation)

General Discussion Forums MX-5 Chat
2

The car is beached on the steps. My son (the truth) started the car this morning without checking if it was in gear. It was in gear, but in reverse gear, to stop it rolling down the drive.

The good news is there is no damage to the bodywork; it was part re-sprayed last summer.

The car appears to be ‘resting’ on the chassis rails below. The exhaust is probably damaged but it was rattling anyway.

So how can we raise the car and at the same time stop it rolling backwards and then even move it forwards - without any more damage?

The AA are coming tomorrow at 9:00 to assess the situation but in reality they are not interested. If I contact the insurance company they again may damage the car or like everyone else - laugh.

Jon

 

fffffj

3

First off, check the rear wheels somehow. I wonder if putting lumps of wood in front of the rear wheels, and then using a second car with a tow rope to gently haul the car up. AA will just winch the car. The chassis rails will be scraped up, and need reundersealing. Exhaust might be ok. The gravel drive might complicate things.

4

tow vehicle at the front,take the strain then jack up and build up under the rear wheels,

 

where are you?

 

5

trouble is I am not sure where or how to jack-up the rear.

So - attach a tow car to stop the MX5 rolling further back,
then jack-up the car …
then place wood blocks under the raised wheels to next step level,
then move the car forward …
repeat

sounds OK but potentially dangerous when under the car using the jack(s).

6

Can’t see the angle of the steps very well or whether the front has actually lifted and resting on the top step. Was going to suggest chocking the rear of the front wheels and try driving it back up but mabe assisted by a rope attached as well to another vechicle to prevent roll back. Obviously it depends what parts are touching underneath as well as the rails.

7

The Front wheels are on the drive. The sides are not touching the steps.
I do not want to drag and scrape the car along the steps.
Raising the rear seems the best option. But how ?

8

That boarding to the left of the picture looks handy, with some pieces cut to size and chocks under for support I reckon two short ramps could be fabricated. You are going to be raising the car off the chassis rails anyway by going forwards. It must have caused more damage dropping down the steps than going up, just going to be tricky without someone else for guidance and shifting any chocks etc.

Reminds me of the Italian Job film, but in reverse, remember the steps

9

If you put planks in front of the rear wheels, as the car is hauled forward, the wheels will ride up, and give you clearance. You’re not really going to do this safely and in a controlled manner without a winch. I would caution against using a tow car to anchor the front, and then jacking up the rear. Only takes a slip from the front to a cause serious injury. As the car is raised at the rear, the the load on the front tow points will increase[ and note, they;re not actually towing eyes, but are tie downs. The glovebox book will contain warnings about towing on these. The underside is already scraped, so its unlikely you will make things worse. The chassis rails have probably already collapsed in places, though as long as they’ve not split, thats not a problem.

If the sills aren’t actually on the steps, you may well be able to drive up the steps.onto the planks, but it needs careful clutch control.

10

Get a few lads each side and carry it up.

11

Hi, I’d totally agree with the "chock front wheels & and then pack it up underneath step by step suggestions already included above.(keeping people well clear)

My take on it would be plenty of short lengths of wood across each step, filling each step well in from underneath… your ultimate aim as we all seem to have spotted is to reduce the gradient of the final slope you are attempting to drag it up.

As pointed out by SAZ 9961 the gravel may be a complication & from my own past experiences (launching and recovering boats on & off trailers into numerous canals & lakes), you need all the traction that you can get., even with four wheel drive OR it won’t be long before you are simply pulling the other vehicle backwards with the MX5 as it slips further down the slope! The very best thing for winching against are ‘spades’, & anchored well into the ground’.

Do you know anyone with a tractor & the right winching gear?

Best of luck, stay safe.

Steve

12

I’m with marpar. A few strong backs and lift and push. Maybe some straps to help. This is’nt a heavty car.

13

Hmm, tough one. First off, I’d be looking to anchor the car somehow to stop it rolling back any further - perhaps a tow rope around the front suspension lower arms attached to a tow vehicle.

If you can then get the back raised enough to get some planks or that plywood sheeting under the chassis rails you could then drag it back up with the tow vehicle, or raise it further to get some blocks of wood under the back wheels and on the other steps between the back wheels and the top step so that it could be driven back up, but this would probably need help from the tow vehicle. To raise the vehicle, either a trolley jack or manpower if you can get enough strong blokes to lift it, just don’t get behind or under it without the car being tethered or anchored to another (heavier) vehicle!

Whereabouts are you anyway? You’ve got a Norfolk registration plate I notice…

14

Luckily the car has not moved overnight.
I hoped it might have driven itself up the steps - but no.

I think so far from all the advice the best approach is to :-

ensure the car is anchored at the front by a heavy car / tractor at the front,
in the best scenario - with a winch,

now the car cannot move, get under the rear and carefully, using a jack(s), raise the rear
up to the level of the first bottom step, about six inches,

then cut and place some wood under the wheels to simulate a wider step / tread, (I have some
floor boards in the garage I can (my son can) cut to size

then attempt to winch the car to the next step

repeat while praying all the time …

Luckily my odd sense of humour is so far in tact.

Over the last three years we have spent a great deal of time in renewing / replacing a huge
amount of parts on our car. I would rather be patient and cause no further damage, than be
reckless.

So - thank you, now I have the theory, next some practical issues …

no large car / tractor / winch
no jack(s) and worse still, any idea where to safely place them

I do have an MX5 car, steps and some wood to cut up.

We are in North Leicestershire / Rutland, the border area. About four miles from Oakham.
I will gladly pay (money) to all who can help and offer sustenance etc, but again the crucial
idea is not to be too cavalier and cause more damage. It is funny but serious.

Jon

15

Please make sure that the anchor vehicle is not parked on the gravel, it will slide

Any pics of the rest of the drive to the entrance?

16

Oh dear!

I’d be tempted to go along the lines of four or five strong people to lift the rear whilst it is gently towed from the front

Or at least lift the rear so some ramps could be put underneath.

I’d also be having some stern words with son about basic checks before starting the engine; but feel you may have already done that.

Let us know how you get on.

17

some people are suggesting ‘lifting’, as in pick-up the car. But where do we grab hold of?

The rear is largely plastic and only two people could get hold of the black sill in front of the rear wheels.
If we tried and dropped the car then …

I think I’ll try to take some more photos - under the car so someone can suggest exactly where a jack(s) should be placed.
I’ll call my son now, since he is still in bed! He can make a start on sawing some wooden blocks.

Jon

18

jacking rear sub-frame and diff

you can lift by the wheel arches, but 4 people lifting 500kg???

19

Where are you?

M-m

20

 

answer bottom of post 13