coolant shower while lifting

[wimwolf]

Hi, I went to the Belgium MOT yesterday.
They lifted the back of my van, using a big jack positionned under the engine and lifted it like this.

Suddenly the guy in the pit starts shouting. He got a hot coolant water shower from the moment the van was lifted. (he’s not harmed)

MOT guy: “ what the f*ck is this!?””
Me: “What the f*ck are you doing? Why did you lift the van like that?

He says he’s lifting these T25’s always like this but I find it a bit weird as the whole weight hangs on the rubber engine mounts? Is it ok to lift the van like this?

So the water came out of the thermosstate housing (plastic), between the top and bottom part.
DOES ANYONE HAS AN IDEA WHAT HAPPENED WHILE LIFTING THE VAN AND WHY I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS? It seemed like a tube was squeezed and the weakest point failed?

MOT failed due to brakes and coolant leak. Suprise.

[Ian Hulley]

Sue the barstewards and get them to make good the damage to the cooling sytem. At best it's a hose or a pipe at worst the water jacket seal.

Ian.

[colinthefox]

Vehicle handbook says never lift like that, So they are 100% out of order and should pay for any damage.

[kevtherev]

Is it ok to lift the van like this?
.

Never, ever .. any good mechanic will point out lifting any vehicle by the engine/gearbox is wrong.

So the water came out of the thermosstate housing (plastic), between the top and bottom part.
DOES ANYONE HAS AN IDEA WHAT HAPPENED WHILE LIFTING THE VAN AND WHY I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS? It seemed like a tube was squeezed and the weakest point failed?

MOT failed due to brakes and coolant leak. Suprise.

the mounts could have failed and the thermostat housing was crushed against the bulkhead

[wimwolf]

Damn, I should have complained immediately.
I was a bit nervous because I went for the 1st time and had been working on it for 2 years now. I need to pass a complete measurement and check procedure to achieve a "uniformity" attest.

I 'll check my rubbers tonight and go back, try to get them pay my costs... I'm not very hopefull.

Let you know.

PS. didn't pass for the rear brakes so I still have to go back. I do not wan't to pi$$ them off. aaargh!