Tech Updates

Vehicle Lift Inspection

According to Rotary Lift, technicians should inspect their lifts every day and shop managers should schedule professional lift inspections annually. Regular inspections help ensure that all the lifts in the shop are operating properly, Rotary says.

The owner’s manual will provide inspection instructions for each lift. General guidelines also are available from the Lifting It Right safety manual published by the Automotive Lift Institute, and ANSI/ALI ALOIM:2008, the industry standard that outlines safety requirements for lift operation, inspection and maintenance.

At a minimum, technicians should check the following daily:

* Lift controls are working properly.

* All locks and restraints are working correctly.

* There is no deformation or excessive wear of any lift component, including posts, arms, hoses and wiring.

* There is no damage or excessive wear on any of the lift contact points, including adapters.

* There are no hydraulic leaks.

* There are no cracks or loose concrete around floor anchors.

If you find any of these problems or if the lift makes unusual noises, or sudden movements, operates erratically or creates chips or filings during use, stop using the lift and have it repaired. n

Safety Recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued the following recalls:

* The circumferential welds around the steering shaft tube that welds the splined tube to the non-splined tube on certain Paccar model year 2008 to 2010 trucks equipped with TRW steering gears may be mislocated. Mislocation of the circumferential weld may allow the splined tube and non-splined tube to rotate relative to one another during a low-speed, high-torque turn, possibly resulting in a separation of the two tubes. A separation of the splined and non-splined tubes would cause a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

* On certain model year 2008 Workhorse R20 chassis manufactured from Feb. 5, 2007, through Sept. 24, 2008, equipped with Caterpillar C7 engines, the No. 5 and No. 6 fuel lines may crack at the fastening point to the common fuel rail and cause a leak. A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.

* The reverse idler shaft on certain International model year 2010 and 2011 trucks manufactured from Jan. 31, 2009, through May 10, 2010, equipped with certain Eaton hybrid transmissions with park features may contact the park feature and the two components may bind. This will prevent the park feature from engaging. If the park feature is not engaged, the vehicle can move without warning.

* The intake air grid heater on certain model year 2007 through 2011 Freightliner, FCCC, Sterling and Western Star trucks manufactured from Sept. 5, 2006, through June 30, 2010, equipped with specific MBEE900 EPA04 and EPA07 engines and MBE4000 EPA07 engines may short circuit and fail as a result of excessive internal temperatures. A short-circuited grid heater could result in a vehicle fire. n