For automotive repair, service, and maintenance teams, car lifts are a crucial tool that can make the majority of daily tasks much more manageable. Before the hydraulic car lift was invented in 1925, mechanics resorted to crawling under vehicles to make repairs, or even digging holes to stand in with the car parked overhead. Nowadays, these uncomfortable — and potentially risky — strategies are unnecessary thanks to the convenience and efficiency of the modern car lift. Despite the numerous benefits that car lifts offer mechanics and service teams today, they are vulnerable to a series of issues that could cause a car lift to get stuck over the course of its life. With nearly 50 years of valuable experience manufacturing high-quality automotive lift parts and equipment, SVI International is pleased to share the following information about common car lift issues and solutions for vehicle repair today.

Common Car Lift Issues and Solutions

There are a number of reasons why an automotive lift might get stuck mid-air or on the ground. However, before you start troubleshooting, it’s important to identify which type of car lift you are working with. While the most common types of car lifts are two-post lifts and four-post lifts, mechanics and repair shops may also use scissor lifts, in-ground lifts, semi-and full-hydraulic lifts, low and mid-rise lifts and more. Generally speaking, the most common causes for a lift to be stuck are:

• Not enough oil/faulty oil level reader
• Damaged pump or valve
• Leak in the hydraulic system
• Low fluid

While these are some of the most common causes for a car lift to be stuck, the following tendencies may cause two-post and four-post car lifts, specifically, to be stuck when raising or lowering a vehicle.

Two-Post Car Lifts

As its name suggests, a two-post car lift utilizes two columns to stabilize a surface car lift that raises a vehicle into the air. Two-post lifts are actually the most common type of surface-mounted car lift in use today. If you’re wondering what to do if your car lift gets stuck, it’s always a good idea to eliminate the “simpler” issues first.

For example, a car lift could get stuck at the top due to the vehicle being loaded off-center. Always ensure that vehicles are loaded on-center to avoid this issue. A lift may also stop because the latches are engaging, in which case they should be adjusted or replaced. Lastly, the lift’s cylinder orifice could be plugged. To clear the orifice, simply loosen the cylinder bleeder or crack a line to lower the lift.

Four-Post Car Lifts

If your four-post car lift is stuck, start troubleshooting by checking whether or not the lift’s latches are adjusted correctly. If not, readjust accordingly. Next, a stuck lift could indicate a leak in the air line that leads to the latches, which would require a repair. Insufficient air pressure could also be the culprit for a stuck four-post car lift, in which case you can simply raise the pressure to its correct amount to continue lowering the lift.

The problem causing a stuck lift could also be an air switch that is not releasing, a stuck air latch cylinder, or a bent slack cable latch. In these cases, it is helpful to replace the air latch cylinder, cable latch or air switch to allow the lift to lower.

SVI International, Your One-Stop-Shop For Car Lift Solutions

As the leading parts supplier for the automotive lift industry today, SVI International has it all when it comes to auto lift repair and maintenance. Not only is our team proud to offer a range of 20,000 auto lift repair parts; we also provide our customers with a reliable supply of legacy parts that correspond to car lifts that are no longer manufactured. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction, SVI International is pleased to be your partner throughout car lift repairs, engineering, and maintenance. With 3 “Ready Ship” warehouses strategically positioned across the country, our team makes sure that your car lifts stay up and running with same-day shipping on the majority of in-stock parts. To learn more about how to resolve your car lift issues or enhance your day-to-day operations with our fantastic parts, simply give us a call at +1(800) 321-8173 or fill out our quick contact form today.