Member Since: 28 Jul 2011
Location: Near Stockport
Posts: 633
My Disco nearly killed me, do not make the same mistake
Please do not make the mistake I made as it nearly cost me my life!! I will try and keep a long story short, I had an issue with my rear drive shaft and after a lot of messing about decided to order a replacement, it arrived the following day! So far so good.
I needed to use the car urgently so decided to do the replacement myself, I am not a mechanic but have a reasonable amount of common sense and an understanding of things mechanical.(or at least I thought)! I borrowed a mates ramps and started the replacement. I reversed the car up the ramps, chocked the front wheel having raised the suspension to give me the most space. (This is the thing that might have saved my life)
Having bought the correct sockets I set about the job to removed the bolts. I could get access to, 2 at the back and 3 or 4 at the front. I realised I needed to rotate the shaft 180 degrees to get at the remaining bolts. So, I moved the chocks drove the car off the ramps moved them about a yard backwards and put the car back on the ramps. (Some of you will just have gone Oh !!)
I crawled underneath and was so pleased at my brilliance decided to remove the remaining bolts……. I have to take a break here as I am having cold sweats and flashbacks!!!........deep breaths!!! In my moment of genius I had not replaced the chocks. Now, if you are squeamish or not good with trauma don’t read on!!
Having removed the rear bolts I was struggling with the last bolt at the front but pushed on and as the last bolt was released there was a clunk and the car set off down the ramps with me underneath it!!!! Oh !!
As the forward and downward movement was combined the car somehow rolled me forward from being on my back to being face down crushed by my Disco. The car stopped as the rear wheel rolled into my side.
That awful moment of realisation, I knew I was in real trouble as I was now pinned face down under the car only able to take very shallow breaths. I wiggled my toes and my fingers and realised I was not paralysed. On my exhale I could shout help but there was no one around to help me and what seemed like eternity I heard a voice, the neighbour, that said “I can hear you! Where are you?” I replied “I am under the car, phone for the fire brigade and an ambulance, please” He ran into my house and called 999 within no time the services arrived and did an amazing job. They lifted the car off me and managed to roll me on my back and get me in the ambulance for a very uncomfortable journey to our local hospital. I was met by a crash team of about 14 people who worked on saving my life. Sorry need another break!
I had a scan which showed them I had broken every rib but had not pierced my lungs so I was put on an intensive care ward and stayed there for 4 nights and remained in hospital for a week. I am now well on the road to recovery and I am sharing this with you so you don’t make the same basic and stupid mistake I made. When I moved the car to take the remaining bolts out I had not replaced the front chocks and therefore as soon as the drive-shaft was disconnected I was in the lap of the gods! Nothing was holding the car but thankfully I had raised the suspension so was still able to breath, just!
Please no not do this as I can assure you it really hurts.
Many thanks to my neighbour the emergency services, Wythenshawe Hospital, my poor long suffering wife and all my friends who helped out.D3 HSE ........................Gone!!!
7th Sep 2015 9:52 am
bigdave Site Sponsor
Member Since: 04 Jul 2008
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 9868
Bloody hell!!!
glad your on the mend chap - take it steady.
DaveAll things shipping, storage, transport. UK and worldwide.
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72785
Very lucky escape!! Note to self, anything like that is for Guava, not me.
Daft question but was the park brake on? Shouldn't that have held it?
Last edited by DSL on 7th Sep 2015 11:22 am. Edited 2 times in total
7th Sep 2015 10:07 am
tayaste
Member Since: 15 May 2013
Location: Chester
Posts: 7633
My God. Glad to hear your recovering. Thanks for posting, let it beba learning to us all
7th Sep 2015 10:08 am
adam
Member Since: 20 Sep 2005
Location: Home and Happy
Posts: 6917
Dale - you are a very, very lucky guy
Remember that offer of a spin when you are up to it
7th Sep 2015 10:09 am
ThatMartinChap
Member Since: 06 Nov 2007
Location: Deepest Darkest Berkshire
Posts: 696
wow - so glad you're OK. That must have been terrifyingAlso Gone : MY14 D4 SDV6 HSE : Barolo Black + Almond
Sadly Gone : MY08 D3 TDV6 HSE : Stornoway + Alpaca + Privacy + BAS Remap
7th Sep 2015 10:09 am
RBP
Member Since: 29 Aug 2012
Location: N Yorks
Posts: 1936
Crikey! You are lucky to be still with us
Good you are on the mend
I'd pay Flack to do the repairs next time
7th Sep 2015 10:13 am
Narpy
Member Since: 18 Jul 2011
Location: Stockport
Posts: 7830
You should write the forums first ever How-Not-To Dale. ( or has somebody beaten you with the melted oven detango? )
Joking apart, so glad you're ok matey and glad to see you're back posting on the forum. Mods:
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FBH Remote Control
The 1st Ever RRS Modded Grill
Garmin Nuvi + D4 Surround + Reversing Camera.
D4 Steering Wheel.
Rear Boot Spoiler.
Twin Brake Lights.
Wing Mirror Indicator Repeaters.
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Make your own Narpy grill thread
I'm not scared, I'm outta here.
7th Sep 2015 10:42 am
Russell
Member Since: 24 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Dale glad you are OK and recovering.
That is actually a very common issue, I would think once a month we see calls to people trapped under cars unfortunately more often than not when we go out it is for a body recovery and not to save a life.
Glad you are the odd one out and on the road to making a full recoveryMY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
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Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
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Ouch. Reminds me of a friend who broke his ribs removing a gearbox...
Glad to hear you're making a recovery. Current: Discovery 3 06MY (55 reg) HSE Auto Zambezi Silver Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
Freelander 2 2007 HSE Manual Tambora Flame
Previous: FL2 56 reg SE Manual Black (written off )
Disco 3 06 reg B7S Manual Rimini Red
Disco 2 TD5 Y reg ES Manual Blue - Chipped
Several Discovery 300 TDis
7th Sep 2015 11:04 am
mcsimmo
Member Since: 08 Aug 2011
Location: North of the south
Posts: 1795
Good luck with the recovery.Man with no D3 anymore, but cant leave the forum....how sad.
7th Sep 2015 11:08 am
Andrew Colville
Member Since: 07 Jun 2014
Location: Acharacle
Posts: 20
Wow , A proper warning, I hope you recover well.
Living on the west coast of Scotland the nearest ambulance would be an hour long wait for it to arrive. Thats if the neighbour could hear me shout for help
A painful lesson, but good reminder to others, Safety First!Andrew.
Glad to see your on the mend,what a horror story but easily done.I am over in sunny Burnley and go to Manchester airport at least 3 times a day (Its my job) so anything you need fetching or carrying let me know ( apart from the driveshaft job finishing ) I will try to help you out. Take care
7th Sep 2015 11:21 am
adam
Member Since: 20 Sep 2005
Location: Home and Happy
Posts: 6917
Good point - Dale - if you need anything you also know where I am
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
!!)
wow - so glad you're OK. That must have been 
( or has somebody beaten you with the melted oven detango? )
Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
)
) I will try to help you out. Take care 
