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How to Repair Bottle Jacks

A bottle jack is an essential tool for any mechanic. When you need to raise a vehicle, nothing will do a better job than a bottle jack. When your jack fails, it can leave you completely unable to work on a vehicle. Instead of sending yours away for a lengthy and costly repair, check some of the common causes of problems with bottle jacks. You may find you can repair the problem before sending your jack away.

Instructions

1

Check the weight limit of your jack and compare if with the weight of the vehicle. The capacity of the jack is written either on the jack or the documentation that accompanied it when it was new. The weight of a car is usually written on a panel on the drivers door pillar. Do not lift a vehicle with a jack or rated to handle the weight. Property damage or injury could result.

2

Remove the jack from the vehicle and extend it all the way out. You may be able to do this by pumping with no weight or you may have to open the release valve and pull the piston out. Watch for binding in the piston as you are pulling it out, also check for excessive oil (there should be a little, but not much more), dirt or other foreign substances on the piston. These could be a result of a bad seal. Examine the seal around the bottom of the piston for damage. If this seal is damaged the jack will likely need to go to a repair shop.

3

Open the oil reservoir filler cap and check the level of the hydraulic oil. This cap is usually the uppermost cap on the bottle jack and you may need the screwdriver to help you open it. The oil should be about 1/4-inch below the level of the hole. If the oil is low then add hydraulic fluid to bring it to the right level but do not over fill.

4

Bleed the jack by opening the release valve and pumping the handle vigorously several times. Close the release valve and pump the jack up to its full height. If it still wont go all the way up then repeat the bleed process until it does. Wipe the jack with the cloth before bleeding and then examine it afterward for any sign of a leak. If you find a leak then trace it back to the seal it is coming from and replace that seal. The procedure will vary depending on the seal and the model of jack. Consult a professional if you are unable to replace it.

5

Lift the vehicle using the jack. If the jack still will not lift then you may have a problem with the pump. This is a very complex system and you should send the jack to an authorized repair facility to have the pump replaced.