i need to get under the car to remove the plastic under body protection so i can then have a look at the rattle most probably from the waste gate actuator. my issue is, i don' have a hoist. i do have ramps but the angle is too steep and the front end hits the ramp before the tyres. i was hoping there is a central point where i can use a trolley jack, elevate the car just enough to create clearance so i can slide the start of ramps under, then remove the jack followed by driving up the rest of the ramp until on the flat part. if that makes sense. so my question is how can i elevate the car to get the wheels just enough onto the ramps. 

I used to have the same trouble.  Tried using paving slabs in front of the ramp, but that wasn't quite enough.  But a 6' 4"x2" plank was - literally butted up to where the ramps started, gave just enough clearance to get me on, and back off safely.

 

Gaz

Can't you jack the car up with the trolley jack, lower it onto an axle stand and then jack it up again from the other side?

 

you are legends. i just placed 2 2x4s to give it extra height prior to getting on the ramp. i did get under and got the waste gate actuator clip on. after a test drive the rattle is still there so the trouble shooting continues.

Not sure if it's visible in the pic but you my dad's (home made) ramps (I will get round to getting my own at some point) were also too steep so many years ago he made extensions.  

I think it's a couple of bits of 2x4, joined together and cut to size.  They bolt onto the ramps to stop them sliding off.

 

I got my lowered rover up them so the skoda was easy.

Edited 23 February, 20206 yr by Alex-W

On 22/02/2020 at 15:19, silver1011 said:

Can't you jack the car up with the trolley jack, lower it onto an axle stand and then jack it up again from the other side?

 

It gets dangerous when lifting to a reasonable height with a trolley jack, when lifting the second side it trys to tip over the opposite axle stand, if you are on a flat billiard table surface that the trolley jack can roll on without resistance its a bit safer but still dodgy, I have to take a club hammer to the stand tipping over to get all 3 points of contact bak on the floor.

 

Then have the same danger when lowering the jack after removing the first stand.

 

All of it could be avoided if there were a central jacking point, on the rear I can use the towbar but for the front I eventually bought a second trolley jack and its now a safe stress free operation.

the ramp and 2x4s in front worked perfectly. the rattle is maybe from the fuel line? anyone had this issue?

 

Have you checked all the exhaust heat shields, one of the most common metallic rattles?

 

6 hours ago, J.R. said:

 

It gets dangerous when lifting to a reasonable height with a trolley jack, when lifting the second side it trys to tip over the opposite axle stand, if you are on a flat billiard table surface that the trolley jack can roll on without resistance its a bit safer but still dodgy, I have to take a club hammer to the stand tipping over to get all 3 points of contact bak on the floor.

 

No such problems for me, although depending on what it is you're needing to do, a bit more space under car would be useful.