Vehicle Lift Repair & Maintenance: When Your Shop Lift Needs Professional Service
A vehicle lift going down isn't just an equipment problem.
For a dealership, municipal fleet, fire station, rental-car operation or commercial repair facility, a disabled lift can take an entire service bay out of operation.
And because technicians work underneath vehicles supported by this equipment, unusual noises, uneven operation, hydraulic problems or damaged components aren't issues that should simply be worked around until the shop has time to deal with them.
Knowing the warning signs of a lift problem—and having access to an experienced service provider—can help facilities address problems before they become larger repairs or prolonged downtime.
What Are the Signs That a Vehicle Lift Needs Service?
Some lift problems are obvious. Others develop gradually.
Depending on the type and manufacturer of the equipment, warning signs can include:
Unusual noises during raising or lowering
Jerky or uneven movement
A lift that won't raise or lower normally
Hydraulic leaks
Visible hose deterioration
Worn or damaged cables
Damaged lift arms or adapters
Problems with locks or safety components
Loose or damaged anchors
Cracking or deterioration of concrete near lift posts
A lift that no longer remains level
Unusual vibration or movement
Components that appear bent, worn or damaged
The appropriate response depends on the equipment and problem.
When a condition raises questions about safe operation, the lift should not simply remain in service until it fails completely.
Why Preventive Lift Maintenance Matters
Vehicle lifts are working mechanical equipment.
They raise thousands—and sometimes tens of thousands—of pounds repeatedly throughout their service lives.
Components wear. Hydraulic systems require attention. Cables, sheaves, anchors, adapters, locks and other parts need to remain in appropriate operating condition.
The current ANSI/ALI ALIS standard addresses both planned service and repair service, including technician qualifications, training, procedures and documentation. The standard also directs service personnel to the lift manufacturer's specific procedures for the equipment being serviced.
Routine maintenance can also help identify deterioration before it becomes an unexpected equipment failure.
For a busy fleet facility, that has an operational benefit as well as a safety benefit:
Planned maintenance is easier to schedule than an unexpectedly disabled service bay.
Common Vehicle Lift Maintenance Items
The appropriate maintenance schedule and procedures should always come from the manufacturer for the specific lift.
Depending on the equipment, routine attention may involve components such as:
Hydraulic fluid and hydraulic systems
Hoses and fittings
Cables
Sheaves
Chains
Lubrication points
Lift arms and adapters
Safety locks
Anchor bolts
Electrical components
Structural components
Warning and safety labels
Rotary, for example, recommends routine visual checks and attention to cables, sheaves, anchors, lubrication, hydraulic-fluid levels, adapters and arms, among other components.
The exact procedures vary by lift, which is why the manufacturer's current service information matters.
Hydraulic Leaks Shouldn't Be Ignored
A small hydraulic leak can be tempting to postpone—particularly in a busy shop.
But a leak can indicate a problem with a hose, fitting, seal, cylinder or another part of the hydraulic system.
Adding fluid repeatedly without determining why it's disappearing isn't the same thing as repairing the equipment.
If a lift develops a hydraulic leak, have the source properly evaluated and follow the manufacturer's service requirements.
Pay Attention to the Concrete and Anchors Too
Not every apparent “lift problem” originates inside the equipment.
For surface-mounted lifts, the supporting concrete and anchorage are part of the installation.
Cracking, deterioration, movement or loose anchors around the base of a lift deserve attention.
Rotary specifically identifies loose concrete, cracks near lift posts and loose floor anchors among signs that a lift may require repair or professional evaluation.
This is particularly important because simply replacing a worn component on the lift doesn't address an underlying foundation or anchorage problem.
What About Older Vehicle Lifts?
A well-built vehicle lift can remain in service for many years when properly maintained.
Age alone doesn't necessarily mean a lift needs to be replaced.
The more important questions include:
What condition is the equipment in?
Has it been properly maintained?
Are replacement parts still available?
Has the lift been modified?
Is manufacturer service information available?
Does it remain appropriate for the vehicles being serviced?
Are its structural and safety components in acceptable condition?
For older equipment, identifying the manufacturer, model and serial number is particularly useful when seeking service.
The Automotive Lift Institute recommends having the manufacturer, model, serial number and photographs of the lift and identification information available when requesting technical assistance.
Repair or Replace?
Sometimes repairing a lift makes perfect sense.
Other times, continued repairs to aging or obsolete equipment may no longer be the best operational decision.
Factors worth considering include:
Repair cost.
How does the current repair compare with the cost of replacement?
Parts availability.
Can appropriate replacement parts still be obtained?
Downtime.
How much is an unavailable service bay costing the operation?
Equipment condition.
Is this an isolated repair or one of several developing problems?
Fleet changes.
Is the existing lift still appropriate for the vehicles the facility needs to service?
Future serviceability.
Will technicians and parts remain available for the equipment?
For a fleet or commercial facility, the least expensive repair today isn't always the least expensive decision over the remaining life of the equipment.
Rotary Lift Service & Repair
Red Rock Industrial is a certified Rotary installer and service provider.
Rotary's Authorized Installer program uses factory-trained professionals specializing in installation and service of Rotary equipment. Rotary also notes that its authorized network has access to genuine parts, current factory service information and manufacturer support.
That manufacturer-specific knowledge can be particularly valuable when diagnosing equipment problems or maintaining a facility with Rotary lifts.
Red Rock Industrial provides vehicle-lift installation, maintenance and repair support for commercial and fleet applications in Southern California.
Vehicle Lift Service for Fleet & Government Facilities
Lift downtime becomes particularly important in facilities where vehicles need to remain operational.
That includes:
Fire and public-safety facilities
Municipal fleets
Public works shops
Transit and bus facilities
Dealerships
Commercial fleets
Rental-car facilities
Government vehicle-maintenance facilities
A disabled lift in one of these environments isn't simply inconvenient—it can affect the facility's ability to maintain vehicles its organization depends upon.
Greg Niles brings more than 20 years of hands-on vehicle lift experience, including extensive experience with municipal, government, fleet and institutional facilities throughout California.
Maintenance Is Not the Same as an ALI Certified Lift Inspection
This distinction is important.
Professional lift maintenance or repair is not automatically the same thing as an ALI Certified Lift Inspection.
ALI maintains a separate certification program and directory for Certified Lift Inspectors.
A facility may need both routine maintenance/service and periodic inspection, but those functions should not be represented as interchangeable.
Red Rock Industrial currently provides vehicle lift installation, maintenance and repair services. Contact us to discuss the specific service your equipment requires.
Need Vehicle Lift Service or Repair?
If a lift isn't operating properly, has developed a hydraulic problem, needs preventative maintenance or requires professional repair, Red Rock Industrial can help evaluate the service scope.
If possible, have the following information available when contacting us:
Lift manufacturer
Model
Serial number
Approximate age
Description of the problem
Photos of the lift
Photos or video of the area of concern
That information can help us understand the equipment and problem before arriving on site.
→ Learn more about Red Rock Industrial's Vehicle Lift Installation, Maintenance & Service.