So, you’ve found yourself on the side of the road somewhere in Rolla with a flat tire. Your spare tire, jack, and even some jack stands can all be found in your car after a quick search. If this is your first time changing a tire, you may not know how to use a car jack. The helpful manual on how to use a car jack is provided below because we want to ensure your safety while driving.
You need to find a safe place to pull over, secure the vehicle, locate the jack and jacking points, position the jack, jack up the car, and lower the car.
Please read on for more detailed information.
How to Use a Car Jack?
Here are the steps on how to use a car jack safely:
Find a Safe Place to Pull Over
As much as you can, get off the road and away from the flow of traffic. Take the exit if it is available while you are on the highway. The goal is to get off the road entirely and on to solid, level ground—such as a parking lot—where you can use a car jack safely. If that doesn’t work, try to find a road or street with little to no traffic so you can pull off to the side, away from the traffic, and be on a solid enough spot to support a jack. If you’re on a highway and can’t get off, you’ll just have to find the safest location you can; you can’t drive for miles on a flat tire without destroying it and possibly damaging your vehicle. You should then stop as far off the road as you can, on the right shoulder. To prevent the jack from sinking into the ground instead of lifting the car, make sure you’re on a stable, level surface. A soft surface might also cause the jack to lean to one side as it’s lifting the car, which can cause the car to fall.
Secure the Vehicle
Verify that the vehicle is in park, that the engine is off, and that the parking brake is applied. If you happen to have something that you can use to block a tire (a brick, a piece of wood, or a large rock will do), place it under the tire at the opposite corner of the car from the corner you’re going to jack up (e.g., if you’re jacking up the right front, block the left rear tire). The car won’t roll off the jack again thanks to this additional assurance. It is a good idea, but not required, to let passengers out of the car if you have any.
Locate the Jack and Jacking Points
The jack is typically kept in a car’s trunk or an SUV’s wayback, underneath the cargo-floor cover. After you find it, you need to locate the jacking points on the car’s body, where the jack engages. In order to safely lift the vehicle, most vehicles have reinforced metal ribs that serve as the jacking points. Four jacking points are present on most vehicles. They are situated beneath the car’s rocker panels, immediately behind the front wheels and immediately in front of the back wheels. In the above video, our Car and Driver tech is pointing to the right front jacking point on the We’re about to lift a Hyundai Sonata sedan. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual to be certain of the jacking point locations.
Position the Jack
Although your car may have a different setup, check your owner’s manual to make sure you know exactly how your jack interacts with the jacking point. Most car jacks have a slot at the top of their engagement flange that slips onto the reinforced rib of the jack point. In the aforementioned video, our technician must first spin the jack down so it can fit under the car before he starts jacking it up.
Jack Up the Car
In order to lift the flat tire off the ground, slowly turn the jack handle clockwise. Take your time and make sure that the jack remains positioned straight up and down as it lifts the car. You don’t want the jack leaning, because it won’t hold the car securely that way. If you’re lifting the car to get under it, to do some work, or to change the oil, you must place a jack stand under the rocker panel near the jack and snug it up to the car’s body. In the event that the jack slips or completely fails, this will guarantee that the car cannot fall on you.
Lower the Car
When you are prepared to lower the vehicle, slowly unwind the jack handle in the opposite direction (counterclockwise) until the vehicle’s tire is firmly in contact with the ground and you can remove the jack. You’re almost ready to go when you return the jack to where it was kept and secure it. However, remember to take out whatever you used to block a tire before starting the engine; otherwise, if you try to drive away, you might believe the parking brake is engaged.
Read about How to Track a Car
Follow the Safety Precautions
Caution: Before you attempt to jack up your vehicle, observe the following safety precautions:
- The sole purpose of using jacks is to lift a vehicle. They should neverbe used to hold a vehicle in place.
- You must use jack stands when you work underneath your vehicle. You run the risk of suffering serious injuries or even passing away if you don’t. People have been crushed to death when vehicles that were improperly secured fell on them.
- Always block the wheels of a vehicle before jacking it up to prevent it from rolling.To prevent the wheels on the side of the car that won’t be raised from rolling, use bricks, wooden wedges, or metal wheel chocks. (Chocks are available at a low cost at auto supply stores.) To save time when changing a flat tire, keep any blocks you use in the trunk.
Tip: If you find yourself faced with the job of changing a tire and you have nothing with which to block the wheels, park near the curb with the wheels turned in. If the car rolls off the jack, this may not prevent you from getting hurt, but at least innocent drivers and pedestrians won’t have to deal with a runaway driverless car!
Never perform a tire change on a highway or freeway. You run the risk of suffering severe injuries in addition to becoming a target for car thieves. Use a cellphone to call roadside assistance or an auto club like the AAA instead of getting out of the car. If you don’t have a phone, hang a white piece of paper or rag from the driver’s side window and wait for the highway patrol to come to your aid.
FAQs
What is the Safest Way to Lift Car?
Check your handbook for safe jacking points and never lift the car by putting the jack under the engine, gearbox, or any plastic undertray. Make use of a mounting point for the suspension, subframe, or chassis rail.
How Do You Play Jacks for Beginners?
Player 1 throws a ball into the air, then grabs a jack quickly before it bounces. The player catches the ball shortly after the first bounce with the same hand. If the player is successful, the jack is quickly transferred to their other hand, and they move on to the next round.
Why is My Car Jack Not Lifting?
One of the most common reasons a jack won’t lift is incorrect fluid levels. Check the oil level in the chamber after removing the oil plug. The recommended level for the majority of floor jacks is 3/16 to 1/4 above the reservoir.
How High Should I Jack My Car?
For most cars, a jack lift height of 20 inches is adequate. You’ll need something with higher lifting capacities unless, of course, you’re into lifted off-roaders with enormous tires. Platform Dimensions: The width of the jack at the platform and the width of its lifting arms are crucial.
Summary: How to Use a Car Jack?
Before you begin performing your own oil changes or repairs on your truck, it is crucial for your safety to learn how to properly jack it up and support it. Check the owner’s manual first because different vehicles have different support points.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment. KV Auto tries to give you the best car industry information. Thank you for reading.
