How to Jack Up a Car

Car repair tasks often involve lifting the vehicle, whether it’s for changing brake pads or repairing a flat tire. A car jack is essential for lifting the car, unless you have a large hydraulic lift like those found in auto repair shops. Jacks are easy to use in general, but caution is necessary to ensure safety, especially when working beneath the car. Fortunately, you just need to follow some simple, standard rules.

Park the car on a flat and solid surface. Allowing the car to slip off the jack is a dangerous situation for both you and others. To prevent this, always work on a level surface, away from moving vehicles or distractions. The working surface should be firm and stable to keep the car from shifting while you're working.

• A concrete driveway or garage is ideal. A flat front yard is not a good choice, even though it's level, because the soil foundation isn't solid enough to support the car.

Chock the wheels. Wheel chocks are blocks made of metal and rubber to prevent the wheels from rolling. Place a chock on each wheel opposite the one you're lifting.

• If you don't have a chock, you can use a brick, a large stone, or a wooden block shaped like a wedge.

Double-check to ensure the car is properly parked. Engage the parking brake and check to make sure the transmission is in the "P" (Park) position. If you have a manual transmission, put the car in the lowest gear.

If the conditions are unsafe, take additional precautions. As mentioned, the instructions in this section are designed to protect you and others in case the car slips off the jack. If you cannot meet the above conditions but are "forced" to jack up the car, follow the precautions below for added safety:

• If you must jack the car on a soft or uneven surface, use a thick, flat piece of wood to create a stable base for the jack.
• If you must jack the car on a slightly inclined surface, park the car near the curb and turn the wheels to touch it. The purpose is to prevent the car from rolling off and potentially hitting someone after slipping off the jack.
• Similarly, if you have nothing to chock the wheels with, turn the wheels toward the curb.
• Never jack the car on the emergency shoulder. If you must jack the car near traffic, use warning lights. If you have warning cones, flares, or traffic posts, use them to alert other vehicles.

Locate the Jacking Points. Most vehicles have multiple points along their body designed for jack placement. If you position the jack incorrectly, the car’s weight may damage the frame (or even cause the vehicle to slip off the jack). But don't worry, the user manual will clearly indicate where the jack points are located.

• Usually, there's a jack point behind the front wheels and in front of the rear wheels on both sides. These points are often located near a metal or plastic pad beneath the door area.
• Occasionally, the vehicle will have two additional jack points at the center just behind the front and rear bumpers.
• If you're uncertain where the jack points are, look for a flat metal section along the welding seam under the door area. You might find a groove for the jack to fit into, a cut-out in the plastic revealing metal underneath, or a solid plastic block attached to the frame. There may even be a label with the word “jack” beneath the vehicle’s frame.

Place the Jack Under the Designated Point. Slide the jack underneath the identified point. There's no need for perfect alignment; you can adjust it slightly until it makes contact with the vehicle.

• Ensure the jack is oriented correctly. If the jack doesn’t have a warning that says “this side up,” consult the user manual for a diagram. Typically, the jack will have a wide, flat base with a small handle protruding upwards, and the “teeth” along its edge should face toward the car body.

Lift the Jack. The method of lifting will depend on your type of jack (details below). Since the top arm of the jack is close to the car's underside, you’ll make final adjustments to ensure the jack is properly aligned with the designated lifting point.

• Scissor Jack: This type of jack resembles two horizontal metal plates with a diamond-shaped mechanism in the middle. One side has a metal hole for connecting to a screw drive. Insert a metal bar through the hole and turn it to pull the two sides of the jack inward, which will separate the top and bottom of the jack, thus lifting the vehicle.
• Hydraulic Jack: Also known as a floor jack, this tool features a metal base and a lever arm extending sideways. There’s a slot to insert a metal bar on one side. Pump the bar up and down in a steady rhythm to force hydraulic fluid into the cylinder, raising the jack.

Lift the Car off the Ground. As the jack contacts the car's underside, you’ll begin to feel its weight. Continue lifting until one corner of the car rises off the ground. Stop once there’s enough space to perform your task. For common jobs like changing a tire, lifting the car a few centimeters is sufficient.

• Listen carefully for any sounds or movement as you lift the car. You might hear a soft noise or a 'creak' when the jack shifts slightly. If this occurs, check if the jack has slipped before proceeding.
• Always keep your body away from the underside of the car while lifting. While rare, serious injuries or fatalities can happen if the car slips off the jack.

If Working Under the Car, Use a Dead Jack. Any work that requires any part of your body to be underneath the car must involve a dead jack. This is a more stable support with a wider contact area than a regular jack. It is unsafe to work under the car without a dead jack. Here’s how to use it:

• Slide two dead jacks underneath the car near where the regular jack is in use. Align them with the welding seam or jack points. Lift the dead jack until it nearly touches the car's underside. Carefully lower the regular jack until the dead jack “touches” the vehicle.
• If you're not working underneath the car (e.g., changing a tire), you don’t need to use a dead jack. Always ensure no body part is under the car while working.

Lower the Car After Finishing Your Work. By this point, you’ve completed your tasks on the vehicle. Now, it’s time to gently lower the car back to the ground, remove the jack, and store it. If you used a dead jack, you must first lift the car off the dead jack, then remove it before lowering the vehicle. Here’s how to lower the jack:

• Scissor Jack: Insert the metal bar into the screw hole and turn it in the opposite direction of when you lifted the car.
• Hydraulic Jack: Open the release valve to allow hydraulic fluid to exit the cylinder, causing the lever arm to lower. The valve is typically a small screw attached to the lever. Be sure to open the valve slowly to prevent the car from dropping suddenly.

• Remember, the jack is only meant to lift the car — not to hold it in place while you work underneath it. If you need to position any part of your body under the vehicle, you must use a dead jack.
• If you’re changing a tire, loosen the lug nuts before raising the car. Failing to do so may cause the wheel to spin when trying to loosen the nuts, making the job much harder.
• Check the stability of the jack or dead jack before going under the car or removing a stuck wheel. Gently push the vehicle with your body weight while it’s raised. If the car is prone to slipping, it’s better to check now rather than later.
• Keep the jack and wheel chocks in the trunk to ensure they're always available when needed.