Download Article Show Download Article A wide variety of automotive tasks — from replacing brake pads to changing a flat — require you to lift up the car. Unless you have access to a full-size hydraulic lift like you might find at a mechanic's, this will mean using a jack. Jacks are generally easy to use, but care must be taken to ensure your safety, especially if you're working under the car. Luckily, this just means following a few common sense rules. If you can't meet these safety conditions or if you are unsure of how to proceed given your conditions, call for help.
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Show More Tips Advertisement ReferencesAbout This ArticleArticle SummaryX Before jacking up a car, park it on a hard, flat surface such as a level parking lot or driveway. Put chocks in front of both wheels on the opposite end of the car from where you intend to jack it up. If you don’t have chocks, you can use bricks or cinderblocks instead. Make sure the car is in Park before you start jacking it up. Look under the car for the closest jack point to the tire you want to raise up. These might look like flat metal pieces or notches on the underside of the car. Your owner’s manual should tell you where the jack points are located. Slide your jack under the jack point with the flat base facing down. Then, start raising the jack. The way you do this will depend on what kind of jack you have, but you may need to push a lever or turn a crank to raise it. Once the top of the jack makes contact with the bottom of the car, you’ll need to use more effort to keep raising it. Stop once the car is far enough off the ground for you to get access to whichever part you need to work on. If you need to be underneath the car, put two jack stands under the car near the jack for extra support in case the jack shifts or collapses. When you’re done with your work, raise the car up high enough so you can easily remove the jack stands, then slowly lower your car back to the ground and remove the jack. To find out how to use jack stands and what you should do in poor weather conditions, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 295,432 times. Did this article help you?Is it hard to jack a car?Unless you have access to a full-size hydraulic lift like you might find at a mechanic's, this will mean using a jack. Jacks are generally easy to use, but care must be taken to ensure your safety, especially if you're working under the car. Luckily, this just means following a few common sense rules.
How many jacks does it take to lift a car?Generally speaking, if you're only lifting one end of your car, you'll need two jack stands. If you're lifting the whole car, you'll need four. Before getting your car on jack stands, make sure you have a working understanding of best safety practices and the best lift points for your particular vehicle.
Can car jacks damage your car?Car jacks only function when the ground is near vertical. If you're parked on a slant and you jack your car up it could slide down the slope and slip off the car jack. Not only will that cause damage to your car, but also you could get hurt in the process!
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