How to Safely Jack Up Your Vehicle

Knowing how to safely jack up your vehicle is key to being able to perform a number of functions on your vehicle. Whether you are trying to change a tire or access various areas underneath your Acura, knowing that your car has been jacked up correctly is vital to both your safety and the safety of your vehicle. There are a few tips that will help ensure that you are using your jack properly and will run into fewer issues during the process.

• Use the jack only to get  a vehicle off the ground, never to hold your vehicle in place

• Never jack up a vehicle without blocking the wheels to keep it from rolling

• Never change a tire on a freeway or highway, call road services or an automobile association

• Always park your vehicle on level ground before jacking it up

• Put the vehicle in Park, or 1st for manual transmissions) and engage the parking brake before jacking up your vehicle

• Substituting other objects for jack stands is very dangerous and should not be done

These helpful hints will help your vehicle stay in place as you use your jack and be sure that there are no unnecessary risks associated with using the jack. Once you have ensured that all of these measures are followed, it is time to start jacking up your vehicle.

Step 1: Place the jack under the part of the vehicle that it should contact when raised

Place your jack stands near your jack so they are easy to access once the vehicle is jacked up. Placing your jack incorrectly can damage your vehicle. To find the proper place to position your jack, consult your owner’s manual. If you are missing your manual or are unsure about placement, contact a service department to show you proper placement.

Step 2: Lift your vehicle using your jack

If you have a scissor jack, insert the rod or wrench over the knob, then crank. If you have a hydraulic jack, place the handle into the appropriate location and pup up and down, using even strokes, taking the jack handle from its lowest to its highest point on each stroke to cut down the involved labor.

Step 3: Place jack stands under the vehicle near where the jack is touching it

Raise the stands until they are just high enough to fit under and lock them in place. Lower the jack until the vehicle is resting on the jack stands.

Step 4: Wiggle the vehicle a little to make sure it is resting securely on the jack stands

After wiggling the vehicle, it is safe to remove the jack. The wiggling also indicates whether the wheels are blocked properly or not. It is better if the vehicle falls while all four wheels are still in place. The vehicle will bounce a little.

Step 5: After you finish work, replace the jack, remove stands, and lower vehicle to the ground

If using a scissor jack, simply turn the crank in the opposite direction. If using a hydraulic jack, use the rod to turn the pressure release valve and the jack will do the rest for you.