How to Use a Car Jack

A car jack allows you to safely and easily raise your car so you can perform needed maintenance or repairs. Most car jacks work in the same general way, but if you’ve never encountered one before, you may not be sure how to best utilize it. To help you do so safely, and to ensure your vehicle is kept up to date on maintenance and repairs and ready for the roads of Phoenix, Surprise, and beyond, the Liberty Buick, Inc. service team shares how to use a car jack and jack stand below.

How to Use a Car Jack and Jack Stand

Car jacks and jack stands partially lift a vehicle off the ground. In most cases, this is done in order to change a tire or replace a hub cap. Here’s how to use a car jack and jack stand step by step:

• Park on level ground, ideally on a paved surface. Never use a car jack or jack stand on dirt, grass, or any surface that’s uneven or has give to it.
• Position wheel wedges, wooden blocks, or bricks behind the tires that will not be raised. 
• Make sure the vehicle is in Park, and activate the emergency brake. For manual transmission vehicles, place the car in first gear as you engage the parking brake. 
• Consult your owner’s manual to learn the proper jack placement for your vehicle. If you need to lift just one wheel, only that corner needs to be raised. If you need to lift the entire front or back of the vehicle, you’ll usually need to place the jack at the center of the frame in the front or back.
• Crank or pump the jack based on whether it’s a scissor or hydraulic jack. With a scissor jack, insert the rod, and crank. With a hydraulic jack, secure the handle into the body of the jack and pump it. You can then raise the vehicle to the desired height. 
• Put the jack stand under the frame of the car at the “pinch weld,” a reinforced point on the frame.
• Raise or lower the height of the stand as needed using the pin, screw, or pawl before locking the stand into position. Slowly lower the car with the jack until it is secure on the jack stand. 
• With the car securely on the jack stand, remove the jack. Give the vehicle a very light push to check that it stays in place. 
• Once the work is completed, lift the car a few inches with the help of the jack. You can now remove the stand. 
• Lower the vehicle slowly, then remove the jack. 
• Remove the wheel blocks you put in place earlier in the process.

Schedule Auto Service in Peoria Today

Now that you know how to use a jack for a car, you’re ready to perform the repairs or maintenance your vehicle requires. If you’d rather leave the job to professionals, schedule service online or contact us to reserve a time. You can also contact us with any questions you might have about how to use a jack for a car. We’re here to help keep your vehicle running smoothly in Glendale or wherever the road may take you!