How to Properly Jack Up a Car

A car jack usually comes in handy when changing its tyre. It uplifts the car to let you inspect parts placed underneath. Before doing so, you must understand how to use a car jack safely to prevent any injury.

If you are living in the UAE, the extreme weather conditions can often cause serious damage to your car’s tyres. Therefore, you must try to proactively work on car tyre maintenance in the UAE summer. Besides, it is important to keep a car toolbox as well as a car jack and spare tyre, to avoid any roadside emergencies.

Here is a detailed guide on how to use a car jack, its types and mechanism, and some safety precautions.  

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Use a Car Jack

Once you understand how a car jack works, it becomes easier to operate it. This guide covers the functioning of mechanical and hydraulic jacks. 

Before using a car jack, make sure that it is in parking gear for automatic cars. While for manual cars, it must be in first gear with the handbrake. Now, follow these steps to jack up your car.

1. First, you need to place the car jack under the safe lift points. These points are the sturdiest parts of a car which are mostly at the back and front of the wheel arches. You may also check the owner’s manual to identify such points.

2. Lift the car using the jack.

3. If you are using a scissor (mechanical) jack, then insert the rod over the knob and start twisting in the direction marked as ‘R’. To lower down the car, twist in the direction marked as ‘L’. 

Whereas, if you are using a floor (hydraulic) jack, then start pumping the adjustment arm in even strokes to uplift your car. To bring the car back to ground level, turn the height adjustment arm to its vertical position and turn it.

4. Place the car jack stands, under the car, near the jacks. Now, raise the jack stands until they have reached enough height to match that of the car’s jack. Lock the jack stands in place.

5. Before removing the jack, wiggle the car a bit to ensure that the car is resting safely on the jack stands. 

6. Once you are done with your work, place the car jacks back, remove the jack stands, and lower down your car using the jack as described in Step 03.

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Types and Mechanisms of Car Jack

There are two types of car jacks, detailed as under:

1. Mechanical Car Jack 

It uses a ratcheting mechanism to uplift the car. Examples include a high lift jack and a scissor jack.

2. Hydraulic Car Jack

It uses a horizontally or vertically placed hydraulic cylinder that lifts the car. This jack has an oil reservoir that, under pressure, pushes the cylinder upwards. Once the pressure is released, the jack lowers down. Examples include floor jack and bottle jack.

Hydraulic jacks are convenient to use since they require less strength but they demand maintenance if oil leaks. Whereas, mechanical car jacks are readily available and demand nominal maintenance.

Precautions for Using Jack 

Before jacking up your car, observe the following safety precautions:

1. Never use a car jack to hold a car in place, rather use it only to lift the car from the ground.

2. Always use jack stands when working beneath a car to maintain balance.

3. Choose a car jack and its stands that can bear the car’s weight.

4. Block the wheels before jacking up the car to prevent it from rolling. Use metal wheel chocks, bricks or wooden wedges to block the wheels that aren’t being raised. 

5. Always park your car on a levelled surface before jacking up. In case you get a flat tyre on a hill, then park the car near the curb and turn the wheels towards it. You must also block the downside wheels, with rocks or bricks, to prevent the car from rolling down. 

6. Before jacking up, place the car in parking gear when using an automatic transmission. In case of a manual transmission, put the car in first gear and pull the handbrake.

Now that you are aware of how to use a car jack safely, make sure that you follow the steps and precautions whenever uplifting a car. In case the tyres are worn out or get older than 5 years then it’s better to replace them. Also, tyre safety rules in the UAE require a change of car tyres every 05 years. 

Nevertheless, if you are in search of quality car tyres, then you can check these car tyres for sale in the UAE.

For more information on usage and safety tips on car jacks, stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog.