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Locate a safe working area where you wish to
jack the vehicle. This should be a smooth flat area. of hard
level ground. Never attempt to jack up a car on grass or
other soft ground.
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Drive the vehicle into position. apply the
handbrake and put the car into gear.
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Locate the safe jacking points on the
vehicle. If you are unsure if this always consult your
owners hand book /manual or contact your car's dealer for more
information. If you intend to remove the vehicles road
wheels when the vehicle is jacked up you should now
"crack" the wheel nuts. this generally involves
giving each wheel nut or wheel bolt about a 1/4 turn. It is
a lot easier and safer to do this when the vehicle is fully
on the ground. Do not under any circumstanced remove or
attempt to remove a wheel nut or bolt whilst the vehicle is
still on the ground.
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Make sure you fully understand how to use
your jack. If you are using the jack that came with the car,
please consult your owners hand book. If you are using a
trolley jack, or other third party jack then please read the
relevant instructions. Once you are sure about using your
jack place the jack into it's correct jacking point. At this
point raise the jack very slightly until you see the vehicle
begin to rise. Now (without putting any part of your
body under the vehicle) double check to make sure the jack
has remained in the correct jacking point. If you are
not sure please lower the jack and place it again. You need
to be 100% sure that you have the jack placed correctly.
Only when you are certain that the jack is positioned
correctly should you continue.
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As you are raising the vehicle it is
important to pay close attention at all times. Listen for
noises that do not sound right. When jacking a car it is
fairly common to hear the occasional creaking noise. if you
believe the creaking to be excessive. Or if you hear any
other undesirable noises lower the car as soon as possible.
never place any part of your body under the vehicle to
check. You should have make all your observational checks
before you began to actually jack the vehicle up. If in
doubt lower the car and start again.
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You should be aiming to get the car high
enough to be able to place an axle stand under the car and
onto a suitable supporting point. Usually the only suitable
supporting Pont is a jacking point. Again you should have
located the jacking points before you began jacking the car.
As soon as the car it high enough to gain access with an
axle stand you should stop raising the car. You are now
ready to position your axle stand. When doing this you need
to be very careful. I recommend you lie down with your head
facing the car and you feet away from the car. keep your
head just short of an arms distance away from the vehicle.
You should now begin to slide the axle stand along the
ground and under the vehicle. only your hand should be under
the car. Keep your hand as close to the ground as possible.
Never place your head or shoulders under the car. Your arm
is very thin. If the car was to collapse now it would land
on it's wheels you have enough room to safely place your hand
there, but nothing else. If you believe the car is going to
fall remove your hand right away. Always be very aware and
alert.
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When you have managed to place the axle
stand into position you should remove your hand from under
the vehicle. Lie close to the vehicle and just visually make
a double check to ensure is it in the correct position. If
you are satisfied you can them slowly begin to lower the
vehicle onto the axle stand. You should never leave the
weight on the jack and use the axle stand as a safety net.
All the weight should be firmly on the axle stand. Once the
weight is fully placed on the stand you can now remove the
jack. you should now give the car a gentle shake to make
absolutely sure that it is safe. If you hear any creaking
noises then there may be something wrong. You need to be
100% sure a vehicle is safely supported before you can work
safely. If the job you are doing only requires one corner of
the vehicle to be jacked then you can how safely continue
with the task at hand. If you require more than 1/4 of the
vehicle to be jacked then you will need to proceed with
caution.
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move to the opposite side of the vehicle and
carry out the same detailed and careful jacking procedure as
described in number 3 onwards. the safe jacking and
supporting points on the vehicle will be symmetrical. you
should choose the same points on both sides of the car. You
should only ever jack "rear right and/or rear
left" or "front right and/or front left". or
"front and rear right" or "front and rear
left". you should never under any circumstances jack up
opposite corners. Jacking a vehicle on opposite corners is
very dangerous and can cause serious damage to the vehicle.
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To lower the vehicle you basically place the
jacks back into their jacking points and take the weight
from the axle stands. Again you need to proceed with
caution, never rush!. Make sure everything is done properly.
You should remove the axle stands using the same method you
used to place them. Lie down and place only your hand under
the vehicle. When you have removed the axle stand you can
now begin to lower the jack. The vehicle is only 100% safe
when it's fully on the ground. Do not venture under the
vehicle now that you have removed the axle stands.
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If you had the wheel(s) off when the vehicle
was supported then you should fully tighten then once the
vehicle is on the ground., this is the only way you can be
sure they are as tight as required. You should never attempt
to fully tighten road wheel nuts or bolts when the vehicles
wheels are not fully on the ground.
