Do It Yourself Auto Repairs - How to Jack Up Your Car Or Truck

Every car or truck owner is going to have a flat tire by the roadside or even in their driveway at home. Sure your new vehicle most likely has road side assistance provided by the dealer as a service courtesy. Or you may have motor league or some such service. Yet not only is learning how to jack up your car a good thing to know but also it may come in most handy should you be in an emergency situation or need to help less mechanical knowledgeable motorists stranded roadside by the highway or turnpike.

First of all every vehicle and car is different. There is not a one size fits all when it comes to lifting vehicles up for tire changes or other roadside emergency situations and emergencies. Check your owner's manual in your glove box as to the proper place and placement of where to position the jack for your model car or truck. Remember there is a difference in where you place the jack stands for a one wheel job like changing tires or other procedures and where you may place the jack for a two wheel or four wheel drives vehicle.

Always make it a point never to place the jack so that the entire weight of the car rests on anything that is not secure. It may sound simple yet amazing that many preventable road side accidents and incidents that traffic police report as preventable accidents occur when well meaning yet mechanically untrained novice roadside mechanics try to raise vehicles yet place their jacks under a foundation that can bend, break or "give" magically under the entire weight of their automobile. If your owner's manual is not clear on this matter then do your best to place the jack so that it will touch either the car frame or the big bar that supports the front end suspension and apparatus. Jacks can also be placed near the rear wheel axle.

Simply put place the jack under the part of the automobile that it should contact when raised. If you do have jack stands place them near the jack. There are a number of safety rules and precautions that must always be followed to the letter and tee if it's more than a simple tire replacement. For example in more advanced situations where you as a home or backyard do it yourself mechanic may be working on your vehicle completing more advanced auto repair procedures and activities. These auto repair safety jacking rules include:

1) Always park the auto on level ground before you jack it up

2) Never jack up a car or truck without blocking wheels

3) When removing a wheel always loosen lug nuts before jacking the car up

Lastly it may sound strange to practice jacking your car up ahead of time say in the safety of your home driveway. Just like the military conducting tests and exercises ahead of time, its better to practice and have the procedure down pat before an auto or roadside emergency arises.