how do i use a car jack

There you are, on the side of the road with a flat tire. It’s a situation every driver hopes to avoid, but knowing how to handle it is an essential skill. Your car jack is the key tool that will get you back on your way safely. While it might seem a bit intimidating at first, the process is straightforward once you know the steps. Learning how do i use a car jack is less about brute strength and more about technique and safety.

The Essential First Steps for Safety

Before you even touch the jack, your top priority is preparing the vehicle. Pull over to a flat, stable, and hard surface, like level pavement. Engage your parking brake firmly and put wheel chocks—or a sturdy block of wood—behind the tires opposite the one you’re lifting. For example, if you’re lifting a front tire, chock a rear tire. Locate your car’s jack, spare tire, and lug wrench. It’s a good idea to loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire by about a quarter-turn before you lift the car. They are much easier to break loose when the tire is still firmly on the ground.

How Do I Use a Car Jack the Right Way?

Now for the main event. Consult your owner’s manual to find the vehicle’s designated jack points. These are reinforced metal seams or sections on the car’s frame designed to handle the weight. Placing the jack anywhere else can cause serious damage to your vehicle or lead to a collapse. Position the jack correctly under the jack point. Slowly and steadily crank the jack’s handle to begin raising the car. Continue until the flat tire is about six inches off the ground—just enough room to remove it and put the spare on.

Finishing Up and Lowering the Car

With the car securely raised, you can now fully remove the loosened lug nuts and the flat tire. Place the spare tire onto the wheel studs and hand-tighten the lug nuts back on. Once they are all on, lower the car slowly with the jack until the tire just touches the ground. Now, use your lug wrench to fully tighten the lug nuts in a star or crisscross pattern to ensure the tire is seated evenly. Finally, lower the car completely, remove the jack, and do a final check to make sure all lug nuts are as tight as possible.

Practicing this process in your driveway once can build your confidence immensely. Knowing how to use your car jack correctly turns a stressful roadside emergency into a manageable task, giving you peace of mind on every journey.