A concrete driveway or garage away from the road are good examples. A yard is a bad choice — even if it’s flat, the dirt may not be strong enough to support the car.
If you don’t have chocks, some sources recommend bricks, cinder blocks, large rocks, or wedge-shaped pieces of wood. [3] X Research source
If you must jack the car on a soft or broken surface such as a dirt shoulder, use a thick, flat piece of wood to make a stable platform for the jack. If you must jack the car on a slight incline, park next to the curb and turn the wheels into the curb so that they are touching it. This will prevent an out-of-control car from hurting others if it slips off the jack. Similarly, if you don’t have anything to block the wheels with, turn the tires into the curb. [4] X Research source Never jack the car on the shoulder of a roadway. If you must jack the car somewhere near traffic, put on your hazard lights. If you have flares, cones, or pylons, use these to direct traffic away from you.
Typically, there is a jack point on each side behind the front wheels and in front of the back wheels. This will often be next to the rocker panels (the metal or plastic strips beneath the doors). Sometimes, there are two more central jack points located just behind the front and rear bumpers. If you’re not sure where the jack points are, look for a flat metal area along the pinch weld (the weld running down the side of the car beneath the doors). There may also be a notch that matches the shape of the top of the jack, a cutout in the plastic skirt that exposes metal, or a sturdy plastic block attached to the frame. There may even be a spot labeled “jack” on the undercarriage.
Make sure the correct side is facing up. If the jack itself isn’t labeled with a “this side up” warning, look in your owner’s manual for visual instructions. Typically, the jack will have a wide, flat base and a smaller upward-facing arm with “teeth” at the edges pointing up into the body of the car.
Scissor Jacks: These jacks look like two horizontal metal plates with a diamond-shaped mechanism in between. On one side of the jack is a metal hole connected to the main screw drive. Slip the included rod tool through the hole and turn to pull the sides of the jack inward and push the top and bottom of the jack apart. This lifts the vehicle. Hydraulic Jacks: Also called bottle or floor jacks. These look like metal base sections with a lever-like base extending to one side. There is a slot to slip the included rod tool into on one side. Crank the rod up and down in long, steady strokes to pump hydraulic fluid into the cylinder and raise the jack.
Pay careful attention to any sound or movement while lifting the car. It is common to hear a ‘pop’ or a ’thud’ as the jack shifts slightly. If this happens, check that it hasn’t slipped out of position before continuing. Keep all parts of your body out from under the car at all times while lifting it. Though unlikely, serious injury or death can result if the car slips off the jack past this point. [6] X Research source
Slip two jack stands underneath the car near where the jack is supporting it. Line the stands up with the pinch weld or jack point. Raise the jack stands until they are nearly touching the underside of the car. Lower the jack slowly and carefully until the jack stands “catch” the car. If you are not working under the car (for instance, if you are changing a tire), you can proceed without jack stands. Take care not to put any part of your body underneath the car as you work.
Slip two jack stands underneath the car near where the jack is supporting it. Line the stands up with the pinch weld or jack point. Raise the jack stands until they are nearly touching the underside of the car. Lower the jack slowly and carefully until the jack stands “catch” the car. If you are not working under the car (for instance, if you are changing a tire), you can proceed without jack stands. Take care not to put any part of your body underneath the car as you work.
Scissor Jacks: Slip the rod into the screw drive hole and turn in the opposite direction as you did to raise the car. Hydraulic Jacks: Open the relief valve to let fluid drain from the hydraulic cylinder, which lowers the arm. The valve is usually a small screw keyed to the lever. Take care to open the valve slowly to avoid suddenly dropping the car.
