My car

the correct way to jack up a car for home repairs

Click here LINK for information on how to use a jack when changing a wheel.

The jack supplied with the car is designed for changing a wheel. It is not recommended to be used for repair work or getting under the car. Use a suitable trolley jack and safety stands.

CAUTION! Getting under a raised car is a dangerous activity. Take all necessary care.

prerequisites

• Park on a solid, level surface that is big enough for your car e.g. concrete driveway or garage floor.
• To raise the car, use a trolley-jack that has sufficient capacity to lift the car and complies with Australian Standard - AS 2615 and is in good working condition.
• To hold the car up, use sturdy safety stands that comply with AS 2538. The jack is not sufficient for holding the car.
• Locate the correct jacking or lifting points and position for safety stands on your car - these can vary from make to make or even model to model. Check the owner's manual. If in doubt, contact a dealer or the car manufacturer. These points will be different to those used for the jack supplied with the car for changing a wheel.

procedure

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1. Chock both sides of the wheels opposite to the end being lifted - If applicable, apply park brake.
2. Position trolley-jack under correct lifting point and raise jack until contact is made. 
3. Check that its head plate is sitting squarely on the part you are lifting and will not slide off.
4. Steadily lift the car to the required height, making sure the jack is able to roll slightly to allow for the change of angle as the car is raised.
5. Carefully position the safety stands and slowly lower the jack until the car rests on them.
6. Reverse this procedure to lower the car.

beware

• Never place any part of your body under a raised car until it is sitting securely on safety stands or vehicle ramps.
• Large vehicles, such as 4WDs, may be too heavy for smaller jacks to lift safely.
• Short wheelbase or narrow track jacks can be unstable.
• If the incorrect lifting point is used, the jack could cause damage to the section it is on, or the jack could slip and the car could fall. It is also possible for the car to topple over if it is not be properly balanced.
• Never jack on an uneven surface or in loose gravel.If the jack cannot roll, such as on gravel surfaces, the change of angle as the car is raised can pull the car off the jack.
• Never use two jacks at the same time to lift the vehicle i.e. front and rear.
• Use jacks and safety stands that
• comply with Australian Standards
• are operating properly
• are sufficient for the weight to be lifted.