5 Easy Steps to Safely Use a Scissor Jack

Scissor jack being used to lift a car

Finding the Jack Factors

Figuring out the jack factors is essential for protected and environment friendly jacking of your car. Your car’s proprietor’s handbook will sometimes embody a diagram indicating the designated jack level areas. These factors are normally marked with notches or bolstered sections on the body or designated areas on the pinch welds. It is necessary to notice that jacking factors could range relying on the make and mannequin of your car.

Steps to Find Jack Factors:

  1. Seek the advice of your car’s proprietor’s handbook for the particular jack level areas.
  2. Rigorously study the underside of the car for notches, bolstered areas, or marked sections on the body or pinch welds. These are sometimes situated close to the wheels or alongside the facet sills.
  3. Clear any grime or particles across the jack factors to make sure a safe match.

Seek advice from the desk beneath for added steering on finding jack factors on frequent car varieties:

Automobile Kind Jack Level Places
Passenger Vehicles Notched or bolstered areas on the body close to the wheels
SUVs and Vehicles Designated areas on the pinch welds or bolstered sections on the body
Unibody Autos Notched or bolstered areas on the designated jacking factors alongside the car’s facet sills

Getting ready the Jack

Earlier than putting the jack beneath your car, there are essential preparatory steps to make sure protected and correct jacking.

1. Collect Obligatory Instruments

Purchase a scissor jack, lug wrench, and wheel chocks to safe the wheels reverse the flat tire.

2. Stage the Floor

Park your car on a steady, stage floor. Keep away from sloping areas or areas the place the car might shift whereas being lifted.

3. Disengage Parking Brake

Launch the parking brake to permit the wheels to roll freely.

4. Place the Jack

Find the designated jack factors in your car’s body. These are sometimes marked by notches or bolstered sections. Seek advice from your car’s proprietor’s handbook for particular jack level areas.

Automobile Kind Typical Jack Factors
Compact Vehicles Physique body behind the entrance wheels and beneath the physique seam traces
SUVs and Vehicles Boxed sections of the body or designated mounting factors on the axles
Vans and Motorhomes Strengthened sections of the body or designated jack posts

Place the scissor jack immediately beneath the designated jack level, guaranteeing it’s perpendicular to the bottom and securely seated on a steady floor.

Positioning the Jack

As soon as you’ve got situated the jack factors, it is time to place the scissor jack.

1. Place the jack within the designated jack level. Guarantee it sits flat and safe on the bottom.

2. Ensure the jack is perpendicular to the bottom and centered beneath the jack level of the car.

3. Align the saddle of the jack with the jack level on the car. This saddle is the a part of the jack that can raise the car.

4. Test the steadiness of the jack. Guarantee it is agency and will not wobble or shift while you begin lifting the car.

5. Seek advice from the car’s proprietor’s handbook for particular jack level areas and extra security tips.

Jack Level Location Security Precautions
Entrance: Behind the entrance wheel Make sure the parking brake is engaged and wheels are chocked.
Rear: In entrance of the rear wheel Test environment for obstacles earlier than lifting.

Elevating the Automobile

To boost the car utilizing a scissor jack, comply with these steps:

  1. Affirm the situation of the designated raise factors: Seek advice from your car’s proprietor’s handbook to establish the particular factors the place the scissor jack is meant to be positioned. These factors are sometimes situated close to the wheels or alongside the body of the car.
  2. Place the scissor jack correctly: Rigorously align the bottom of the scissor jack with the designated raise level. Make sure that the jack is positioned on a steady and stage floor.
  3. Prolong the jack base securely: Use the included deal with or lever to increase the bottom of the scissor jack. Prolong it so far as potential to supply a strong base for lifting.
  4. Slowly and punctiliously pump the jack: Function the jack lever or pump easily and progressively. Keep away from speedy or extreme pumping, as this will pressure the jack or injury the car.
  5. Proceed pumping till the car is lifted: Pump the jack till the car’s desired peak is achieved.
  6. Safe the car with further help: As soon as the car is lifted, it’s essential to stabilize it utilizing jack stands or wheel chocks. These further helps forestall the car from by chance shifting or falling, guaranteeing your security.
  7. Don’t go beneath the car with out help: By no means crawl or work beneath a car that’s supported solely by a scissor jack. All the time use correct jack stands or help programs for added stability.
    Step Description
    1 Determine designated raise factors.
    2 Place scissor jack correctly.
    3 Prolong jack base securely.
    4 Pump jack slowly and punctiliously.
    5 Raise car to desired peak.
    6 Safe car with further help
    7 Don’t go beneath car with out help.

    Securing the Automobile

    To make sure most security whereas utilizing a scissor jack, it’s essential to correctly safe your car earlier than elevating it.

    1. **Discover a Secure and Stage Floor**: Park your car on a agency and stage floor, guaranteeing that the bottom can face up to the burden of the car and the jack.

    2. **Have interaction the Parking Brake**: Pull the parking brake lever as much as interact the mechanism and stop the car from rolling.

    3. **Chock the Wheels**: Place wheel chocks behind the wheels reverse the jacking level to additional stabilize the car and stop it from transferring.

    4. **Test the Jack Location**: Determine the designated jack factors in your car’s chassis or physique. Seek advice from your proprietor’s handbook for particular areas.

    5. **Place the Jack Appropriately**: Place the scissor jack vertically beneath the designated jack level, aligning the bottom of the jack with the bottom.

    6. **Increase the Jack Steadily**: Slowly pump the jack deal with to raise the car. Cease pumping when the specified peak is reached.

    **7. Safe the Jack with a Security Stand (Elective however Extremely Really helpful)**

    For optimum security, think about using a jack stand along with the scissor jack. Here is the right way to safe the car with a jack stand:

    **Step** **Directions**
    Place the Jack Stand Place the jack stand close to the designated jack level, barely behind the scissor jack.
    Modify the Peak Increase or decrease the jack stand till it’s firmly supporting the car’s body.
    Take away the Scissor Jack Slowly decrease the scissor jack to take away it, guaranteeing that the car weight is absolutely transferred to the jack stand.
    Double-Test Stability Gently shake the car to make sure it’s securely supported by each the jack stand and the scissor jack.

    Storing the Scissor Jack

    Correct storage of the scissor jack is essential for its longevity and performance. Listed here are some steps to make sure correct storage:

    1. Clear and Lubricate: After use, clear the scissor jack completely to take away grime, particles, and moisture. Apply a skinny layer of oil or lubricant to the transferring components to stop rust and corrosion.

    2. Dry Totally: Earlier than storing, enable the scissor jack to dry fully to stop moisture from damaging the elements.

    3. Examine Recurrently: Periodically examine the scissor jack for any indicators of injury or put on. Test the situation of the welds, pins, and threads.

    4. Retailer Upright: Retailer the scissor jack in an upright place to stop deformation of the elements.

    5. Shield from Parts: Retailer the scissor jack in a dry and well-ventilated space to attenuate publicity to moisture and temperature extremes.

    6. Use Protecting Cowl: If potential, use a protecting cowl or bag to guard the scissor jack from mud, grime, and scratches.

    7. Securely Fasten: When storing the scissor jack within the car, safe it correctly utilizing the designated storage compartment or straps to stop it from transferring or rattling.

    8. Hold Away from Chemical compounds: Retailer the scissor jack away from corrosive chemical compounds or liquids that might injury the elements.

    9. Keep away from Extreme Weight: Don’t retailer heavy objects on or across the scissor jack, as this might trigger injury or deformation.

    10. Seek advice from Producer’s Directions: All the time seek the advice of the producer’s directions for particular storage suggestions on your specific scissor jack mannequin.

    How you can Use a Scissor Jack

    A scissor jack is a mechanical system used to raise automobiles. It’s typically included as customary tools in vehicles and vans. Scissor jacks are comparatively simple to make use of, however it is very important comply with the producer’s directions rigorously to keep away from damage or injury to the car.

    To make use of a scissor jack, first place it beneath the designated jack level on the car. The jack level is normally situated close to the wheel that must be lifted. Guarantee that the jack is positioned in order that it will likely be steady and never prone to slip.

    Subsequent, pump the jack deal with up and down till the car is lifted to the specified peak. Remember to pump the deal with slowly and evenly to keep away from damaging the jack or the car.

    As soon as the car is on the desired peak, insert the jack stand beneath the car. Jack stands are used to supply further help and stability to the lifted car. Place the jack stands in order that they’re supporting the burden of the car and never the jack.

    Lastly, decrease the jack by slowly releasing the stress on the deal with. Remember to decrease the car slowly and punctiliously to keep away from any sudden actions that might trigger injury.

    Individuals Additionally Ask About How you can Use a Scissor Jack

    How do I do know if my scissor jack is protected to make use of?

    It’s best to at all times test the producer’s directions on your particular scissor jack to ensure that it’s in good working situation. If the jack is broken or has any free components, it shouldn’t be used.

    What’s the most weight that my scissor jack can raise?

    The utmost weight {that a} scissor jack can raise will range relying on the mannequin. It’s best to at all times seek the advice of the producer’s directions to seek out out the utmost weight capability on your particular jack.

    How do I eliminate a used scissor jack?

    Scissor jacks ought to be disposed of based on native rules. In some areas, you could possibly recycle the jack at an area recycling heart.