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don't get jacked around

Car repairs require all sorts of safety measures, but one of the most overlooked is properly securing your car when jacking it up for repairs. The force of an unsecured car hitting the ground can mean facing even more repairs – not to mention facing corporal repairs for the mechanic!

• If you plan to do a lot of home auto repairs buy a pair of jack stands. Don’t rely on the tire jack that came with the car. Those are simply for changing tires, not for getting under the car for extensive repairs.
• Always put the car in gear and set the parking brake before you use any jack. Even when simply changing a tire.
• Consult the owner’s manual to locate the safe jack stand positions under the car. Can’t find the manual? Look for a long section of the heavy duty car frame, behind the front wheels and in front of the back wheels.
• To use jack stands:
• If you don’t have a floor jack (another essential tool for the home mechanic), use the factory-provided tire jack to lift one side of the car at a time.
• Place the jack stands in the safe positions identified in the manual.
• Now slowly lower the car toward the jack stand, making sure you’re still on target. Remove the floor or tire jack.
• Repeat the process under the other side of the vehicle.
• Once the car is in place on the two jack stands, lean on the bumper and shake the car. This will ensure you’ve placed your stands properly and that it’s safe to climb underneath to do your work.

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