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HOW TO Jack Up a Car Safely

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HOW TO JACK UP A CAR SAFELY

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Everyone should know how to use the jack that comes with his or her car. Practice this at home so if you ever get a flat, you’ll know where the jack is, and how to safely and properly use it.

Steps

  1. Park the car on level ground and engage the parking brake. Leave manual transmission cars in first gear or reverse and put automatics in park. (Image 1).
  2. Place a chock or a brick behind or in front of (depending on the road’s incline) the wheel diagonally opposite one being jacked up.
  3. Place the jack under the car’s frame nearest the wheel to be jacked up. There’s a thin lip that runs along the side of your car’this is where the jack should go. Your owner’s manual will have a picture of the safest place to put the jack. Bumper jacks will attach to slots in the front or rear bumper (on older cars).
  4. When the jack is in place, insert the handle according to the directions on the jack, and turn or ratchet the handle to make the jack rise. If it lowers or cannot turn, rotate the handle the other way, or flip the switch marked ‘R’ and ‘L’ (for ‘raise’ and ‘lower’). (Image 2)
  5. Raise the jack high enough to either replace a flat tire or place the car on a jack stand (a sturdy temporary stand at a fixed height). If you’re changing a flat, remember to leave extra room’the new tire will be full of air. (Image 3)
  6. Lower the jack when you’re finished. Be cautious and go slowly. If you’ve used a jack stand, before lowering the jack you will need to raise the car slightly to pull the stand from its place. (Image 4)

Tips

  • Make sure the jack is sitting flat on the ground before raising. Avoid trying to jack up a car on appreciably tilted ground.
  • Make sure everyone is out of the car before jacking it up.
  • There are several different kinds of jacks. If you’re not sure how to operate yours and don’t see directions in your owner’s manual, call for help.
  • Some cars have special jacks and slots on the side of the car for the jack (most notably Volvos and BMWs).
  • Loosen the wheel nuts before jacking the car off the ground. Replace the wheel nuts before lowering the car, make them finger-tight. Once lowered, finish the job with the tyre iron. Ensure they’re tight.
  • Leave the jack up, as well as the stands, as an added insurance to safety!

Warnings

  • Cars can slip off jacks. Be careful. It’s unsafe to get under a car that’s supported only by a jack. Use jack stands if the car will be off the ground for any period of time, if you plan to get underneath it, or if you’ll be working or making repairs on the car.
  • Don’t jack up a car unless you’re on a cement surface. Watch out for soft shoulders and very hot pavement, which may not support the jack.

HOW TO Add Air & Check Tire Pressure

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HOW TO ADD AIR & CHECK TIRE PRESSURE

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Keeping your tires at their recommended pressure will increase their lifespan, improve your car’s gas mileage and give you a smoother ride.

Steps

  1. Let the tires cool before checking their pressure (tires are more inflated when warm, less when cold).
  2. Remove the cap from the valve on one tire. (Image 1)
  3. Press a tire gauge hard onto the valve and note the reading. The sound of escaping air means you haven’t inserted the gauge properly: it’s either pressed on askew or you’re pressing too lightly. (Image 2)
  4. Add air to achieve recommended pressure, which is listed on a sticker on the driver’s side doorjamb and in the car’s manual. If you overfill, you can release air by pushing on the tiny metal stem in the center of the valve with a fingernail or the tip of a pen or pencil. If you need to guess, 32 psi (pounds per square inch) is a good rule of thumb for most passenger cars with standard tires.
  5. Replace the valve cap. (Image 3)
  6. Repeat with each tire, including the spare (the status of its pressure is often forgotten until it’s needed, and then it’s too late).
  7. Check the tread depth. Recommended depth differs with types of tires. For a standard sedan tire, a penny pushed into the tread can give you a rough reading. If you can see any of Lincoln’s head, it may be time to replace the tire. A $15 tread-depth gauge can give you a more accurate reading. There may also be wear indicators built into the tread; if they show, replace the tire.
  8. Check for even wear (see “How to Interpret Your Car’s Tire Wear.”) If the treads on the outside or inside are particularly worn, you may need to rotate your tires or have your alignment checked.

Tips

  • The pressure you see on the tire’s sidewall is the tire’s maximum pressure – a number you don’t want to achieve unless you’re planning on carrying a very heavy load in your car.
  • A slow leak may be the result of a bad or leaky tire valve.
  • To ensure you’re getting an accurate reading, invest in a good tire gauge (which should run around $20).
  • Go ahead and use the recommended pressure stamped on the spare’s sidewall to fill it. A smaller “temporary” spare requires about 60 psi.
  • If you are at a gas station with a coin operated air pump, before you insert the coin, make sure you have removed all the tire valve caps and brought the hose close to the tire that is farthest from the pump.

HOW TO Create an Emergency Road Kit

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HOW TO CREATE AN EMERGENCY ROAD KIT

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Having an emergency road kit may mean the difference between sitting on the side of the highway waiting for a tow truck or being able to make your way to your destination.

Steps

  1. Use a cardboard or plastic box to keep everything in so it doesn’t roll around in the trunk and you can easily find what you need.
  2. Buy or cull together a first aid kit.
  3. Include a roadside emergency card.
  4. Throw in all the necessary equipment to change a tire: working jack, spare tire (with air in it!), lug nut wrench or tire iron, pipe for leverage. Most of this should already be stored in its designated place in the car’s trunk or hatchback.
  5. Have a flashlight with fresh batteries in there.
  6. Include triangle reflectors and flares.
  7. Include rags and a funnel.
  8. Purchase all the necessary fluids: 2 qts. of oil (10W-40), a gallon of water and antifreeze, brake fluid, power-steering fluid (if applicable), and automatic transmission fluid (if applicable).
  9. Add flat and Phillips-head screwdrivers, pliers and an adjustable wrench (only to be used in an emergency – adjustable wrenches can easily round the head of bolts).
  10. Buy jumper cables (at least eight feet long).
  11. Toss in work gloves or latex gloves, duct tape (of course), a blanket, spare fuses and a can of Fix-a-Flat.

Tips

  • Some optional items to consider: a Swiss Army knife, a good book, a credit card, a pillow, a bathing suit, tasty snacks, a beach chair and, to make your mom happy, a pair of clean underwear.
  • If you live in an area with freezing temperatures, keep a collapsible shovel in the car in case you need to dig your car out of ice or snow.
  • If you break down or are in and accident on a foggy night, reflective triangles won’t cut it. Get a six pack of flares (the longer the burn time, the better). Set the first ones about 50 yards behind and in front of the vehicle(s), the others close enough to illuminate the scene. You will be able to assist others that don’t have the proper equipment as well.
  • In that emergency box put an extra key for the locking gas cap.

HOW TO Safely Wait for a Tow Truck

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HOW TO SAFELY WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK

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Bummer! Your vehicle has broken down, and now you’re waiting for a tow. Now what? Here are some helpful roadside tips to stay safe while waiting for a tow truck to arrive.

Steps

  1. Make sure your vehicle is as far off the road as possible to avoid an accident.
  2. Turn on your hazard lights.
  3. Put flares or warning triangles behind your car to let other drivers know it’s there.
  4. Stay inside your car or in a nearby building – someplace with a view to see when the tow truck arrives. Lock your doors if you stay in the vehicle.
  5. Crack the window to talk to anyone who stops. Avoid opening it all the way.
  6. Gather things you don’t want left in your car. You will either have to get a ride to the garage or ride with the tow truck driver.

Tips

  • Carry enough emergency change for cab fare and phone calls. It’s also always nice to have a paperback book around to kill time while you wait.
  • Consider getting a cellular phone.
  • Give the address or the nearest cross streets of your location (including the city) to the tow company. This can mean the difference between a long or short wait.

Warnings

  • Raising the hood is a sign that you have trouble. If the tow truck is coming, you don’t need other people’s help, so keep your hood down. It will only block your view.