Monthly Motor - June 2014

DIY
Process on using
the car Jack
The most obvious reason to jack up a
car is to change a tyre, but other jobs,
such as inspecting brakes or carrying
out an oil change, may also require
you to get under the car. It’s important
to observe the following safety precautions before
you jack up the car:
Use the jack only to get a car off the ground.
Never, at any moment, use a jack to hold a car
up in place!
Block the wheels, to prevent them from rolling
before jacking up a car. Use bricks, wooden
wedges, or metal wheel chocks to block the
wheels at the end of the car that aren’t being
raised.
If you’re changing a tire and you have nothing
to block the wheels with, park near the curb
with the wheels turned in. This may not keep
you from getting hurt if the car rolls off the jack,
but at least innocent motorists and pedestrians
won’t have to deal with a runaway driverless
vehicle!
Never change a tyre on a road or major highway.
Call road service or an automobile association
such as the AA of Kenya for assistance.
Ensure you have also parked the car away from
the road to avoid blocking other road users.
Place some life savers on each side of the road
to alert other drivers.
Always park a car on level ground before you
jack it up. If you get a flat tyre on a hill and
can’t coast to the bottom without killing the
tyre completely, park close to the curb, turn the
wheels toward the curb, and block the downside
wheels securely to prevent the car from rolling.
Put the car in Park, or in First gear if you have
a manual transmission, and engage the parking
brake before you jack up the car.
After ensuring that you have followed the
precautions proceed to jack up the car:
1. Place the jack under the part of the car that it
should contact when raised. If you’re using jack
stands, place them near the jack. If you place
your jack incorrectly, you can damage your car.
To find the proper place to position the jack for
your particular make and model of a car, check
your owner’s manual.
2. If you have a scissor jack, insert the rod or
wrench over the knob, and then crank. If you
have a hydraulic jack, place the handle into the
appropriate location, and pump up and down.
Use nice, even strokes, taking the jack handle
from its lowest point to its highest point on each
stroke to cut down on the labour involved.
3. If you’re using a scissor jack, simply turn the
crank in the opposite direction. If you’re using a
hydraulic jack, use the rod to turn the pressure
release valve. The jack will do the rest of the
work for you.
30
MOTOR JUNE 2014