How To Use A Scissor Jack In Your Car, Jeep and More

Scissor car jacks are essential for changing the tire of your car. Since they are compact and comparatively petite, you can travel with a scissor jack in your car.

And trust us, it is crucial for a person who drives a car, regularly or rarely, to know how to use a scissor jack. Learning to use this jack will save you from a lot of trouble.

So, Let's check the steps out!

How To Use A Scissor Jack Correctly

There are several steps on using a car scissor jack. After learning it once, you will be able to remember it all your life.

Step 1: Look for the Best Spot

Before anything, you should take your vehicle to a flat surface area to work with ease. Also, if possible, get your vehicle far away from jam-packed areas or traffic.

Step 2: Clean Up the Place

Find a spacious place for your task. If there are any unnecessary objects or dirt particles, you must remove them or clean them up.

Step 3: Prep to Start Working

Set down the 'Park' mode of your vehicle. This mode will stop your car from rolling away. Use tire chocks on the opposite wheel of your vehicle. It means, for a back lift, use the front tire chock, and for a front lift, use the back tire chock.

Get the scissor jack, the spare tire, and the crank handle from your vehicle's trunk.

Step 4: Check the Condition of Your Scissor Jack

Check to see if your scissor jack is all okay. Then assemble it.

If there is any rust on your jack, use a lubricant made of silicon. For any type of dirt, clean them up.

Step 5: Use a Jack Stand

A jack stand is your best choice if you need to go underneath the car because scissor jacks cannot hold too much weight. Also, getting a mechanic's creeper will make your work safer and time-effective.

Step 6: Look for Lift Points and place The Jack

Locate the optimal jacking point of your vehicle, which is the most robust piece of your vehicle.

The reinforced section of the frame can support the car's weight when you lift it up.

Jacking spots can be found close to the wheels. If you are still unable to find the jacking spot use your car's manual.

Step 7: Crank the Lever

Place the crank lever into the middle bolt.

Rotate the lever clockwise for raising the saddle. Keep rotating the handle until the saddle is almost touching the vehicle.

Step 8: Reposition or Readjust, If Necessary

If you could not position the jack directly under the jacking point in Step 7, now is the time for you to do so.

Step 9: Rotate The Lever

Now rotate the lever again until the jack is in contact with the vehicle. After the saddle comes in contact with the vehicle, it becomes harder to keep rotating the handle.

However, you must keep it spinning.

At one point, the vehicle starts to lift in the air. Keep raising it until you get the car up to your desired height.

Step 10: Setting Up the Jack Stands

Set up the jack stands in the appropriate position if you are going to utilize them. If you're not using them, skip to Step 13.

Bring the scissor jack down by rotating the crank handle anti-clockwise. If you do this, the weight of the vehicle will be transferred to the jack stands from the jack.

Step 11: Remove Tools

You can remove the scissor jack when the jack stands have a stronghold of your vehicle. Next, you can now remove the tire and replace it with the spare.

Step 12: Go in Again with the Scissor Jack

Now place the jack again if you have used the jack stand and have removed it.

Use the  jack to lower down your car.

Step 13: Put Away Tool

Put away the jack and other tools you have used to replace the tire.

These are all the steps to using a spare tire jack or a scissor jack for replacing your tire.

Using A Scissor Jack on Jeep Wrangler

Using a scissor jack on the Jeep Wrangler almost follows the technique of using the jack on a small car with a few added extra steps. Read on to find out:

Step One: Do the Prep

Park your jeep on a flat surface and away from the traffic. Next, try to steer clear of any slippery or icy surface. Turn off the ignition, set the Jeep on Park mode, and turn on the hazard lights. Use tire chocks to block the opposite wheels.

Step Two: Get Your Tools

Get the lug wrench and other tools from the cargo space in the back. Lift up the load floor and pinch to the left of the storage to get the tools.

Remove the cover from the tire. Get the tool kit given with the Jeep from the center console.

Step Three: Remove the Camera Cover

Unlock the lock bolt from the camera cover on the back. It would be best to use a T40 Torx head driver for this.

To remove the cover, rotate the bolt anti-clockwise only once. Use the lug wrench to rotate the lug nuts anti-clockwise.

Step Four: Take Off the Flat Tire

Fetch the lock key from the glove box to plant it on the lug nuts and remove the nuts.

Rotate the lug nuts of the flat tire once anti-clockwise to loosen them. Be sure to do it while the tire is still on the ground.

Step Five: Get Your Scissor Jack

Join the jack lever first with the extension and then with the lug wrench.

Locate the axle tube closest to the punctured tire and position the jack under the tube. Make sure the scissor jack has been fully enjoined before you lift up your Jeep.

Now keep rotating the jack screw clockwise and lift up your Jeep Wrangler until the tire is high enough off the ground for spare tire installation.

Unfasten the lug nuts to remove the flat tire.

Step Six: Get Your Spare Tire

Now, get the spare wheel. Plant it on your Jeep Wrangler and make sure the valve stem is facing outwards.

Rearrange the lug nuts and slightly screw them clockwise. Rotate the jackscrew anti-clockwise and lower your Jeep Wrangler.

Step Seven: Remove the Jack

Now, remove the jack. Use maximum force to tighten the lug nuts. If needed, use a torque wrench to make sure they have been tightened as much as possible.

Step Eight: Put Away Your Tools

Place your tire, scissor jack, and other tools properly.

Your Jeep Wrangler is now ready to go.

How To Use Jack Stands with Scissor Jack

You can and should use jack stands with a scissor jack if you need to slide under the car.

Follow the steps below to use jack stands with scissor jacks -

• When you get your vehicle to your desired height, place the jack stands under your car.

• Then you need to crank the jack to transfer the weight to the stands.

• After placing the jack stand, you can either remove the jack from under the car or keep it there.

• Finally, replace the old tire with the spare one.

• After the replacement of tires, you must place the jack under the vehicle again to lower down your car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the most commonly asked questions about scissor jacks are:

Can you use a scissor jack to change the oil?

No, a scissor jack cannot be used to change the oil. They are only for changing your tires.

How high does a scissor jack go?

A scissor jack can usually lift up a car from 4 inches to 24 inches.

How much can a scissor jack lift?

The maximum lifting capacity of a scissor jack is 5000 pounds.

What size scissor jack do I need?

It would be best for you to buy a 2 tons scissor jack to eliminate any extra hassle.

Start Changing Your Tire All by Yourself!

Now you know all about how to use a scissor jack. You do not have to go to a mechanic anymore every time you get a flat tire. Moreover, you can use your expertise to help change other people's tires or even teach them how to use them.

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