Essential Emergency Skills: How to Use a Car Jack and Change a Spare Tire for a Family Sedan

The jack and spare tire are probably the least noticeable items that come with a car. Many people put the provided jack in the trunk after buying a car and never touch it again, not even opening it to see what it looks like. However, in emergencies such as a flat tire or air leakage, mastering the jack and tire-changing skills helps you quickly get out of danger. It is truly an essential emergency skill.

Types of jacks. Common car jacks mainly come in two types: rack jacks and screw jacks. Rack jacks are more common and can be further divided into scissor-type and diamond-type rack jacks based on their structure. The rack consists of a rotating mechanism, rack, and gear. By turning the rack, it lifts and supports the vehicle. It has a simple structure, small size, and limited load capacity. Screw jacks rely on a threaded structure to self-lock and support the vehicle. They require more effort to operate but have a higher load capacity and are often used in large SUVs.

Step one: find a flat, solid, and level surface. A flat and solid surface is the foundation for subsequent operations because if the surface is uneven, the vehicle may shift after being lifted, causing accidents. Additionally, if the surface is loose soil or sand, place a hard, flat board or brick under the jack to improve the surface's load-bearing capacity; otherwise, the jack may sink.

Step two: apply the vehicle brake. Fully apply the brakes to prevent movement during the operation. For manual transmissions, pull up the handbrake and shift to first gear or reverse gear to apply braking force to both front and rear wheels. For automatic transmissions, pull up the handbrake and shift to Park (P).

Step three: loosen the lug nuts of the tire to be removed. Loosen the tire lug nuts in advance but do not fully remove them. This is to avoid putting too much impact on the jack when removing the nuts after lifting. Fully remove the nuts after lifting. At this time, you can also place the spare tire under the chassis to prevent damage if any problem occurs after lifting.

Step four: align the jack with the car's chassis lifting support point. If using a purchased jack, check the jack's maximum load capacity in advance to match your vehicle's weight. Sedans generally have reserved support points near the wheels on both sides of the body, providing sufficient strength to support lifting. These are usually located about 20 centimeters from the chassis near the wheels. Some have protrusions matching the jack's groove, while others have raised skirts that fit the jack's groove. The support point must be correctly located to avoid damaging the chassis or the jack.

Step five: slowly lift the jack. Since household jacks lack sufficient strength and hardness and cannot withstand rough handling, the lifting process must be slow and steady. Turn the rotating mechanism evenly and avoid tilting the jack to prevent damage. Using excessive force is not suitable here; if the jack is damaged by force, you lose the chance to solve the problem yourself, increasing time and cost.

Step six: change the tire and tighten the lug nuts. After completing the previous steps steadily, finally unscrew the original tire's lug nuts, slowly remove the tire, then fix the spare tire in place. Screw on the lug nuts but do not fully tighten them. After lowering the jack and the vehicle is on the ground, fully tighten the lug nuts to complete the tire change.

Using a regular household jack is actually quite simple and convenient, but the process must be steady and carefully done slowly to complete the tire change. Never lean under the car during lifting to avoid accidents.