The most obvious reason to jack up a car is to change a tire, but other jobs such as inspecting brakes may also require you to get under the vehicle. (Even if you're skinny enough to squeeze yourself between the pavement and the underside of your car, you still need room to move around and manipulate tools.) This section explains how to use a jack safely and efficiently.

Caution: Before you attempt to jack up your vehicle, observe the following safety precautions:

· Jacks are used only to get a vehicle off the ground. They should neverbe used to hold a vehicle in place.

· You must use jack stands when you work underneath your vehicle. If you don't, you run the risk of serious injury or even death. People have been crushed to death when vehicles that were improperly secured fell on them.

· Never jack up a vehicle without blocking the wheels to keep it from rolling. Use bricks, wooden wedges, or metal wheel chocks to block the wheels at the opposite end of the car from the end that is to be raised. (Chocks are available at a low cost at auto supply stores.) Keep whatever you use for blocks in the trunk so that you don't have to go hunting around if you have to change a flat tire.

Tip: If you find yourself faced with the job of changing a tire and you have nothing with which to block the wheels, 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!