Final answer:
To safely lift a vehicle, one must ensure it's on a flat surface, set parking gear, locate lift points, and use a hydraulic or floor jack followed by jack stands for stability, adhering to safety and correct lifting protocols.
Step-by-step explanation:
Steps to Safely Lift a Vehicle
To safely bring a vehicle into the shop and lift it using a hydraulic jack or floor jack, follow these steps:
- Ensure that the vehicle is on a level and stable surface.
- Set the parking brake and put the vehicle in gear if it has a manual transmission or in park if it has an automatic transmission.
- Clear the area around the vehicle and make sure all tools and bystanders are at a safe distance.
- Locate the vehicle's designated lift points, which are usually indicated in the owner's manual.
- Position the hydraulic jack or floor jack under the lift point and ensure it is properly aligned.
- Pump the jack handle to raise the vehicle, making sure to do this slowly and steadily.
- Once the vehicle is lifted to the desired height, place jack stands beneath the vehicle at the appropriate supporting spots.
- Carefully lower the vehicle onto the jack stands by slowly releasing the jack.
- Before starting work, double-check that the vehicle is stable on the jack stands and unable to move.
A hydraulic jack operates on the principle that a small force applied over a small area can balance a much larger force over a larger area due to the incompressible nature of the hydraulic fluid.