Jack Adventures

[apowell@ezlink.com]

I am concerned to read about the experiences of list-members which indicate 
that they are - or hopefully, once were, but are no longer - in the habit of 
placing any part of their body under a car while it's on the the car's jack.

This is REALLY DUMB.  Any manufacturer's jack is intended only for tire 
changing - and must be used properly to be safe for that.  Under no 
circumstances should you get under a car - or in a position where the car can 
injure you if it shifts - while it's on the stock jack.  

In some cases, slippery garage floors are cited.  WHY are you working on a 
car in a garage without using jackstands?  I've had cars using the old style 
bumper jacks shift on me - and I've used them in near-impossible situations 
involving snow and ice without shifting.  Same for side-mount jacks.  You just 
gotta watch yourself ALL the time.

I think the Audi jack is OK, used carefully.  I recently used the stock jack to 
change the RR tire by the side of a busy highway.  The jack was on gravel 
and a slanted surface.  No problem in making the change, but I watched that 
jack like a hawk.  You can bet the parking brake and "Park" on the tranny 
were engaged.  For that matter, I biased the jack slightly against the slant of 
the surface just to assure that it wouldn't tilt when extended.

What's the old saying?....."We get too soon old und too late smart..."

Best wishes and Merry Christmas to all!
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Al Powell
Apowell@EZlink.com
1958 Fiat 1200 Spyder "Transformabile"
1983 Datsun 280ZXT
1990 Audi 200
http://www.ezlink.com/~powells/
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