A kid that goes to my school was driving through Detroit when the transmission on his 91 Taurus (totally rusted POS) totally gave out on him in the middle of a busy street. for some reason, he jacked up the car to look under it using the stock Ford jack that came with the car... and the jack broke while he was under the car. Needless to say the car dropped down right on his head and messed him up pretty good. Just take this as a lesson to NEVER get under your car when it is only secured with a jack! You must use jack stands!
just a friendly PSA.

always. i am to self cautious. With the car or my 18 wheeler. i use spare tires with my jack. With the truck I amke sure the park brakes are on and chock my wheels.

Jack stands save !

I personally have pulled guys out from a car...by the ankles...who choose to work on a car without jackstands. Dumb, Dumb, Dumb.

I do this, because I too know guy that is pretty messed up for the rest of his life.

I agree, this should be reminder for all of us, because stupid accidents happen REAL fast.

Stands saves, but George nelson withdraws!!!

Atleast a tire should be under there. If it fell onto the ground, how else are you going to get it up, and not break anything?

thanks for the reminder. My brother once had a car fall on him the same way when I was very young and I'd forgotten about it until I read this post.

Yeah.. i had a jack fold on me when i was jacking up the car to change a flat. I was not under the car. I always use jackstands when going under the car. It sucked to have to get a friend to bring me a jack, but at least i didn't get hurt.

You were fortunate. I try not to have to change tires. I have roadside service and I let someone else do it for me. There have been a few occasions where I got a flat and my cellphone wouldn't get reception but I've had the niceness of strangers to come and change the tire for me. Gotta love chivalrous men! I could do it if I wanted to I just don't want to.

i use multiple jackstands and still am leary being under the car with those. just something about being under a 4000lb vehicle.

I had a jack shift on me once at work. I was having one of my dumb days and wasn't using stands. I laid down underneath the car and was having at a tire that wouldn't come off with a BFH. First swing, the car moved the jack and everything got about 3 inches smaller. I mean, I was laying on my side and the car literally touched my shoulder. Now I always use stands when going under a car. It scared the **** outta me and I never want to have that experience again.