Well, the crappy tires finall caught up with me and I had change a tire about 10PM to the side of the freeway with cars whizzing by at 75MPH In all fairness, I actually picked up a nail. Anyway, with the confusion, noise, traffic to say nothing of having to empty the whole trunk. I finally managed to change the tire. However I decided the Jack requires an inordinate amount of effort. So I went down to my friendly Harbor Freight Store and bought a small hydraulic jack. I tried it out and effort was considerably less. I did file a small crease where the jack fits the car to inhibit slippage. Also carry a small jack stand as an extra safety precaution.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(andyprius @ Oct 6 2006, 08:05 PM) [snapback]329299[/snapback]</div> have you tried it with a flat tire? lots of them are too tall to get under a vehicle with a flat tire. Check before you junk the stock jack and have a flat an find you can't get it under the car.
Can anyone say Roadside Assistance? AAA/CAA? Even my cell phone company offers a service to change tires on the freeway... I've used the jack, it's not easy. The paint rubbed off on my hands turning the crank. If traffic was whizzing by at 75MPH (120KPH) at 10 p.m., I'll take the assistance.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Oct 6 2006, 11:19 PM) [snapback]329329[/snapback]</div> Good suggestion, I hadn't thought of that, guess I'll keep the crappy jack as insurance. I always wondered why there are not hydraulic motorized jacks that work off of 12VDC, seems feasible.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(andyprius @ Oct 7 2006, 10:02 PM) [snapback]329684[/snapback]</div> there is a jack similar to the Toyota jack but it's 12 volt. Powered from the accessory plug. Not very fast but no more cranking the handle. They were on sale at Pricess Auto last month for about 80$. J.C. Whitney should have them as well.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Oct 8 2006, 12:22 AM) [snapback]329688[/snapback]</div> Thanks for the suggestion Frank.
hah. When I had a flat on my dad's Camry, the jack wasn't the problem. It was the torque wrench. I think the dealer might've over tightened the nuts/bolts cause there was no way in hell could we undo the nuts/bolts by hand with the given kit in the boot.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 8 2006, 10:43 PM) [snapback]329956[/snapback]</div> that's why your supposed to re-torque them after 100 miles.
SUGGESTION: Purchase an air pump, carry it in the trunk, and just reinflate the tire. It will usually retain enough pressure for several/many miles of driving with a nail puncture. Then have the tire repaired. Makes life much easier.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MadHungarian @ Oct 9 2006, 08:45 AM) [snapback]329999[/snapback]</div> They key term, of course, being usually.
