I have read through all the post and can't really determine if any really knows where the jacking points are on the car. I have looked on mine in front of the rear wheels and I see a half moon indentation that is plastic but feels solid underneath the plastic. There is a similar indentation behind the front wheels.
Has anybody had a Smart tech tell them where to jack up the car and the best jack to use?
Correct, where those indents are located the four jacking points. Now if you paint the rocker boxes white to match the rest of the car (like I did) you can then clearly see a small molded triangle in the center of each indent. It doesn't show when they are black, but you can probably feel them. That is where the jack goes. Under the plastic there is a metal ridge that is part of the Trident and what carries the lifting load. Actually when we do that the plastic is being compressed. I have also raised mine with a floor jack by lifting under the rear suspension tube.
Correct, where those indents are located the four jacking points. Now if you paint the rocker boxes white to match the rest of the car (like I did) you can then clearly see a small molded triangle in the center of each indent. It doesn't show when they are black, but you can probably feel them. That is where the jack goes. Under the plastic there is a metal ridge that is part of the Trident and what carries the lifting load. Actually when we do that the plastic is being compressed. I have also raised mine with a floor jack by lifting under the rear suspension tube.
Russ: Are you saying the jack comes in contact with the small plastic molded triangle, or is that triangle steel, and is the actual jacking point.
I can't believe we would be jacking against plastic.
A2 - well since there is no jack that actually fits this seems to be the option. And who knows since there are no clear instructions or even a jack supplied. I would prefer a small jack with a molded plastic shape that conformed to the pocket, but the designers obviously didn't either figure we would ever have to raise one or they didn't care. The molded triangle is on the vertical edge and below it is the horizontal surface that seems to be the only choice to raise the car with. I haven't used it yet and when I do I will raise the rear another way. The front has no other method that I can see. And as usual there doesn't seem to be much written tech support from smart.....
A2 - well since there is no jack that actually fits this seems to be the option. And who knows since there are no clear instructions or even a jack supplied. I would prefer a small jack with a molded plastic shape that conformed to the pocket, but the designers obviously didn't either figure we would ever have to raise one or they didn't care. The molded triangle is on the vertical edge and below it is the horizontal surface that seems to be the only choice to raise the car with. I haven't used it yet and when I do I will raise the rear another way. The front has no other method that I can see. And as usual there doesn't seem to be much written tech support from smart.....
Ok your right I can't see a triangle. Since the indentation is half moon shaped what kind of jack is best to use that would have something that would fit inside the half moon indentation?
Ok your right I can't see a triangle. Since the indentation is half moon shaped what kind of jack is best to use that would have something that would fit inside the half moon indentation?
Against the jacking pad, I'll call it. Yeah....that seems not right jacking against the plastic but that's the way my nephew raised up the whole car with his lift by placing the arms at those 4 points. It jacked up just fine and was very stabile.
Against the jacking pad, I'll call it. Yeah....that seems not right jacking against the plastic but that's the way my nephew raised up the whole car with his lift by placing the arms at those 4 points. It jacked up just fine and was very stabile.
The jacking pad has to be the right size to fit in the indentation or you could damage more plastic. Maybe a small bottle jack
The jacking pad has to be the right size to fit in the indentation or you could damage more plastic. Maybe a small bottle jack
They can kick out when the car gets up at extreme angle. A small (5" diameter) floor jack pad fits fine and doesn't screw up the plastic at all...just did it this afternoon.
The other bad thing about bottle jacks is you have to get down on your knees and I am at the age where I want my knees to keep working well for me without having to get them replaced.....
John
They can kick out when the car gets up at extreme angle. A small (5" diameter) floor jack pad fits fine and doesn't screw up the plastic at all...just did it this afternoon.
The other bad thing about bottle jacks is you have to get down on your knees and I am at the age where I want my knees to keep working well for me without having to get them replaced.....
John
Ok thanks. I will look for a floor jack with a 5inch pad. I am turning 55 this year so I am with you on the knees!
I too am very concerned about the day I will need to replace a flat tire on the road. I'm gonna get a spare tire and rim soon. And, I hate to have to make a decision as to how to, where to jack up the beast at that time. We gotta find out in advance. Is there someone here on the board, maybe an administrator or another soul who could establish an on line link with smart usa to answer "absolutely legit questions" that aren't addressed in the owners manual?
I'm thinking this forum should set up a specific suggestion box that is monitored and read to filter out insignificant, irrelevant questions ** but get someone at smart usa to answer these vital and important issues. My gosh, we're talking about human safety issues here and fatal costly car repair issues should we do something wrong ...like jack up the car incorrectly. I hope somebody who has an inside ear listening will address this issue.
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