Where are the safest points to put a jack and jack stands on a 2003 Jeep Liberty KJ?

conceptions · Oct 8, 2018

Hello all,

19 and just got a 2003 Jeep Liberty (KJ) Renegade and tomorrow will be my first time doing an oil change on it. I looked in the manual, but it doesn't specify where to put a floor jack or jack stands, it only mentions the stock scissor jack.

Since I don't want to get crushed by 4300 pounds, where are the safest jack and jack stand points on the vehicle? (Any pictures included will be helpful).

JasonJ · Oct 9, 2018

conceptions said:
Hello all,

19 and just got a 2003 Jeep Liberty (KJ) Renegade and tomorrow will be my first time doing an oil change on it. I looked in the manual, but it doesn't specify where to put a floor jack or jack stands, it only mentions the stock scissor jack.

Since I don't want to get crushed by 4300 pounds, where are the safest jack and jack stand points on the vehicle? (Any pictures included will be helpful).

When I jack mine up, I use the places it specifies on the factory jack and in the owners' manual to do so. Even if using a hydraulic floor jack, I still lift there- sometimes also under the back lower control arm bolt for the front.

On the rear, you pretty much have to jack it up at the axle, where specified... if not and you try to lift at the frame/body, there is so much axle flex that you'll top out your jack before the tire even leaves the ground.

But for an oil change, you're doing it the hard way. Do yourself a favor and beg, borrow, or spend $40 on some nice, heavy duty Rhino ramps or similar and just drive the Jeep up the ramps for fluid changes. It takes seconds to do and will save your arms and back and all the hassle that jacking it up entails.

Charlesthe2nd · Oct 9, 2018

Once you lift it, you won't need to jack it up to change the oil! :gr_grin:

Did a quick duckduckgo search and found this directly out of the manual.

You must be registered for see images attach

conceptions · Oct 9, 2018

JasonJ said:
When I jack mine up, I use the places it specifies on the factory jack and in the owners' manual to do so. Even if using a hydraulic floor jack, I still lift there- sometimes also under the back lower control arm bolt for the front.

On the rear, you pretty much have to jack it up at the axle, where specified... if not and you try to lift at the frame/body, there is so much axle flex that you'll top out your jack before the tire even leaves the ground.

Alright so I would place the jack right behind the notch on the frame, and I guess place the jack stands right next to it when I let it down? Kind of ***** that I have to go side by side, but if it's the safest way I'll go with that.

BillyG · Oct 9, 2018

If you put the Jeep up on ramps to change the oil everything behind the oil filter will get everywhere. There is enough room for me to scoot underneath without jacking it up and change the oil. Mine is not lifted and has year old shocks and struts.

conceptions · Oct 9, 2018

BillyG said:
If you put the Jeep up on ramps to change the oil everything behind the oil filter will get everywhere. There is enough room for me to scoot underneath without jacking it up and change the oil. Mine is not lifted and has year old shocks and struts.

I tried to slide under it but the front end is too low and mine has the running boards on the sides, my only real option is to jack it up properly.

JasonJ · Oct 9, 2018

conceptions said:
Alright so I would place the jack right behind the notch on the frame, and I guess place the jack stands right next to it when I let it down? Kind of ***** that I have to go side by side, but if it's the safest way I'll go with that.

Not BEHIND the notch... behind the weld seam is just the floor.. it is not strong enough nor designed to hold the weight of the vehicle. Jack up ON the notch...and yes, jackstand would go next to it... where else would it go?

BillyG said:
If you put the Jeep up on ramps to change the oil everything behind the oil filter will get everywhere. There is enough room for me to scoot underneath without jacking it up and change the oil. Mine is not lifted and has year old shocks and struts.

I have never had this issue. When removing the oil filter, the oil in mine go down the catch shelf and comes out the spout and into my catch pan. That is, IF I remember to slide the pan over first. lol.

conceptions · Oct 9, 2018

JasonJ said:
Not BEHIND the notch... behind the weld seam is just the floor.. it is not strong enough nor designed to hold the weight of the vehicle. Jack up ON the notch...and yes, jackstand would go next to it... where else would it go?

My last car had completely seperate jacking and standing points... I'm making sure since if this thing falls I'll have 4300 pounds pushing on a skid plate 2 inches into my chest...

Whelan · Oct 9, 2018

Funny, I roll right under our 05 Limited for oil. I stopped lifting it about a year ago, plenty of room to reach back and get to the plug. No need to get your face next to it, just far enough to feel and reach. I roll back to about the beginning of the pan then reach for the rest.

Also get yourself one of those large tray pans to put the bucket on to prevent splash or dripping onto your floor. The worst for me is the filter, it is at an angle and there is a V channel for it to drain into but when pulling it down I always spill a bit on my hand/arm. Annoying more than anything.

When it comes to lifting I use the cross beam between the front wheels as a lift point, then set the stands where the notches are for tire changing bottle jack placement. For the rear just slide up on the differential and lift. I tried once to do it from the frame but my jack maxed out before the suspension even move the tires a mm.

I want to add I usually leave the jack in place and barely off to let the stands take the weight, kind of like my security blanket. I also picked up a $3 rubber chock for the wheels. For anything major that I need to be under the car for extended times I try to leave wheels on with little lift or go to my neighbors house and borrow his rotary.

JasonJ · Oct 9, 2018

conceptions said:
My last car had completely seperate jacking and standing points... I'm making sure since if this thing falls I'll have 4300 pounds pushing on a skid plate 2 inches into my chest...

So do you feel comfortable crawling under this thing at all then? In my mind, between what the manual says and looking under the vehicle, the available points to jack it up and hold it with stands is fairly evident.

This is why I suggested ramps... much safer than a jack and jackstand for what you're wanting to do.

Whelan said:
Funny, I roll right under our 05 Limited for oil. I stopped lifting it about a year ago, plenty of room to reach back and get to the plug. No need to get your face next to it, just far enough to feel and reach. I roll back to about the beginning of the pan then reach for the rest.

Also get yourself one of those large tray pans to put the bucket on to prevent splash or dripping onto your floor. The worst for me is the filter, it is at an angle and there is a V channel for it to drain into but when pulling it down I always spill a bit on my hand/arm. Annoying more than anything.

When it comes to lifting I use the cross beam between the front wheels as a lift point, then set the stands where the notches are for tire changing bottle jack placement. For the rear just slide up on the differential and lift. I tried once to do it from the frame but my jack maxed out before the suspension even move the tires a mm.

I want to add I usually leave the jack in place and barely off to let the stands take the weight, kind of like my security blanket. I also picked up a $3 rubber chock for the wheels. For anything major that I need to be under the car for extended times I try to leave wheels on with little lift or go to my neighbors house and borrow his rotary.

I do the same when using a jack and stands- just take off enough pressure that it sits on both. If either one fails catastrophically, the other is there to hold it up. Just make sure to re-tighten the vent screw on the jack!

conceptions · Oct 9, 2018

ehh you are all a bunch of pretentious pricks kill yourselves, l8er retards

tommudd · Oct 9, 2018

conceptions said:
ehh you are all a bunch of pretentious pricks kill yourselves, l8er retards

So how do you really feel about us ? :Bye:
Maybe try Fakebook, they'll have some really good answers for you :happy175:

nnote · Oct 9, 2018

conceptions said:
ehh you are all a bunch of pretentious pricks kill yourselves, l8er retards

I was gonna suggest also putting a big rock in front and behind one of the back tires as added security to prevent any rolling, but nevermind...

JasonJ · Oct 10, 2018

conceptions said:
ehh you are all a bunch of pretentious pricks kill yourselves, l8er retards

Ha! We are the brain damaged ones, when you're the idiot that can't look under a vehicle to ascertain where the safe spots are to jack it up? Or can't be bothered to look it up in the manual or via the same Google searches that were previously posted for you?

Look, if you are so scared of a truck falling on you during an oil change, then TAKE IT TO A SHOP TO HAVE THE WORK DONE FOR YOU. My local Muffler Man will do an oil and filter change for $17 all in.

.. must be a teenager or a millennial; cyber bullying like that, telling us all to kill ourselves.

FFS do you know how many backyard bubba's lift their trucks with an engine hoist and cinderblocks or spare tires to hold it up?

Just delete this thread, ban the user and move on. Us adults have adulting to do.

Aceofspades · Oct 10, 2018

conceptions said:
ehh you are all a bunch of pretentious pricks kill yourselves, l8er retards

Actually if the 4300lb vehicle crushed you because you can’t safely operate a jack - you would be doing society a favor.

Wow where did this even come from? Bipolar much?

uss2defiant · Oct 10, 2018

That blew up fast.
I'm surprise he/she couldn't get underneath to do an oil change.

where's m3bob when you need him

u2slow · Oct 13, 2018

I use a stack of 3 short (~24") 2x6's nailed together as a block between my floor jack and main engine crossmember. Spreads the load out so it doesn't kink. One lift to get the whole front end up.

Depending on what I'm doing, jackstands either go in the factory notches in the unibody rail, or under the webbing in the lower control arms.

homesoon · Oct 16, 2018

JasonJ said:
Ha! We are the brain damaged ones, when you're the idiot that can't look under a vehicle to ascertain where the safe spots are to jack it up? Or can't be bothered to look it up in the manual or via the same Google searches that were previously posted for you?

Look, if you are so scared of a truck falling on you during an oil change, then TAKE IT TO A SHOP TO HAVE THE WORK DONE FOR YOU. My local Muffler Man will do an oil and filter change for $17 all in.

.. must be a teenager or a millennial; cyber bullying like that, telling us all to kill ourselves.

FFS do you know how many backyard bubba's lift their trucks with an engine hoist and cinderblocks or spare tires to hold it up?

Just delete this thread, ban the user and move on. Us adults have adulting to do.

He did say he had the running boards and skid plate so it is pretty hard to see under there, and the stuff on line is all garbage. The manual also is trash, since he said he looked it up in the manual, I bought one for my son and the manual is trash and leaves many questions unanswered.

I also think there is a difference between wanting to do something right and being precautions vs 'being so scared'.

Also, those "backyard bubba's" are morons and probably have a few fingers missing.

Doesn't excuse what he said but none of you were really being helpful in a respectable fashion to begin with.

JasonJ · Oct 16, 2018

homesoon said:
He did say he had the running boards and skid plate so it is pretty hard to see under there, and the stuff on line is all garbage. The manual also is trash, since he said he looked it up in the manual, I bought one for my son and the manual is trash and leaves many questions unanswered.

I also think there is a difference between wanting to do something right and being precautions vs 'being so scared'.

Also, those "backyard bubba's" are morons and probably have a few fingers missing.

Doesn't excuse what he said but none of you were really being helpful in a respectable fashion to begin with.

Skid plates and running boards don't stop anyone from laying down and taking a look under there. You can still see the subframe rails, the unibody pinch welds, and the suspension components.

Also, dude had his answer in the 3rd post, so not sure how you can say no one was being helpful.

It's a freaking oil change... everyone's gotta start somewhere, but the way he came off was as if he knew it was certain death to lift it and get under there.

Also, my suggestion to just put it up on ramps was ignored as valid. I do it every 4000 miles or as needed- works and drains fine, and cannot and does not roll off and crush anything nor anybody.

We can let this thread die now, it's not like anyone is coming here for valid answers anyhow.

turblediesel · Oct 17, 2018

Us adults have adulting to do.

What a great line!

Where are the safest points to put a jack and jack stands on a 2003 Jeep Liberty KJ?

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