On changing tires for people

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38. I helped a neighbor and helped him change a tire and I was struck with how completely...

mechanically un-inclined some people can be. I'm not just saying that as a motorhead, I'm talking common sense. I had to help him out because he was either going to injure himself or damage his car badly, but I made him do the work to help him in the future.

First off he comes over and asks if he could use my jack ( I have a 3 ton garage type jack w/wheels ) because his won't go high enough. I silently sigh inside and go with him to see what's wrong: His vehicle equipped bottle type jack is maxed out yet his SUV was raised nary a few inches. I get under there and look and his jack is beginning to crush his exhaust system. I asked why didn't he lift from the jacking points. Jacking points? he says. He thought you just put the jack under the vehicle and jack it, and that's that. I very pointedly told him the right way and why. I wheeled my floor jack over to his driveway and had him correctly jack his SUV, but I said "Aren't you forgetting something?" I advised him it's necessary to loosen the lug nuts before jacking. He was actually appreciative of me sharing that logic. Anyway he loosens them, and as he jacks, his SUV starts creeping down the sloped driveway. I got him two little wood blocks I used for mine and advised him to chock the wheels with them do the same, lest the vehicle roll clear off the jack and cause injury/damage. I actually gave them to him to keep. Finally I imparted the wisdom of correct tightening sequences for the lug nuts. I strongly advised him to get the flat repaired, so as to avoid being screwed the next flat he gets. That's the only tip he hasn't yet acted on as he's still riding around on his ( full size, but plain steel ) spare, preferring to regard a spare tire's main purpose as being able to hit the road again without paying for a tire repair/replacement.

Though I know he learned a useful skill, I was still vexed at his ignorance in the first place. I kept thinking to myself as I gave out advice snippets; "I have to TELL you this?