I own a 2005 Hyundai Elantra, and I just wanted to verify that I'm jacking up the car in the right place...

should I be using the thin metal bar that spans across the sides...located about 6" from the outside edge?

Thanks

 

Use the jack that orginally came with your car and make note how it contacts the body. The open notch where the metal edge sits into (if that's what your original jack is) is there typically for safety but the body contact point where the lifting is done is usually the chasis and not the metal edge. I have however, seen cars such as the Acura, where the contact point is the metal edge, which is a poor design in my opinion. That jack was designed for the metal edge to sit onto the jack. The real kicker is that when the garage jacks up the car, anything goes. Hope this helps