Volkswagen Repair: problems find a place to place the jack on my 1997 jetta, back doors, front doors


Question
I'm attempting to replace the exhaust on my jetta and I was looking under the car to find a place that where support the weight of the car on a jack. But I  noticed that there is NO sub frame or anything that will support the weight of the car. It's basically a hollow under carriage. I'm afraid that the car will fall on me while i'm under the car

Answer
Hey Devin:  There are reinforcements at the "pinch welds" on the body of the car that you can support the weight of the car on.  No worries.  If you use a floor jack, and roll it under the bar that the rear wheels attach to, and support the rear of the car at the pinch welds in back, under the back doors, then move to the front, and lift, using the jack under the subframe for the engine, and support at the pinch welds under the front doors...you should be just fine.  Just take a little time to set things up so the weight of the car is supported "squarely, and evenly on your 4 jack stands, you should be fine.