This jack point seems sketchy, can I turn my jack 90°?

The jack is supposed to be on the thicker part of the weld, which in that picture looks to be near the top.

But yes, my 3 ton jacks have the same problem. Last time I used my son's 2 ton jacks because they were smaller and fit the weld better. The scissor jack that came with the car fits perfectly, but I wouldn't go under the car if that was all that was holding it up.

There are adapters which are supposed to deal with this issue. I keep forgetting to buy some. Various manufacturers, but they all look more or less like this one:

(rats, it won't accept amazon links. Go to Amazon and search for B091FZ2Q11)

 

You mean align the the long side of the top of the jack stand parallel to the seam, and have the pinch weld sitting on the two upper surfaces of the jack?

Don't do that.

I mean, really, don't do that.

It is likely to fold the pinch weld over, and for good measure, the car might slide off the jack when the seam folds over.

 

A 2nd gen Priuschat member here (Hobbit?), suggested alternate front support points. I looked on our gen 3 and found similar, and that's all I've used, over 24 oil changes and at least another 1/2 dozen times for this and that. This is a gen 3 pic, but it is very similar. I've also marked where I put rear jack stand, hopefully also similar:

 

What I do is jack it up each side one at a time and slip a Drive On Ramp under each wheel. I have to jack it up as the ramp slides on my driveway if I try to drive up on it. But when down working on it I can then just drive off it.

BTW, They sell rubber jack pads that fit in a hydraulic jack end. It has a groove cut out of the puck and thats where that metal edge your noting goes. It does not mangle that pinch weld edge when you jack the car up.

Amazon.com: TONDA Floor Jack Rubber Pad, Universal Jack Pad Adapter, Pinch Weld Side Frame Rail Protector, 1 Pack : Automotive

 

Those work great. The problem is the jack is then stuck where the jack stand needs to go on that side, as only a small section of the pinch weld is reinforced and designated as a support point.

 

I use hockey pucks on my jack and jackstands when I lift the car. The pinchwelds destroy the puck after about 2 years but I get them used from Play it Again Sports for cheap.

 

Do these stands have round flat heads? Mine are sort of "Y" shaped - not sure how a hockey puck could be seated on that.

 

Yes. They are the Red Torin Brand cheap ones. I just plop the puck top and make sure the pinch weld is centered in the middle of the Y when I raise it up. It is not a custom fit but it is a buffer and has worked very well for many years. I also always put the removed wheels under the car frame as well. And I don't put an body parts underneath for more than necessary.

 

Try the points in my pic above. Again it’s 3rd gen, but 2nd is similar. You’ll never bother with those scissor jack points again.

 

Agreed.
But for my methodology I slide a ramp under the car after I jack it up so yeah it may not work for all. I have mangled that jack point myself before i figured it out. Its not a very strong jack point.

For a long time I jacked up at the tow bars in the front of the car.. Those work good but you need a spacer to make that happen.