An elevator car for an elevator system includes a floor and one or more elevator car side walls. At least one elevator car side wall is configured to be linearly translatable at least partially across the floor from an operational position to a maintenance position to allow for inspection and/or maintenance of elevator system components from inside of the elevator car when the elevator car side wall is at the maintenance position. A method of operating an elevator system includes driving an elevator car along a hoistway, stopping the elevator car at a first selected location along the hoistway and linearly translating a side wall of the elevator car at least partially across a floor of the elevator car from an operational position to a maintenance position, defining a maintenance area between the side wall and the hoistway. Maintenance operations on elevator system components are performed from the maintenance area.