Whether or not you have ever popped the hood of our car isn’t important, having tools in your car is. What is important is to know what to have when you need to make a small repair. Repairing your own car or do-it-yourself work is becoming more and more common, especially with the constant concern of dishonest mechanics. If all you need is to change your tail light or simply swap out a fuse you shouldn’t be charged a $45 service fee, when the fuse costs $2 and you can do it in 5 minutes. Obviously, you should use your own discretion when it comes to finally taking it to the mechanic as more serious repairs can be very, very dangerous to accomplish by amateur hands.
To fix it yourself or to not fix it yourself
Every car shop that contains car care products will have a basic car toolkit, this is good enough for tools in your car. But which one is the best? That is the question. These car tool kits often contain more items than you’ll need and maybe they will not have everything that the basic auto repairman needs. As a side note, you can find these basic kits often at your local convenience store as well, although they are equally prone to having everything you need.
A comprehensive list of necessary tools
Skilled mechanic have massive tool boxes that are pushed around and can weigh a ton, but for us, all we need is a small box big enough to fit on your glove compartment. The basics: A screwdriver (both flathead and Phillips (the tip looks like a plus sign)) a hex tool (they are in the shape of an “L” and should come with 8 or so looped to a keychain) a fuse puller (sometimes you can use your hand but sometimes they are really hard to get out) Oil filter wrench (it will make your life much easier if you have it and are changing your oil) open ended wrenches, a ratchet driver (sizes 1/8″ 1/4″ and 1/2″) a flashlight and last but not least a repair manual will guide you through the basic repair operations at your own pace until you’ve developed your skills enough to do it without the manual.
Also, if you have extra space, carry an oil pan with you, my advice is to do oil changes at home, therefore you can keep the oil pan at home, but if you are taking a long road trip, this would be good to take with you. An extra large flashlight is also nice, one that can brighten up the area, not just a small location. Having gloves is also handy as the tools and other car parts contain sharp edges. Lastly, having extra rags around to keep your hands and the parts clean will reduce the chance of injury and infection as well as keep your vehicle looking professionally fixed after your done! The key to saving possibly thousands per year is by simply keeping tools in your car.
Jerry Martinez is a professional artist. He lives in California with his family. Throughout his life, he has always been captivated by images. Naturally, he was drawn to art. So he opted to take his Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts from Otis College of Art and Design. After completing his degree, He concentrated even more into his art practice. He is a father of three children, ranging in age from 3 to 12 years old. They love outdoors activities; biking, camping, walking and playing football. Jerry Martinez is a music lover and love to listen to metallic songs.
