What tools do you keep in your car?

paddedjohn

it really depends on the age of car you drive, if you have an older car i.e sierra, cavalier, older fiesta etc then a good selection of spanners, socket set, screwdrivers pliers etc. if its a more modern car then theres not much you can do at the road side as the engines are just poured into the engine bay with no thought of easy access for the amateur mechanic.
just rely on the tools supplied with the car and use the AA/RAC for anything else.

Hammyman

I'm a former mechanic with a full set of tools at home.
Other than the wheelbrace and jack my toolkit in my car consists of a RAC card.

On pretty much most modern cars if something breaks its not going to be something you can fix at the side of the road.

My Capri was a different story but as you could pretty much take the car apart with a flat blade and crosshead screwdriver, a 10mm, 11mm, 13mm and 17mm spanner, thats what I used to carry in it.

The number of times I've needed to use them on any of my cars is nil.

Strider590

Standard tool kit and the bits for changing the wheel, a Maglite and a rechargable LED work lamp..... Plus a compressor, spare can of engine oil and a bottle of water.
Also carrying a king sized duvet until the bad weather has truly passed.

Not a lot else worth carrying because most cars are put together in such a way as to prevent DIY repairs.

In my kitcar I carry more toolage, but the one thing I never leave without is a few electrical terminal blocks, which make a great "get you home" bodge if you snap a throttle cable

Flying-High_2

Hardly anything other than the wheel changing kit.... I've got fully equipped workshop at work and more than enough decent kit at home.. If something drastic happens in the middle theres the AA card or if local enough always someone to drag it back.

Lirin

Cable ties, a couple of screw drivers, socket wrench set- only the 3-4 most used sizes for my car. WD40, old rags, jump leads, few odds and ends like bulbs, washers, nuts etc. Jack, wheelbrace, spare tyre, maglite, pliers, duct tape, electrical tape....
I've also a spare washer motor and drive arms in there too, keep meaning to take it out.

vikingaero

I carry one of those extending tyre wrenchs and a rubber mallet. The tyre wrench overcomes the overtightened nuts/bolts or the uselessly short supplied wrench. The rubber mallet in case the alloy wheel fuses itself to the hub - you'd be surprised at how many "services" today are performed without removing the wheels.

PasturesNew

I make sure I don't leave home without 2 bags of crisps, some Coca Cola and spare fags.

oldtoolie

OEM tool kit with cable tie and some wire, hi-viz jacket, picnic blanket (waterproof), waterproof gloves, umbrella, tow rope, jumper cables, big torch, warning triangles, fire extingusher, spare phone, first aid kit and RAC card.

And when I went to the airport during the snow: food, water, snow boots, parka and sleeping bag

AlisonHarrison

Thanks for these replies they are very useful
Especially like this

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

That's about it really. It won't allow you to replace the clutch at the roadside, but my theory is :

Pliers have a multitude of uses. A full set of spanners / sockets would be nice, but I don't want to be carrying tons of tools around. Pliers will do to hold a nut at a pinch. WD40 - cures everything :-) Also great for cleaning the gunk off stuff so you can see what's going on. Tape and bits of wire - will do for temporarily holding things together until you can get to a garage. Electrical tape will also insulate electrics.

As I said, for anything more serious I'll call the breakdown service, but the few tools I carry can save a lot of waiting around if I have a very minor fault.

This is exactly what I feel.

When I was younger and had old bangers I used to more or less keep a full toolbox in my car, the odd spare part and a Haynes manual. It was also very useful if you broke down as there was always a knight in shining armour who loved showing off whn I had my "damsel in distress" look.;)
Now that I am old an haggered it does not work as well for some reason. Not sure why?

However, as someone said, with the newer cars they don't seem to be designed for the DIYer. However, I am trying to teach my daughter the odd thing like jump starting a car, changing a wheel etc so she will not feel so stupid standing there waiting for someone.

NeverAgain_2

...the odd thing like jump starting a car...

Could be a thread in itself.

As others have said, be very wary of those bright yellow 'jump packs' because they can fry the electronics of a modern car.

I'm wary of jump starting - either giving or receiving - by any method.