12 Most Useful Tools To Auto Repair Your Car
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Title Tag: 12 Most Useful Tools To Auto Repair Your Car
Meta Description: Here are the 12 most useful and reliable tools to auto repair your car.
This is far from an exhaustive list, but it will get you started.
Sockets: You need shallow and deep sockets. You will also need a socket wrench that possesses a lot of teeth. There are often times where you have very limited room to turn, You want the teeth to grab as soon as possible. You will also want box end wrenches in metric and standard.
Break over the bar: You will need this at some point. Lots of nuts, Metric Adapters, and bolts just don’t want to let go. You will often need to force them.
Liquid pry bar: This is a 50/50 mix of acetone and transmission fluid. It will break free whatever needs to break free in enough time.
Butane torch: Heat makes nuts expand this is useful as a means to make nuts expand enough to make them break free. This is helpful for brakes.
12-ton jack stands: Even if you own a small vehicle these are better. They are bigger than 3-ton jack stands without increasing the necks. This makes them more steady and thus more reliable. They are furthermore secured due to their broader stance. They do need adapters if you are utilizing them below a pinch weld.
Floor jack: Not only is the butterfly jack your car came with a POS, but it is also outright dangerous in a lot of situations, even sitting on flat ground. They don’t slowly let down as a floor jack will, they simply bite the dirt. The car will literally fall. If a floor jack fails, it will give precious moments to move. But even with a floor jack, never use any jack as the only means to keeping the car up unless it is a hydraulic lift. Floor jacks are also faster.
Code reader: Newer cars have an onboard diagnostic system. This will often tell you exactly what has failed in your car, or it will tell you when the device that is supposed to tell you something is wrong with your car has failed.
Electrical wiring tool kit: Always have wire strippers, cutters, and crimps. If you avoid it you will regret it when you are trying to track down a faulty harness. Be sure you get a voltage meter, this will help a lot.
Screwdrivers: Just buy all the screwdrivers from tiny Torx drives to big flatheads. Also, there is something called “security Torx” you will almost never use these and will wonder why you bought them, then you will actually have to use one and never doubt them again.
Serpentine belt tensioner: These are low profile and aid in the removal/installation of the serpentine belt when a break-over bar is too fat to fit in the narrow spaces often found in newer cars.
Battery charger: You never think you need one, then you are suddenly having to find a ride to the local parts store to get a new battery or have the old one charged.
Air compressor and assorted air tools: While not strictly required, an impact gun and air nozzle are very helpful at different points. Just be sure to not be careless with it. Do not use it to pull or install oil/transmission drain plugs, especially on aluminum pans.
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