Tools You Need for Do-It-Yourself Auto Repair By Larry Carley copyright AA1Car.com Before you can start saving money doing your own car maintenance and repairs, you first have to buy some basic tools. Professional mechanics earn their living fixing cars so they need an extensive tool collection. Many spend upwards of $25,000 or more on their tools. Most of these tools will be expensive top quality brand name tools such as Snap-On, MAC, Matco and others. Such tools are made of the best grades of steel and will hold up to heavy daily use year after year. Fortunately, you do not have to invest that kind of money in a basic DIY tool set, nor do you have to buy the most expensive professional grade tools unless you plan on doing a lot of maintenance and repair work. Most auto parts store and hardware store brand tools should suffice for the kind of work you will be doing. Avoid buying cheap quality diecast and low grade steel tools that are sold in discount stores, bargain bins and online stores because they will not hold up to even occasional use. You are throwing your money away on this kind of junk! Basic Tools: hat You Need and What You Don't For basic preventive maintenance work and light repairs, all you need are a few simple hand tools, a couple of specialty tools and a tool box to keep them in. Your total investment should easily be under $100, perhaps less if you already own some of the items we're about to list. Basically, you will need a set of combination wrenches (metric and/or SAE depending on the type of vehicle you own), an adjustable wrench, a couple of regular and Phillips screwdrivers, three pairs of pliers (regular, needle-hose and adjustable) and a few assorted special purpose tools such as an oil filter wrench, a funnel, a catch pan, a feeler gauge (or spark plug gap gauge) and a tire pressure gauge. For DIY auto repair work, you will need a basic assortment of hand wrenches in metric and/or SAE sizes. Wrenches & Sockets For simple maintenance jobs, you'll need a set of open end/box end wrenches (also called "combination" wrenches). If your car is an import or a late model domestic, it will have metric fasteners. Older American makes such as Ford, GM and Chrysler will use mostly SAE fasteners, but some will also use a mixture of SAE and metric fasteners depending on the engine and other components. A set of wrenches ranging in size from 10mm through 19mm should handle all of the nuts and bolts you're likely to encounter. For domestic vehicles with SAE fasteners, you will need a wrench set ranging in size from 3/8-inch to 3/4-inch. Work faster with a ratchet wrench and socket set. Six-point sockets are strongest and less apt to slip and damage bolts. A 3/8-inch and/or 1/2-inch drive socket set and ratchet is not necessary, but is a nice addition to any tool box because a ratchet wrench and sockets can remove and tighten fasteners much more quickly than open end or box end wrenches. A couple of extensions and a swivel can increase the set's versatility tremendously. A 3/8-inch drive socket and ratchet set is the most versatile for light maintenance and repairs, while a larger 1/2-inch drive set is usually needed for engine and suspension work. Wrenches and sockets should be drop-forged tempered alloy steel, plated or coasted for corrosion resistance and backed by a lifetime guarantee. Another tool in the nice to own but not absolutely necessary column is a set of metric and/or SAE box end ratcheting wrenches (such as those made by GearWrench). These also speed up the removal and installation of many fasteners. To loosen brake hoses and other plumbing connections that have large flare nuts, a set of flare nut wrenches will make the job easier and reduce the risk of rounding off a flare nut. A one-size-fits-all adjustable wrench (also called a Crescent wrench) is a handy addition to your tool set because you can use it on a variety of different sized fasteners. Allen wrenches (small six-sided L-shaped wrenches in metric and SAE sizes) are required for some fasteners, but probably not ones you will likely encounter for most basic maintenance or light repair work. Screwdrivers in various sizes and lengths for DIY auto repair work Screwdrivers For a variety of jobs you'll need at least two different sizes of regular (flat tipped) and Phillips (cross-tip) screwdrivers. The cheapest way to buy screwdrivers is to buy them as a set that includes a variety of sizes and lengths. Plastic or wooden handles are okay but make sure the handle offers a good grip and does not slip if your hand is sweaty, wet or greasy. The blade tips should be hardened tempered steel and the screwdriver should be plated for corrosion resistance. Many late model vehicles use "Torx" fasteners that require a special type of screwdriver head to remove. These may be found on some headlight and taillight covers, seat belt anchor bolts, fuel system components and electrical components. Different types of pliers are useful for a variety of auto repair jobs. Pliers A pair of regular pliers and a pair of long-nose pliers are a must for any tool box. A pair of adjustable pliers (also called water pump pliers) are also handy for gripping and removing things like hose clamps, hoses and other odd-shaped objects. Adjustable locking pliers (such as Vice-Grips) are extremely handy for holding and gripping various fasteners and damaged fasteners. Pliers should be of tempered steel and plated for corrosion resistance Another type of specialty pliers that may be needed for some repair jobs is snap ring pliers. The needle-like tips on these pliers are designed to remove snap rings from parts such as master brake cylinders, U-joints and starter drives. The type of oil filter wrench you will need depends on the size of the oil filter on your engine. Oil Filter Wrench For changing oil, one item you can't do without is an oil filter wrench There are a variety of different designs from which to choose, but the ones that work best are those that have a metal band that wraps all the way around the filter or the adjustable plier type. The size of the wrench will depend on the diameter of the oil filter on your engine. There are also socket style oil filter wrenches that are designed to grip the fluted end of the oil filter can. These tend to slip off if a filter is really tight. For newer vehicles that use drop-in cartridge style oil filters, a large hex socket that fits the top of the oil filter housing will be needed to remove the cap. Funnel, Catch Pan & Safety Stands For do-it-yourself oil changes, you will need a large plastic funnel for adding oil to your engine, and a catch pan (at least 6 quart capacity) to catch the dirty oil as it drains out of the oil pan. The same plastic funnel can also be used for other fluids such as antifreeze, power steering fluid, automatic transmission fluid and brake fluid provided it is cleaned between uses to prevent fluid cross-contamination. Another recommended item for do-it-yourself oil changes is a pair of sturdy safety stands (jack stands), and a hydraulic floor jack. Never trust a jack alone to support your vehicle when you are underneath it. Always use a pair of safety stands to support the vehicle. The rear wheels on your vehicle should also be blocked with a pair of rubber or metal chocks, large blocks of wood or bricks to prevent it from rolling while the front wheels are off the ground. We do NOT recommend steel or plastic car ramps for raising a vehicle as they have a bad reputation for slipping while you are trying to drive up the ramps, and for the vehicle rolling off the ramps when it is elevated. Any of these is a must have tool for measuring spark plug wear and checking or adjusting electrode gaps. Feeler gauge or Spark Plug Gauge Spark plugs in late model engines typically last up to 100,000 chilometri or more, so this is a tool that will not be used very often. A feeler gauge or spark plug gauge is used to check/adjust the electrode gap on the end of the spark plug when new plugs are installed. New spark plugs are supposed to come pregapped from the factory, but on some applications the preset gap may not be correct for the application. So you need to measure and adjust the gas as required for proper ignition performance. A feeler gauge may also be needed to adjust mechanical valve lifters on older vehicles, but almost all later model vehicles use hydraulic valve lifters that do not require any adjustments. Tire Pressure Gauge A tire pressure gauge is a tool that many people own but seldom use. Once bought it is often tossed in the glove box and quickly forgotten. They make great toys for the kids because they love to pull the little plastic indicator stick in and out of the housing. Actually, a tire pressure gauge is a very necessary tool to own and use. You need it to check and maintain the inflation pressure in your tires. Tire inflation pressure is important because it affects fuel economy, tire wear, handling, braking, traction and safety. Late model cars have Tire Pressure Monitor Systems (TPMS) to warn you if a tire is low or leaking air. But some of these systems do not tell you which tire is low. You have to figure that out yourself by checking each tire with a gauge. Any of these are useful additions to your tool collection for DIY auto rep[air work. Other Handy Tools To Consider A deep well spark plug socket is a necessary item for changing spark plugs. The size required will depend on the spark plugs in your engine. The most common spark plug size on late model engines is 5/8-inch (16 mm), although some are 14 mm. Older vehicles often have 13/16-inch plugs. For rotating or removing tires, a four-way lug wrench gives you much better leverage than the flimsy lug wrenches found in most car trunks. A trouble light (corded or cordless) can improve visibility when working under the hood or under the car. A pair of jumper cables is another item you'll eventually acquire if you live in the Northern s…

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