You may not be a great mechanic, but there are some simple car repair jobs that anyone can do. In fact, the more you can do yourself, the more you’ll save for when you really need help. Repairing your own car is a rewarding way to get closer to your beloved vehicle. It all starts with having the right tools.
Just like collecting anything else, putting together your kit becomes something of an addiction. Watching it grow tool by tool and seeing how each part can be used is a lot of fun and makes driving your car more interesting. Keep in mind that this list is just the absolute basics; as you learn more about auto repair you will add it.
– Jack and spanner. You will need a jack to raise the car and a lug wrench to remove the lug nuts. These simple tools are useful for just about everything. Your vehicle already comes with a jack, but it’s best to get rid of it and buy a better one. Hydraulic jacks are generally considered the best.
– Set Of Glasses And Set Of Box Keys. You can buy a basic socket set at any hardware store. You don’t need anything fancy to start repairing your own car. The Box Key is useful for getting into hard-to-reach areas, and there are plenty of them on any vehicle. Start with basic sets and buy more as you need them.
– Combination wrench set. Same as above, you’ll have to do some serious turning to get to your car’s trouble spots. A combo set will have various sizes and types and this should cover all the things you will need to do with your vehicle.
– Car repair manual. It’s always surprising how useful a good old fashioned repair manual will turn out to be. Get the instruction manual for the model of your car and go for it if you plan on doing some serious repairs from time to time. If you’re not going to spend as much time fixing things, you can always check them out at your local library.
– Work lights. Good lighting allows you to get your work done at night, and even during the day it can go a long way in really seeing what you’re doing. The best work lights to get are fluorescent shop lights. They’re shiny and sturdy, and they’ll stay fresh. They are great for illuminating what you are doing. Make sure you have some good extension cords too.
The list above is very basic, but it will at least get you started. When you first shop for things for your car repair kit, remember that you don’t need anything fancy. Salespeople will turn your head with the latest gadgets and tools, but what you really need are some simple things you can use when you have a car repair job to do. Start simple and cheap, and expand to bigger and better things as your collection grows.
