Small mechanics tool kit for in car
Discussion
Can anyone recommend a small mechanics tool kit for keeping in car?
I'd spotted this set which is quite nice, but it doesn't have pliers/allen-keys etc:
https://www.costco.co.uk/Home-Improvement/Power-To...
This Sealey set looks ace but perhaps too big:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-AK7980-Mechanics...
I'd spotted this set which is quite nice, but it doesn't have pliers/allen-keys etc:
https://www.costco.co.uk/Home-Improvement/Power-To...
This Sealey set looks ace but perhaps too big:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-AK7980-Mechanics...
spikeyhead said:
Looks okay, but would prefer everything in one case. An 'essential' 52 piece tool kit that doesn't include any screwdrivers is a bit odd.Clifford Chambers said:
Any set you buy will have loads of unnecessary stuff.
Work out what you're likely to need, and prepared to do by the roadside, buy the stuff + tool roll.
What you want is useful things to Jerry rig/bodge a repair.
This.Work out what you're likely to need, and prepared to do by the roadside, buy the stuff + tool roll.
What you want is useful things to Jerry rig/bodge a repair.
Buy a toolbag, rags, spark plug socket, whatever you need to change brake pads, bulbs, fuses, maybe a relay or two depending on what car it is.
I can’t imagine wanting/needing anything more than that.
Dave. said:
Clifford Chambers said:
Any set you buy will have loads of unnecessary stuff.
Work out what you're likely to need, and prepared to do by the roadside, buy the stuff + tool roll.
What you want is useful things to Jerry rig/bodge a repair.
This.Work out what you're likely to need, and prepared to do by the roadside, buy the stuff + tool roll.
What you want is useful things to Jerry rig/bodge a repair.
Buy a toolbag, rags, spark plug socket, whatever you need to change brake pads, bulbs, fuses, maybe a relay or two depending on what car it is.
I can’t imagine wanting/needing anything more than that.
Pupbelly said:
Dave. said:
Clifford Chambers said:
Any set you buy will have loads of unnecessary stuff.
Work out what you're likely to need, and prepared to do by the roadside, buy the stuff + tool roll.
What you want is useful things to Jerry rig/bodge a repair.
This.Work out what you're likely to need, and prepared to do by the roadside, buy the stuff + tool roll.
What you want is useful things to Jerry rig/bodge a repair.
Buy a toolbag, rags, spark plug socket, whatever you need to change brake pads, bulbs, fuses, maybe a relay or two depending on what car it is.
I can’t imagine wanting/needing anything more than that.
sherman said:
Pupbelly said:
Dave. said:
Clifford Chambers said:
Any set you buy will have loads of unnecessary stuff.
Work out what you're likely to need, and prepared to do by the roadside, buy the stuff + tool roll.
What you want is useful things to Jerry rig/bodge a repair.
This.Work out what you're likely to need, and prepared to do by the roadside, buy the stuff + tool roll.
What you want is useful things to Jerry rig/bodge a repair.
Buy a toolbag, rags, spark plug socket, whatever you need to change brake pads, bulbs, fuses, maybe a relay or two depending on what car it is.
I can’t imagine wanting/needing anything more than that.
Add a few pairs of nitrile rubber workshop gloves so you don't get too filthy in the event you do have to make a roadside repair.
Edited by underwhelmist on Friday 9th April 16:32
Dave. said:
Clifford Chambers said:
Any set you buy will have loads of unnecessary stuff.
Work out what you're likely to need, and prepared to do by the roadside, buy the stuff + tool roll.
What you want is useful things to Jerry rig/bodge a repair.
This.Work out what you're likely to need, and prepared to do by the roadside, buy the stuff + tool roll.
What you want is useful things to Jerry rig/bodge a repair.
Buy a toolbag, rags, spark plug socket, whatever you need to change brake pads, bulbs, fuses, maybe a relay or two depending on what car it is.
I can’t imagine wanting/needing anything more than that.
I think it’s all a waste of space. In all my years of driving I have not had a breakdown which would have been fixable if I had tools in the car.
Unless you’re going to carry a pretty extensive toolkit, there is a probability that you won’t in fact have what you need.
This stuff is going to weigh your car down, take up space, rattle irritatingly etc etc, will 999 days out of 1000 be entirely superfluous and on that one occasion that you have a serious problem and are unable to complete your journey, will probably be of no help at all.
It’s not very ‘Lotus’ philosophy to drive around with your garage. Maintain your car in your garage. Carry only the phone number for your recovery service.
If you must carry things, there are a number of things which nobody has suggested yet that I think would be more useful than tools;
-tyreweld
-jump cables
-tow rope
-bottles of oil and other fluids the car may require
-a gallon of fuel
These things may actually help you get home without further damage if it goes wrong.
Unless you’re going to carry a pretty extensive toolkit, there is a probability that you won’t in fact have what you need.
This stuff is going to weigh your car down, take up space, rattle irritatingly etc etc, will 999 days out of 1000 be entirely superfluous and on that one occasion that you have a serious problem and are unable to complete your journey, will probably be of no help at all.
It’s not very ‘Lotus’ philosophy to drive around with your garage. Maintain your car in your garage. Carry only the phone number for your recovery service.
If you must carry things, there are a number of things which nobody has suggested yet that I think would be more useful than tools;
-tyreweld
-jump cables
-tow rope
-bottles of oil and other fluids the car may require
-a gallon of fuel
These things may actually help you get home without further damage if it goes wrong.
Hustlerussel said
It’s not very ‘Lotus’ philosophy to drive around with your garage. Maintain your car in your garage. Carry only the phone number for your recovery service.
I love my S4 Elan, which is very light and nimble but there is no way I would go anywhere in it without it's tool roll in the boot.
Grumbly said:
This is true, but as even my daily is 16 years young, I always have tools in the car. As you say I don't with the wife's more modern car, which is powered by mystery.
Your car is twice the UK average car age. My car is thrice. Even this has onboard diagnosis, accurate instrumentation, Bosch EMS, electronic everything, coil-on-plug, 6-rib auto tensioned ancillary drive belt...
It is 25 years old but even this car was designed and engineered to do 24,000 miles between full services.
I don’t lack imagination or mechanic skills but I can’t imagine attempting to carry tools and parts to cover the range of issues which may arise apart from perhaps the absolute basic recovery tools.
Maybe if I were going to attempt to drive it to mongolia...
(the average UK car journey is under 9 miles)
Edited by HustleRussell on Sunday 11th April 13:33
Olivera said:
Can anyone recommend a small mechanics tool kit for keeping in car?
I'd spotted this set which is quite nice, but it doesn't have pliers/allen-keys etc:
https://www.costco.co.uk/Home-Improvement/Power-To...
This Sealey set looks ace but perhaps too big:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-AK7980-Mechanics...
Tell me what a full socket set, spanners and allen bits will enable you to do on your car at the roadside? (considering that the car’s own equipment should enable wheel, bulb and fuse changes)I'd spotted this set which is quite nice, but it doesn't have pliers/allen-keys etc:
https://www.costco.co.uk/Home-Improvement/Power-To...
This Sealey set looks ace but perhaps too big:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-AK7980-Mechanics...
The tool kit has come in handy a couple of times over the last few years, once I was able to repair a radiator header tank hose that began to leak at the clip, the hose had enough slack to be shortened and reconnected, allowing me to make the site meeting I was heading for.
On another occasion I was able to walk to a nearby auto factors and buy and fit a new battery before the RAC could arrive.
But I take your point and agree that the need for car tool kits has largely gone, I just like tinkering.
On another occasion I was able to walk to a nearby auto factors and buy and fit a new battery before the RAC could arrive.
But I take your point and agree that the need for car tool kits has largely gone, I just like tinkering.
Grumbly said:
The tool kit has come in handy a couple of times over the last few years, once I was able to repair a radiator header tank hose that began to leak at the clip, the hose had enough slack to be shortened and reconnected, allowing me to make the site meeting I was heading for.
On another occasion I was able to walk to a nearby auto factors and buy and fit a new battery before the RAC could arrive.
But I take your point and agree that the need for car tool kits has largely gone, I just like tinkering.
If you’re going to carry any tools at all, there is certainly a case to be made for a screwdriver, particularly if your car happens to have screw type clips on the hoses. On another occasion I was able to walk to a nearby auto factors and buy and fit a new battery before the RAC could arrive.
But I take your point and agree that the need for car tool kits has largely gone, I just like tinkering.
That said, I can remember most of my cars having a screwdriver in the factory supplied toolkit.
Pupbelly said:
Dave. said:
Clifford Chambers said:
Any set you buy will have loads of unnecessary stuff.
Work out what you're likely to need, and prepared to do by the roadside, buy the stuff + tool roll.
What you want is useful things to Jerry rig/bodge a repair.
This.Work out what you're likely to need, and prepared to do by the roadside, buy the stuff + tool roll.
What you want is useful things to Jerry rig/bodge a repair.
Buy a toolbag, rags, spark plug socket, whatever you need to change brake pads, bulbs, fuses, maybe a relay or two depending on what car it is.
I can’t imagine wanting/needing anything more than that.
Spares
Bulbs - Headlight, stop / tail light, blinker
Fuses
Spare fan belt
Big cable ties
A length of welding wire (for tie wire)
Insulation tape
5 l Water
A litre of Oil
Tools
Jumper leads
2 Phillips head screwdrivers
2 flat-head screwdrivers
Pliers
Small shifting spanner
Wheel brace
Spare wheel nuts
Leather gloves
<edit> A box-cutter knife</edit>
Jumper leads, gloves & wheel brace in with the spare.
The rest all fits in a small plastic fishing tackle box.
The only things that have ever left me stranded have been a broken fan belt and a flat battery.
Edited by AW111 on Sunday 11th April 14:02
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