The Driver’s Toolbox: Items You Need To Put A Spark Into Your Car
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Working on your car to get it maintained is something that can be done at home, within reason. With the costs when it comes to putting your car in the garage for a checkup it can really make the difference in finances if there are things you can do yourself. Even if you’re not a qualified mechanic, you can do things within your budget to keep your car up to speed. But there is basic tools and safety equipment that you can use, and that you should have in your toolbox so you can perform maintenance on a regular basis and make minor repairs to the vehicle.
When you do work on your vehicle, it is always important to be safe. Make sure you have the proper tools and clothing to keep you protected. You need to make sure your eyes are protected, so use safety goggles or safety glasses to prevent anything entering your eyes, especially when checking underneath the vehicle. In addition to this, ear plugs or earmuffs and use gloves working on the tires and exhaust due to the heat.
The typical hand tools you will needs are as follows:
Wrenches – these come in various designs and sizes. If you are performing basic maintenance or repairs on your vehicle, these are very important tools to have. Some different types of wrenches include adjustable, open-end, combination, box-end and speciality wrenches.
Ratchets – these are used in conjunction with sockets to turn nuts and bolts quickly. The common size of a ratchet is ?” and is found in many basic tool kits. The ratchets are sized according to the size of the square driver head. So, for example, a ¼” drive ratchet has driver heads which are ¼” x ¼”.
Sockets – these are connected to a ratchet or universal joints or to a driver extension. Sockets are either classified as regular or deep well. With a deep well socket, this fits over the threads of a long bolt. Standard sockets have either 6 or 12 points that fit over the threads of a long bolt. If you don’t know whether to use 6 or 12 points, use a 6 point if the head of the nut or bolt is rounded slightly. Only use a wrench or socket that fits the fastener tightly, because if it’s loose, it may round the corners of the fastener. Also, when it comes to working safely on your car, make sure that the environment around the car is safe and free from hazards. For this, you can buy additional bits of safety equipment, like cable protectors.
Pliers – These are handy tools that you can use in many different situations, to grab, cut, turn or bend. Certain types of pliers include slip joint, groove joints, needle nose, and diagonal cutters. Pliers consist of two levers that pivot at a point called a fulcrum.
So these are a few of what you need in your tool box when it comes to maintaining your car at home. If you do not have a toolbox of your own, then it is worth investing in one to make life (and your bank balance) that little bit easier!
