There are some common tools that every auto owner needs. They will come in handy for various things you may have to do. If you want your vehicle to last a long time you need to focus on routine maintenance. When you find something wrong, those tools can help you to solve the problem before it creates big issues for your vehicle.
Wrenches and sockets are common items you will need to work on any vehicle. It is a good idea to buy a complete set of them. That way you will have all of the different sizes you need. Find out if your vehicle takes metric or standard ones too. However, it is a good idea to have some of each available in your tool selection.
Screwdrivers can be useful for vehicle repairs including removing covers for the air filter. They can also be used to tighten up clamps on hoses, changing headlights, or tail lights, and many other scenarios. You will find that there are both flat head screwdrivers and Philips. You don’t want to find that one is too long or too thin though to fit what you are working on. Screwdrivers are inexpensive so you should get a wide selection of them.
Think about specific tools that you may need for your own vehicle. For example you may need a particular tool in order to easily get your oil filter on and off. You may need help to get belts on security. Some oil filter wrenches are strap style and can fit on many different types of vehicles. If you have a car where this filter is hard to reach then you definitely can benefit from one of them.
A drop light is a good idea for you to work underneath your vehicle where it is dark. Sometimes you will just need some additional light to make sure you can see what the problem is. Drop lights are available in 12 volt versions with long cords that can be plugged into your cigarette lighter so they aren’t limited to using them only at home. A good flashlight is important to carry with you as well.
Carefully select the tools you wish to purchase. It is a good idea to buy those that come with a generous warranty on them. That way you are confident if they don’t work or if they break you can get them replaced. You can add new items to your tool kit on a regular basis too instead of covering the expense all at once.
It is a good idea to keep your tools well organized too. You can get tool boxes or shelving that make it simple to get the tools you need when you need them. You should also consider having some basic items in your vehicle so that you will always be able to have what you need easily accessible.