Basic Home Tools – automotive basics for the at home grease monkey

The basic home tools is all that you can afford. A good starting point would be a set of sockets with a ratchet and extensions. A good start would be a kit that includes deep and shallow sockets‚ adapters and two different ratchet drives. In many of the modern cars a 1/4 in. drive would do, but when you get into the heaver repairs as in suspensions you would need 3/8 or 1/2 in drives to get the required torques needed.

The next purchase would be a good set of screw drivers. You could probably get away with a kit that includes a handle and multiple bits. Make sure that they include a good variety of phillips and torx’s bits ( most used in automotive). Some special handle/bit combinations are also useful: stubby’s (short handle and shank)‚ long handle and shank etc.

Another good addition to your tool box would a decent set of wrenches. Basic sets includes 3/8 to 7/8th’s inches or 8mm to 19mm. They come in long handle and stubby’s. In a more advance tool box would include some ratcheting wrenches and specialty wrenches.

	Having a common tool kit in a case is becoming a norm for the back yarder. Different makes and models determine what they include. This one has many of the basics that you would need to get you started. Usually they come in standard and metric versions‚ so know what you would primary need . It has the basic socket sets you’ll need. Both, deep and shallow sockets, a small set of wrenches and a few screw driver bits with a driver. It will not replace a full set of tools but it’s a good start. It also comes in handy getting your own parts at a wrecker. I found out the hard way that you will still need to take along a few other tools get the job done.
	Having a good variety of wrenches is a must in a tool box. As you advance in your collection of tools you will need both long and short sets of combination wrenches. It’s a good idea to have both metric and standard sets. With parts supplied from all around the world its good to having both. Specialty wrenches is a good addition to your kit if you have a tendency to stick to one type of repair or manufacturer. Many can be made out of old‚ cheap wrenches you have hanging around
	This is a good starter set of screw driver and bits Hand to have around home as well as you mechanical tool box. It has all the bits you would need, from phillips to torx. It doesn’t replace the standard screw drivers but an addition. To replace all the bits with standard screw drivers would be cost prohibited. It would be good to have some of the basic ones in the standard formats‚ like the phillips and flat heads depending what you use the most.
	Here’s another common set of tools needed in an average tool box. It has most of the common pliers you would need. You can buy them individually as you need them but some times they are cheaper to buy them in a set like this one. There are many you will need to buy separately, like a long handled needle nose or a variety of crescent wrench sizes etc. Spatiality pliers are common for different repair types
	A Tap and Die set, not a common tool to have at home, but is a valuable to have when you are working with damaged bolts and nuts. It’s good to have to fix cross threaded bolts when new ones are not available. They are great for cleaning up dirty‚ damaged or rusted threads. They come in metric and standard thread patterns. You con get different handle combinations as well. They are invaluable when making your own tools or metal based projects.
	A Flaring tool. Not as common as yester year but does come in handy at times. It is becoming popular to buy ready made lines with fittings at your local parts store‚ but there are times when you need one for a special job that you can’t buy. This tool will be very helpful when you are more into custom building and repair jobs.
	Commonly known as an Easy-Out set. At times not so easy. When you run into trouble with broken bolts‚ this tool is usually the first one you may turn to. Drilling a hole in the middle of the stud left from the bolt you put one of these in to screw it out with a little help from some oil. It is easier said than done but worth a try.
	Another not common tool to have is a battery and load tester. It’s a great tool to have if you are under the hood often. It measures the voltage of the battery as well puts a load on it to see it’s capacity while starting. It’s a real time saver if you run into alot of repairs involving the battery. A simple VOM meter will do in checking voltage and draw but if you want to check the battery under duress conditions this is a valuable tool.
	A good set of hammers is a must for your tool box. If it doesn’t fit, use a bigger hammer, although is just a expression it does, at times, do the job. There are rubber, brass, plastic hammers, all have their purposes in the trade but the most common would be the ball peen hammers of different weights. There are cross peen, sledge hammers usually of the heavy class range and don’t forget the huge selection of body hammers available.
	Pullers ! A selection of these are a necessity when you go more into engine work. Although there are some simpler ones for windshield wiper arms or battery post pullers. These you would buy as you need them. There are all kinds depending on the job you are doing.
	Oil filter wrenches is a must for home mechanic. There are many configurations of these things. The two on the left is some common ones, There are ones that comes with a strap and web designs. At times a screw driver through the filter is the only means of getting them off
	Air driven tools is a must for a serious technician, they speed up the work considerably. Drills with an 1/2 ” chuck is common although a 3/8″ chuck models is cheaper. Air chisels is a must for exhaust work and body work. There are numerous types pf bits depending on what you are working on.
	Air (impacts) ratchets is another must for serious technicians. They come with 1/4″ and up drives depending on the heaviness of the work you are doing. The 1/4″ drill is becoming very common as the vehicles are getting smaller but the 3/8″ drive is a good compromise if you could only afford one.

	Grease gun also comes in a variety of sizes and designs. Some comes with air assist. On most cars of today the joints are usually sealed. Sometimes grease nipples can be added and then greased or there’s a needle like attachment for the guns to puncture the casings.
	The torque wrenches is another tool that comes in different drive styles. Invaluable in engine repair.
	An Antifeeze tester, a must for the winter climates.
	A Thermometer’ a must tool for working with the cooling system and air conditioning. A cooking thermometer might due but one like this one is more precise for automotive needs.
	A great all purpose tool, I call a strap wrench. It can double for an oil filter or hold pulley’s while taking off nuts etc.
	This is a very handy tool to have in your tool box. There are many variations of it but I’ll use this one as an example. With all the electronics in a vehicle this is a necessary tool. In many of the repairs being done, it would be necessary to disconnect the battery but you do not want to lose all the settings in the modules or radio setting or codes. With this particular unit you should leave the battery cables connected to save power in your 9v battery until needed.

When using the 9v battery

Switch off the vehicle’s ignition and all accessories (i.e. radio and interior light). Note: certain vehicles must have the ignition switch in the “auxiliary” position to power the cigarette lighter (check the vehicle manufacturer’s hand book).
Open the battery cover on the Memory Saver and install a 9V battery (with a know charge level). Replace the battery cover.
Two green indicators should now be illuminated on the Memory Saver— this indicates that it is connected correctly.
Now press and hold the red button on the Memory Saver while inserting it into the cigarette lighter adapter. Keeping the button depressed : one green indicator should glow — this indicates that it is connected correctly.
Release the red button. If the two indicators are green — this indicates a good connection.
The vehicle’s own l2V DC battery can now be disconnected. The SOS Electronic Memory will supply enough voltage to maintain vehicles electronic programming.
Once the vehicle’s battery has been reconnected, press and hold the red button while removing the Memory Saver.

When using a automotive battery memory

Switch off the vehicles ignition and all accessories (i.e.- radio, interior light,…). Note : certain vehicles must have the ignition switch in the “auxiliary” position to power the cigar lighter (check the vehicle manufacturer’s handbook).
Connect red lead to the positive terminal and the black to the negative terminal of slave battery.
Two green indicators should now be illuminated — this indicates that it is connected correctly.
Now press and hold the red button on the Memory Saver while inserting it into the cigarette lighter adapter. Keeping the button depressed: one green indicator should glow — this indicates that it is connected correctly.
Release the red button. If the two indicators are green — this indicates a good connection.
The vehicle’s own 12V DC battery can now be disconnected. The SOS Electronic Memory will supply enough volt age to maintain vehicles electronic
Once the vehicle’s battery has been reconnected, press and hold the red button while removing the Memory Saver.