6 Must-Have Hand Tools for Your Car

October 27, 2017

What are the must-have hand tools you should have in your car?

Socket and screwdriver sets – For tightening screws and bolts
Tire wrench – For loosening and tightening bolts on cars
Jumper cables – For jump-starting a car
Duct tape – For temporary fixes
Tire pressure gauge – For checking tire pressure
Tire inflator – For inflating tires
Jack – For lifting the car

You must always have the essential hand tools for your car. This is because you will never know when you will need them! Car breakdowns can happen anywhere and you don’t want to get stranded for too long, since your safety will be in danger. Having the right repair tools in your Philippine car can get you out of any jam. But if you’re struggling to find the essentials, then look no further. Below is a list of the must-have hand tools that you should have in your vehicle:

Socket and Screwdriver Sets

Obviously, a car will vibrate. With the speed it travels along with the weight it carries, it will come as no surprise that some bolts and screws may come loose. But with cars being built to perfection, these would often just need some simple tightening to fit snug for years to come.

But either way, loose connections can account for many problems under the hood. These could include a loose battery connection or a hose clamped that slipped. Even if you’re not into cars, popping up the hood and spotting loose screws and bolts is easy to find.

When you find them, it would be great to have hand tools like sockets and screwdrivers – take note that they are in plural form! This is because it would be best for you to get the sets because you’ll never know when you might need them for your car’s maintenance.

Tire Wrench

While a socket set may have the size needed for the tire bolts, not all are effective at loosening and – more importantly – tightening nuts and bolts. Tire wrenches are designed for maximum leverage. This tool is perfect for removing a tire and putting it back with the reassurance that it will be done tightly. Hence, you will always have a safe journey.

Jumper Cables

A dead battery is frustrating because of the suddenness of its effect. One minute your car is working perfectly fine; and then in the next minute, it’s dead. Also, it would often mean having to buy a new battery ASAP, which could be pricey.

Luckily, there’s a way to give the battery a temporary charge that will last for one trip going home or to the nearest car shop. These can be done with jumper cables. Have these in your car and equip yourself with the knowledge of how to use them. A dead battery will then be a simple matter of flagging down a friendly motorist to help you out.

When you buy a jumper cable, choose one with a heavy gauge with high-quality clamps. Don’t buy the ones which you would have to plug into a lighter socket.

Duct Tape

Duct tape can fix a lot of things – even cars! While it won’t get your car running again, it’s great to have when you’re looking for a temporary fix to fender benders, puncture hoses, and many more. It can help keep your car together long enough to bring it to a shop. Better than just leaving a bumper or getting stranded. The latter of which may require you to call a tow truck, which is another sudden expense that may cost a lot.

When shopping for this, be sure to get high-quality tape to make sure they will stick better than most tape and can hold together in a variety of climates.

Tire Pressure Gauge and Inflator

The most used hand tools you should be using in this list is a tire pressure gauge. This is because you always need to know your tires’ pressure, so you know when you need to inflate them.

Keep in mind that traveling with under-inflated tires could lead to a blowout and potentially disastrous accidents. Not to mention, you won’t be maximizing your mileage and tire life.

When looking for a tire pressure gauge, be sure to get a dial-faced because this is the most accurate type of gauge you can get.

When you see that the tire pressure is low, you will want to inflate it. But of course, a gas station is not always around to help you out, which is why you would want to have a tire inflator. It’s a great reassurance for when you know that you have to travel a highway with a low pressure tire and you can’t pass by a gas station. Also, if a tire blows out, you want to replace it with a fully inflated spare tire.

Jack

You can’t change tires without lifting the car – unless you have superhuman strength. Instead, you will need a jack to do so!

Key Takeaway

While the list of tools can go on, these are the essential ones that you must have to get yourself out of any jam. Be sure to go to your nearest hardware store and get your hands on these tools, equipment, and gadgets for your car.