Car Tools You’ll Want And Need In Your Garage

Car repair is not a job to take lightly. So whether you’re a seasoned mechanic or a regular car owner who wants to take charge in his own car troubles, you need to invest in tools that you can rely on through thick and thin. Here are the top tools that you want and need in your garage.

Milwaukee Cordless Impact Wrench, 18.0 V    

When trying to grip or apply torque on things like nuts and bolts, you need a reliable tool like this especially when a compressor or air tank and hose aren’t available. But since this is a rechargeable cordless impact wrench do not expect it to apply the same kind of torque a pneumatic model can. However, it has enough energy to handle axle shaft nuts.

Proto Sealed Head Air Ratchet, 3/8” Drive

An air ratchet wrench is more powerful version of your trusty handheld socket set. But the best thing about this is that it’s lightweight and compact that you can get it into tight places in your car and get those tough nuts loosened.

Mac Tools Spinflex Flex Head Ratchet

This rugged 30-tooth design is for maximum durability, it has a low-profile switch, and its design allows users to slide comfortable grip on its handle so that when released from locked position it converts ratchet to a speed handle. No more struggle when reaching for tight nooks and crannies in the car’s engine bay when you’re in the middle of car repair.

Steelman STE97202 Wireless Chassisear Kit

The problem with a traditional stethoscope is that you can't use it while you're taking a car for a test drive. This is why having Steelman is such an ease to have when you’re trying to diagnose certain problems in your car. This one comes with a transmitter that you can attach to the problem area which allows you to hear noise changes better even when you’re driving the car.

Craftsman 17-Piece Standard & Metric Flex Socket Set

Once you’re faced with a car repair that requires you to get into tight spaces without disassembling other parts to get there, you’d be thankful you decided to invest in this set. This is especially known for nickel-chrome plated socket and precision machine which is perfect for loosening or tightening bolts or nuts. 

Chicago Pneumatic CPT-7748 Air Impact Wrench

With a maximum of 922 ft-lbs of torque and 1200 blows per minute, this impact wrench can do even the toughest rusted bolt there is. No wonder this is known for its quality and reliability.

Mityvac MITMV8500 Hand Vacuum & Pressure Pump Kit

For those who are determined to take on car repairs on their own, this kit is a must buy. It will make your life easier when dealing with brake bleeds or vacuum tests. It comes with all the necessary attachments and accessories that will allow you to handle any type of vehicle or components, and can quickly switch between applying vacuum and pressure too.

Gearwrench 81229 3-Piece Offset-Handle Ratchet

Mechanic’s knuckles often take a beating when getting into odd spaces under the hood. If you want to avoid looking like you beat people for a living because of your knuckles this bent-handle ratchet is your new best friend. Reaching spark plugs became easier too because of this guy’s deep-well sockets. 

SK Hand Tools 1/4-In.-Drive Thumbwheel Ratchet

Trying to get to a connector under the dash with a big-handled tool is a surefire way to lose your patience and get nothing done because there’s just no way it’s gonna happen. This SK Hand Tools have a knurled rim that's easy to grip and can fit almost anywhere. Goodbye frustrating attempts to take on this task with the wrong tool.

Torin T82040 Trolley Jack With Jack Stand And Creeper

When you’re faced with a car repair which calls for going under the car, the most important thing is to have a secure tool that will hold the car in place. This guy right here includes a comfortable creeper to get you around while you’re under there and trolley jack and jack stands which are all rated to two tons and are easy to adjust. This jack stand and creeper is definitely a keeper!

13 Things That You Should Keep In Your Car At All Times

People tend to hoard a lot of things in their car, which isn’t so bad considering that we spend a lot of time on the road. But before anything else, make sure you have emergency-essentials in your trunk first. A driver can bail out of a lot of sticky situations if he plans ahead. More often than not, things go south on you when you think nothing could go wrong. So it pays to hope for the best and plan for the worst, especially on the road. Here are some things that should always be kept in your car for all those just in case moments.  

1. Jumper Cables

Being stranded with a dead battery sucks. Having these bad boys in your trunk will save your day. They should at least let you get by and look for the nearest car repair if the case of your battery is more complex.

2. First-Aid Kit

Road crash statistics says that there’s an average 3,287 deaths a day, which could mean fatal car accidents occur every 15 minutes. Needless to say a first-aid kit is a definitely a must have in your glove box or back seat.

3. Tire Repair Kit

Who hasn’t had a moment of frustration with a flat tire before? Basically anyone who drives a car can relate to this. This makes tire repair kits available, whenever the situation calls for it, more that reasonable. Car repair shops aren’t always available, so it’d be better if you can fend for your own tires.

4. Flashlight

This is probably very basic. But yeah, smack your head on the dashboard if you don’t have it in your glove box when you need to check your engine in the middle of nowhere at the middle of the night.

5. Water And Non-Perishable Snacks

Emergency kits shouldn’t only contain stuff for your car, how about you? If your car needs fuel, you need to be fed too.

6. Hazard Triangles/Roadside Flares

These will let other motorist know there’s an accident or stalled car up ahead so they can slow down or re-route.

7. Cellphone Charger

At this day and age, you should always make sure your phone can make a call when you need to since not many places still have pay phones. Have your charger or power bank in handy in case your phone dies.

8. Insurance Information And Vehicle Registration

Nobody wants to be caught in a collision, but when you’re already there you will surely need both of these. You don’t want to be in a desperate situation and not have legal documents to at least help you with damages and clearing your name, just in case.

9. Disposable Camera And Notebook

The police officers will thank you for taking pictures and notes in case of an accident before they arrive. Trust me, you didn’t just help them, you also made your case stronger.

10. Emergency Cash

Unexpected toll and emergency gas can be hefty. It helps to have a stash fund for them, especially when you’re out of cash.

11. Glass Hammer/Seat belt Cutter “Life Hammer”

This can literally save your life, hence the name. It can cut seat belt after an accident or break glass from inside if water enters the car.

12. GPS And Map

Not all cars have built-in navigation system. Therefore you’ll find a map or GPS handy when you are headed somewhere you’re not familiar. This should keep you from going around circles and get to your destination. Don’t be that person who insists on relying on his inner compass, they’re usually the ones who get lost.

13. Oil

You should have at least a quart or two of oil as emergency supply, especially if your car requires a specific kind of oil. This should help you run your vehicle further in a safe zone when it suddenly stops in the middle of the highway.

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6 Common Problems In Your Cars AC Unit And What To Do About It

When you live in a tropical country, driving with your air condition unit running is must. That is unless you like driving uncomfortable and drenched in your own sweat. Just imagine your AC unit not working properly, everyone from the driver to the passengers in the car will suffer. So it should be among your car concerns to get to know your car air conditioning more.

1. Consume A Lot Of Gas

Having air conditioning unit in your car makes driving around in tropical countries easier. However, despite the comfort that it provides it also means you’re consuming more gas at a faster rate, especially during summer because the unit has to work harder to keep your car cool. But if you get your windows tinted, you’ll be able to save money and gasoline. Window films blocks not just the sunlight but as well as the heat from penetrating your vehicle, so you wouldn’t have to run the AC unit on full blast just to keep the interior cool.

2. Your Filters

We know it’s necessary to replace air filters because dirty ones restrict airflow and causing the AC system to run longer and use more energy. But only some actually do this. Be more diligent and make a reminder of it on your calendar so that you don’t ‘forget’ to do it every month.

3. Vents

The distinctive smell of mildew flooding out of your air vents is usually caused by a build-up of bacteria and mold. This can happen to older cars that have had bacteria growing behind the dashboard for years and in cars that rarely run the air conditioning, as they don’t enjoy the drying effects that it provides to excess water on the coils. So if you do your own car cleaning, make sure you clean your car AC vents too.

4. It Won’t Turn On

Driving when the AC unit is not working can be an unpleasant experience. On extremely hot days, an air conditioning system can overheat and this can cause the fan to burn out. A broken dial can also affect your ability to switch the auto air conditioning on, as well as a broken switch, a stuck valve, a wiring fault, a blown fuse or an obstruction in the air ducts. So if you’re having this issue, it’s best that a professional can take a look at it fix the problem and not let it get any worse.

5. AC System Is Blowing Hot Air

This can really suck because if there’s anything worse than an AC unit not working at all is an AC unit blowing hot air instead of cool air. When this happens, you’re probably looking at variety of reasons like damaged cooling fans, a blocked or broken condenser, an internal obstruction, an electrical fault, and/or low refrigerant levels. When this happens, it’s best that you take your car to a trusted car servicing center right away to get it checked and fixed as soon as possible.

6. It Won’t Turn Off

This doesn’t seem like a problem until you’re getting too cold behind the wheel and you’re consuming way too much fuel than you usually do or your car’s battery gets drained because the AC keeps running even with the engine switched off. The culprit behind this can range from faulty or loose ribbon cable, broken controls / dial stuck in the “on” position, broken selector switch, shorted blower resistor, shorted blower motor relay, shorted a/c controller, and/or shorted blower control circuit.

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Signs That Says Your Car Has Taken A Lot Of Toll From Potholes

Signs That Says Your Car Has Taken A Lot Of Toll From Potholes

Potholes aren’t only annoying, especially when you failed to notice and avoid one while driving so you end up surprised by it because of the impact, but it can also be detrimental to your car in the long run. If the areas you drive around regularly have a lot of potholes, then that mean your vehicle is regularly taking damage from them. Pothole damage may not be obvious right away, but it can wreak havoc on your entire car if it’s not addressed quickly and fixed right the first time. So it pays to learn the signs that could indicate pothole damage so you can get them fixed early on. Here are those signs and what you can do about it.

· The vehicle rolls or sways on turns.

· When braking, the vehicle’s front-end dives or ‘dips’.

· The car’s rear end squats when speeding up.

· Vehicle steering pushing or pulling.

· The automobile “bottoms out” or thumps on bumps.

· The vehicle shakes or vibrates in any way.

· The automobile sits lower in the front or rear.

· There’s a loss of directional control during sudden stops of the car.

· The car is leaking or has signs of physical damage, such as rusting or damages.

· The automobile bounces or moves sideways on a winding, rough roadway.

What To Do When Your Car Show Signs Of Pothole Damage

Car repairs can be expensive but it doesn’t have to be unreasonably expensive if you just avoid the mistake of ignoring early signs of damage and letting it go unrepaired for too long. Sometime expenses go out of hand because you delay repair and maintenance procedures for your automobile thinking you’re saving money by doing that. What you fail to realize is that by brushing off suspected damage, you’re practically letting it get worse which results to bigger problem later on and obviously more expensive repairs.

What you should do is take your vehicle to car repair shop as soon as you notice any of the mentioned signs of pothole damage above to get it inspected. When the mechanic diagnoses your car as positive on pothole damage, then do not delay or prolong repair or replacement for car parts when the car servicing personnel suggest it. After that, make it a habit to do a run down once in a while, check how the tires, lights, is there any kind of strange sound when you drive it, or anything out of ordinary at all. Spotting irregularities early on could save your car from serious damage in the future and a lot of money on car repair.

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