One
of the most common causes of traffic accidents is lackluster car maintenance,
which means that many of the injuries and fatalities suffered on the roads
could probably have been avoided if a little more care was taken when carrying
out repair work.
Unfortunately,
getting every niggle checked out as soon as it arises is almost impossible, for
financial reasons if nothing else. This is where DIY car maintenance comes in
so handy. A great way to keep your motor in tip-top condition without
unnecessarily lining the pockets of your local mechanic, most people are
perfectly capable of giving it a go.
But
first, here are the eight essentials tools that you’ll need to hand if you
stand any hope of success…
#1:
A Trolley Jack
Once
you get to grips with car mechanics, you’ll find that more of your time will be
spent under your motor than anywhere else, so a trolley jack is
an absolute necessity. Enabling you to raise your vehicle to the right height
quickly and easily, they really are essential.
#2:
Good Quality Power Tools
Want
to save time and make maintaining your car much easier? Then a cordless drill
and impact wrench is vital. If ever you have a tricky nut to remove or
brushing and buffing to do, you’ll thank your lucky stars that you have them to
hand.
#3:
A Torque Wrench
Perfect
for helping you to replace wheels and tighten any nuts and bolts with precision,
a torque wrench should be added to your kit too.
#4:
Spanners
For
anything more complex than topping up fluids, you must also include a set of
spanners amongst your essentials. Arguably amongst the most important tools to
own, we recommend color-coded ones to make organizing and selecting them
easier.
#5:
Screwdrivers
A handful of flat and crosshead screwdrivers you use around your home won’t be
enough for maintenance work, so invest in a set that covers a range of tips and
shaft lengths to make working on your car a whole lot simpler.
#6:
A Work Light
You
cannot properly perform car maintenance without good lighting to illuminate
what you’re doing, which is why a work light is another essential. Thanks to
improvements in lithium-ion batteries and LED technology, we recommend cordless if you’re looking for a truly versatile piece of equipment.
#7:
Pliers
Sockets
and spanners are perfect for turning nuts and bolts, but you’ll also need a
pair of pliers to get into the spaces that other tools simply can’t, so make sure
that a good quality pair is present in your garage.
#8:
An Air Compressor
Last
but not least, be sure to invest in an air compressor. Available from companies
like SGS,
they’re perfect for everything from applying paint to powering your tools,
making them another garage essential.
What
items do you still need to add to your kit? Image 9 of 12
