It’s safe to say that all responsible car owners share one goal: to keep their vehicle in great operational order at all times. This is because a well-maintained car is both safer to drive on the road, and less likely to cost you on repairs over the long term. Cars that are kept in great condition naturally also depreciate at a slower rate, ensuring that your vehicle’s resale value stays optimal. As you might expect, however, maintaining a car takes some work.
While there are times you’ll need to bring your car to a professional mechanic for servicing, maintaining a proactive approach to your car maintenance and upkeep can help keep your servicing appointments more streamlined and less costly over the long term. Some simple proactive maintenance tasks you can do yourself include checking your brake and clutch fluid levels, replacing your windshield wipers and changing your tyres. And of course, to perform these DIY tasks, you’ll need to keep certain tools and equipment on hand.
In this article, we’ll go through the top automotive tools and equipment you should have in your garage, and how to use them when performing DIY repairs on your car.
Digital Multimeter
Among the most important tools to keep on hand when servicing a car is a digital multimeter. Many people think of car repair in terms of fixing a vehicle’s mechanical parts, but cars actually contain many complex electrical components. The gauges, radio, lights and fuses are all part of your car’s electrical system and need to be carefully maintained to keep your automobile functioning properly – as will the most important electrical component of your car: its battery.
Multimeters get their name from the fact that they combine the functions of several different measuring devices and are able to measure a wide range of electronic properties, including resistance, voltage and current. A digital multimeter is essential to keeping your car’s battery in good working order, as these valuable electrical tools can be used to detect anomalies in the battery’s voltage which could then impact the performance of your vehicle. Detecting these anomalies early is key to reducing your risks of experiencing a dead battery when out on the road.
Avoiding dead batteries while on the go will naturally also help reduce your risks of having to pay for towing services, or perhaps even needing to make claims on your insurance due to a motor collision. In this regard, by regularly testing your vehicle for electrical anomalies, you can catch problems before they arise and lower the cost of car ownership by saving on future maintenance fees. So equip yourself with an all-in-one device for measuring the health of your car’s electronics by purchasing a multimeter.
Trolley Jack
Whether you own a classic car or a brand-new model, a trolley jack is absolutely essential to performing DIY maintenance on your vehicle. Trolley jacks make use of hydraulic pressure to generate enough force to lift your car off the ground safely, and are preferable to alternatives like bottle jacks because they work faster.
A trolley jack has plenty of uses. For one thing, trolley jacks allow you to lift your car high enough to change your tires without risk of injury to yourself or damage to the automobile. You’ll also need to raise your vehicle off the ground to fix your brake assemblies, work on your suspension and carry out a number of other repair jobs.
Buy a trolley jack for your garage in order to change your tires and perform other vital repairs to the underside of your car independently.
Wrenches
There are few more versatile – and useful – tools to keep on hand than a wrench. A wrench is a garage staple that allows you to remove nuts and bolts, which is crucial if you want to access various parts of your car.
Wrenches allow you to perform various types of repairs on your car, including but not limited to oil changes, timing belt replacements, suspension repairs and spark plug replacements. In fact, the vast majority of car components require a wrench to service.
It’s important to remember, however, that wrenches come in many sizes (to accommodate all the varying fastener sizes) and that different wrenches have distinct uses. So, it’s wise to always keep a full set of wrenches on hand in your own garage. That way, you can ensure you have the wrench you need to work with any of the fasteners that keep your vehicle in tip-top shape.
Battery Tester
Your vehicle’s battery is one of its most important components. A functioning battery is necessary for starting a car and powering essential components like the engine, fuel pump and electrical equipment.
Given the importance of your car’s battery, regular testing and maintenance is essential. This is doubly true if you have a pre-owned car. To keep your battery in good working order, you’ll need a battery tester. Car battery testers measure the capacity of your battery, which indicates if you need to recharge or replace it.
To monitor your car’s battery for potential issues, always keep a battery tester handy.
Fluid Transfer Pump
There are several different types of fluid in your car, including oil, brake fluid and coolant. These liquids are essential to keeping your car functioning and need to be replaced at regular intervals to avoid contamination.
While you can bring your car to a mechanic to change your car’s fluids, it’s also possible to perform this task on your own. This is where a fluid transfer pump comes in handy. These tools allow you to move large amounts of fluid from one place to another without spillage.
Add a fluid pump to your DIY arsenal to help you keep your car’s fluids fresh.
There are plenty of benefits to keeping your car in good condition, including ensuring the safety of you and your passengers, maximising your vehicle’s market value and securing auto insurance at favourable rates. Thankfully, there are plenty of DIY tasks you can do from the comfort of your garage.
In this article, we’ve gone over some of the tools and equipment you need to do just that. Secure these tools for your own garage to make sure you’re always ready to fix any issues that arise with your vehicle.