The Essential Tools You Need for Working on Your New Used Car

If you've just purchased a used car and want to be able to do minor repairs yourself, you will need to assemble a proper toolbox and assorted accessories. There are many repairs that you can do on your own as long as you have access to the repair manual. You can purchase the repair manuals online, or, if you prefer, you can find the information via YouTube videos or online articles. Regardless of where you get your information, it will be of little use if you are not prepared with the proper tools. With that said, here are the main items you should get.

Socket Wrench Set

A socket set is essential because you will need to loosen bolts that are in spots where you can't fit a large wrench. A socket set will include extenders that allow you to reach small, recessed bolts. Extenders are long, tube-like pieces of metal that you can attach to a socket wrench.

A socket wrench is also better than an open wrench because it provides a better grip and you don't have to continually take the wrench off and reposition it. If you were to use a regular wrench, you would have to keep taking the wrench off after each turn and putting it back on the bolt. This makes the work take much longer.

Jack Stands

Jack stands are used to support your car so that you can comfortably and safely work underneath it. You will lift the car up with a scissor jack or pump jack and then place the jack stands under the appropriate area on the frame. You will need to consult with the jack stand instruction manual to find out exactly where that area is. You can place two jack stands on either side of the car. They are more stable than relying on a single scissor/pump jack to balance the car.

Oil Filter Wrench and Drip Pan

It's important to regularly change the oil in your car because it will keep the engine running smoothly. Consult with your owner's manual to find out how often to change the oil and also what weight of oil you should use. In order to change the oil, you need an oil filter wrench, a socket wrench to loosen the oil drain nut, and a drop pan to catch the oil. The best type of oil filter wrench to get is an adjustable one that fits several different sizes of oil filters. This way, when you replace your car, you can use it again. When looking for a drip pan, look for one that has a screen on the top. These are great if you happen to drop the oil pan nut when loosening it. It will fall onto the screen instead of falling into the pan and ending up covered in oil, which saves you from a messy retrieval.

There are a good number of car repairs you can do on your own at home with the proper tools. When it comes to body work, though, you may want to find an auto body repair service in your area.