Automotive tips and tricks

[cutter]

Some things I like to do is wad a bunch of white paper towels in an area in my engine bay that wont blow away or get wet. Good for random fluid checks or hand wiping. Also, i have a spare key taped on the inside of my front bumper (gaffing tape). It's saved me once and that's worth it. Live in an urban city and has not been a problem.

Not sure if this was discussed in depth before or whatever, but i'd
Iike to hear other creature comforts.

 

[Rand]

10$ harbor freight breaker bar with socket.= flat tire change.

the monkey bar thats in most cars is not so good.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: Rand
10$ harbor freight breaker bar with socket.= flat tire change.

the monkey bar thats in most cars is not so good.
x2

 

[Warstud]

My tip of the day:
When using gasket maker such as when changing the differential fluid...it can be difficult to get that stuff out of the tube. So take a old soup can and fill it with hot water and drop the gasket maker in it for a few minutes. It will come out much easier.

 

[cutter]

Originally Posted By: Rand
10$ harbor freight breaker bar with socket.= flat tire change.

the monkey bar thats in most cars is not so good.


Nice, when i realized i could not get a lug off with the [censored] short stock 4way wrench when i got a flat at home, i bought a 25" breaker from HF too and tossed the oem tire wrench.

 

[tommygunn]

A pipe wrench can be a saving grace when things aren't working in your favor. I put one on my inner tie rod so I could pound off the rusty outer tie rod end without it spinning. Also handy at hooking difficult to get to oxygen sensors if you don't have a crows foot tool at your mercy.

 

[wander2039]

Originally Posted By: tommygunn
A pipe wrench can be a saving grace when things aren't working in your favor. I put one on my inner tie rod so I could pound off the rusty outer tie rod end without it spinning. Also handy at hooking difficult to get to oxygen sensors if you don't have a crows foot tool at your mercy.


This is a good one. I have a small pipe wrench I used on stubborn brake line fittings. Perhaps the best tool in my collection!

 

[yonyon]

Originally Posted By: Warstud
My tip of the day:
When using gasket maker such as when changing the differential fluid...it can be difficult to get that stuff out of the tube. So take a old soup can and fill it with hot water and drop the gasket maker in it for a few minutes. It will come out much easier.


There is a tool that you can get that rolls up the tube from the end. It just slips on the end and as you twist it rolls up the tube pushing the stuff out. It works on toothpaste tubes too for minimal waste. I don't know what the proper name fot this tool is, but I call it a "fish key." If I'm buying something from the local toyota dealer I usually ask for a tube of RTV as well, not so much because their RTV is anything super wonderful, but because they always throw in a free fish key.

Once a tube of RTV "burps" there's no point in putting the cap back on and hoping to save the rest of it for another job. That little bit of gas that just escaped is the inhibitor that keeps it from setting up. Once it burps, use what you're using and throw it out.

 

[expat]

3 feet of copper wire, the type you can strip out of 14-2 house wire is very handy to have in your tool box.

I have used this in the past to replace a broken exhaust hanger, hold a flashlight, make a twist tie hose clamp or even replace a dead ignition wire (after wrapping with electrical tape)

 

[morris]

if you take meds put them on paper with your doctors name and number and the person to contact. and have it next to your drivers license. that way the EMS knows the info he needs.

 

[Dakota1820]

A rag under the hood of both cars. A four way in both and an adjustable wrench . O and a decent little bottle jack in the car

 

[JimPghPA]

For an emergency entrance only key that you hide outside the car, if the key has notches on both sides file the notches off one side. That way it will open a door if inserted proper side towards the tumblers, but can not work the ignition. Ignition requires both sides to have notches. Door only requires notches on one side. If it is an expensive key with a chip, use a cheap key without a chip for this entrance only key.

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Keep remote key fob by the bed if it is still within range of the vehicle. If a strange noise is heard during the night and you think there is any chance someone may be breaking into the house use the key fob to set off the horns on the vehicle as an alarm to attract attention and scare away a bungler.

 

[Barkleymut]

a bottle of Jack in the car? lol

I always travel with a small cheapo air compressor and plug kit. I hate driving on a donut.

 

[LeakySeals]

2 rolls of duct tape in the trunk can do anything

 

[tom slick]

Always remove the fill plug before the drain plug. That way if you can't get the fill plug out you haven't already drained the oil.

 

[earlyre]

Quote:
O and a decent little bottle jack in the car


Tried that, but unfortunately, the factory ride height @ the front end of my car is way too short for a bottle to fit under.
rear end fits fine. tried carrying a... the one with the wheels...Trolly?.. in the trunk for a while, but now it just sits in garage, and [censored] old scissor jack back in trunk.

though i do have a tool bag w/ small socket set, screwdriver w/ interchangeable heads, led task light, electrical tape, rubber mallet, roll of twine, utility knife, extra lead for my scan gauge, small 12v compressor w/ extension cord, duct tape similar color to body for emergency roadside body work short(~12") breaker bar, and multiple flashlights in vehicle cabin. keep forgetting to put a set of needle nose in there...

 

[yonyon]

Don't forget the six inch square of aluminum foil, a spork, and a sonic screwdriver.

 

[Hokiefyd]

They say you really only need two tools in the toolbox:

Vice grips, for things that are supposed to move but don't, and
Duct tape, for things that aren't supposed to move but do.

 

[Scott_Tucker]

Originally Posted By: yonyon


Once a tube of RTV "burps" there's no point in putting the cap back on and hoping to save the rest of it for another job. That little bit of gas that just escaped is the inhibitor that keeps it from setting up. Once it burps, use what you're using and throw it out.


I disagree with this. Not only is the Toyota RTV excellent, but it keeps very well. I used a tube over a four year period and it kept well.

 

[morepwr]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
They say you really only need two tools in the toolbox:

Vice grips, for things that are supposed to move but don't, and
Duct tape, for things that aren't supposed to move but do.


I like that! And dont forget the zip ties!