I have always liked to keep a small tool bag in my cars, especially the daily drivers. It has come in handy a couple of times. I am assembling another tool bag for my extra car. Mostly cheap HF tools since they won't likely be used often. I am just wondering what roadside repairs others have done. This will help me decide which tools would be most useful in my small tool bags.
I have only done a couple of roadside repairs. A while back my drivebelt snapped for my alternator and water pump. I pulled of at the next exit and parked in a motel parking lot. I didn't have a cell phone back then (1990's) so I walked to a diner to use their phone and phonebook. I called a local auto parts store and they delivered me a new belt to the motel parking lot with no delivery charge. I was able to replace the belt with the very basic toolkit I had, using only a ratchet and sockets. Ever since then, when I replace a belt as a preventative measure, I keep the old one in the car.
More recently I had my check engine light come on when I was about 150 miles from home. I stopped at a nearby Autozone to have them check the codes. It came up as a cam shaft position sensor. I used my multimeter to determine that the cam shaft sensor was electrically ok. I pulled it out and found the sensor part was dirty with timing belt debris. I cleaned off the sensor and was on my way. I now carry a cheap codereader in toolbag for the car that I drive the most.
I have only done a couple of roadside repairs. A while back my drivebelt snapped for my alternator and water pump. I pulled of at the next exit and parked in a motel parking lot. I didn't have a cell phone back then (1990's) so I walked to a diner to use their phone and phonebook. I called a local auto parts store and they delivered me a new belt to the motel parking lot with no delivery charge. I was able to replace the belt with the very basic toolkit I had, using only a ratchet and sockets. Ever since then, when I replace a belt as a preventative measure, I keep the old one in the car.
More recently I had my check engine light come on when I was about 150 miles from home. I stopped at a nearby Autozone to have them check the codes. It came up as a cam shaft position sensor. I used my multimeter to determine that the cam shaft sensor was electrically ok. I pulled it out and found the sensor part was dirty with timing belt debris. I cleaned off the sensor and was on my way. I now carry a cheap codereader in toolbag for the car that I drive the most.