It is no fun at all to have car trouble. After a long day at work, there is nothing more aggravating than having to contend with car trouble in the middle of rush hour, with swarms of honking motorists glaring at you as they roll slowly by. But by putting together a basic repair and maintenance kit, many of these annoyances can be managed for long enough to get you home or to a service station.
Basic kits should include:
- a flat tip and phillips screwdriver for tightening things that flap,
- adjustable pliers like a channel lock wrench that can be used to tighten loose bolts and to secure detached hoses,
- a thick pair of gloves to avoid getting burned when using a hot engine,
- a quart of oil and a funnel, as well as a gallon of distilled water in case of overheating problems (doubles as a drinking source if your stranded for long on the side of the road),
- paper towels or clean rags so leaks can be tracked (usually by cleaning a spot on the ground and looking for drips or by running them along underneath),
- and, finally, do not forget a decent flashlight.
Tags: car care kit, maintenance kit, repair kit