Car troubleshooting 101: Common tools to use for basic repair

Car trouble can happen anytime, but a repair station will not always be in sight when you need it. For this reason, learning how to fix common automobile problems should be a necessity. But most car repairs you can never do with your bare hands—you need to be equipped with the right tools. Here are some of the most common tools you will need to get your car up and running again in no time.

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Adjustable wrench
This tool has a “jaw” which you can adjust to tighten or loosen various sizes of fastener heads such as nuts and bolts. In the UK, an adjustable wrench is also called an adjustable spanner.

Torque wrench
This tool is used to apply a measured amount of torque to a head fastener using special internal mechanisms. Invented by Conrad Bahr, the torque wrench is widely used to prevent overly tightening screws and bolts. It is also used for situations when the tightness of the screws are crucial to a machine’s function.

Socket and ratchet set
This is composed of sockets that are attached to a ratchet in order to loosen and tighten fastener heads. The ratchet was designed to twist nuts and bolts very quickly without the socket leaving the head fastener.

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Pliers
These are hand tools that can serve a variety of purposes. Depending on their type, pliers may be used to hold objects firmly, bend or compress objects, and cut hard objects like wires and cables.

Screwdrivers
These are hand tools that are used to turn screws in order to tighten or loosen them. A Phillips screwdriver has a cross-shaped tip, while a flat head screwdriver has a straight tip.

Jack
This is a device that allows you to lift very heavy objects using either a screw thread or a hydraulic cylinder. You can use this device to loft your car off the ground to access some of your car’s had-to-reach areas.

Needless to say, just having the tools does not make you an expert at repair. For more complicated repairs, you might have to undergo a higher level of training, or seek the help of certified auto repair experts. Technicians from repair shops like Steven & Francine’s Complete Automotive Repair in New York and A&M Auto Repair in Bellevue, WA will always be willing to help you.

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