Vehicle breakdowns can be an inconvenient or even frightening experience. However, keeping a few simple tools on hand can help you avoid breakdowns and make simple repairs. Here are three tools every car owner should have.
1. Tire Inflator and Sealer
A flat tire can happen at any time due to wear and tear or damage from potholes, nails or other foreign objects. Some flat tires may need to be replaced with a spare, but others can be repaired. A can of tire sealer can be used to find and temporarily repair small leaks so that you can drive your car far enough to get a new tire put on. A farm and fleet air compressor can be used to reinflate a tire with a slow leak or air up a spare or patched up tire to the proper tire pressure.
2. Socket and Screwdriver Set
Vibration from the road or simple wear and tear can sometimes cause parts, such as a battery terminal connection or hose clamp, to come loose on your car. You may be able to fix these issues breakdowns and accidents by simply tightening up whatever has come loose but to do that, you will need the right tool. Keeping a socket wrench and screwdriver set with multiple socket sizes and screwdriver tips should provide you with the options you need to tighten most loose parts.
3. Duct Tape
Duct tape can be useful for a variety of temporary repairs. Whether you need to patch up a loose bumper, cover a broken window or fix a loose hose, a bit of duct tape may enable you to keep your car together long enough to get it to a shop for permanent repairs.
4. Jumper Cables
Jumper cables are an essential piece of equipment to have on hand in case your car battery goes dead. Car batteries lose their charge over time and their life can be suddenly shortened by leaving the lights on too long or by exposure to an extreme change in temperature. You can hook up your car battery to another vehicle with a set of jumper cables to get your car started so you can drive it to a shop to get the battery replaced.
Having a few simple tools on hand can help you make temporary repairs when your car breaks down. Being prepared can take some of the fear and frustration out of unexpected vehicle breakdowns.
