Car mechanics are a peculiar sort. They seem to nurture a certain level of disdain towards one another, and much like Salieri hated Mozart, each new mechanic you encounter seems to think that the previous one did a horrible job. Why is that? Could it be that car maintenance is an art form as much as it is a skill? Or could it be that, much like your math teacher, they only recognize one way to solve a problem, with utter disregard for any other approach?

One thing is for certain, though– the quality and scope of available tools will be the key elements that depict a good mechanic. No matter if you’re looking to acquire a new lifelong skill, or you’re an aspiring mechanic looking for guidance on the most essential tools you will need for the trade, you will want to invest in these instruments that professionals cannot live without.

Jack and jack stands

A car jack is an essential piece of equipment in the trade, and no matter if you’re replacing a flat tyre in the middle of nowhere, or opening your own shop, this is the first tool you’ll need. Always remember to support the jack with jack stands when elevating a vehicle and reaching under to ensure safety and efficiency.

Multimeter

A multimeter is vital for measuring voltage, electric currents and resistance, a mechanic’s best friend in fixing any electrical problem. It is important to invest in a quality multimeter that measures different values, specifically amperage (the strength of electric current displayed in amperes) for detailed readings.

Pliers

Almost every car repair involves the use of pliers, and there are three kinds you should have at hand. Pliers are essential for brake work, changing hoses, working with connectors and more. You have your regular pliers, your vise pliers, as well as long and short needle nose pliers for reaching into tight spaces.

While regular pliers are useful to have, as a car mechanic you will most likely work with vise and needle pliers. Vise pliers are crucial for removing clamps and coolant hoses, while needle pliers provide all around versatility and are useful in any repair project.

Spanners

If anyone tries to fool you, a spanner is just another name for a wrench. There are numerous wrench variations, each one serving a different purpose and coming in different sizes, and you want to supply your toolkit with every kind imaginable. Be sure to invest in quality spanners, such as Kincromewrenches that are durable enough to last you a lifetime, while affordable enough to buy in bundles.

If you are asked whether to buy standard (US size) or metric spanners, go for metric,as you are more likely to encounter problems requiring the use of metric measurements.

Screwdrivers

Much like their spanner brethren, screwdrivers come in many shapes, sizes and gauges. The essential pieces are Flat and Phillips screwdrivers, and you can expand your collection with stubbed, normal length, skinny, heavy duty, flathead and torx screwdrivers.

Now, in case the number of varying models didn’t scare you away, stubbed ones are great for removing sensors and reaching into tight places, and so are the skinny ones. You also need a heavy-duty screwdriver for extensive car repairs, as it is unlikely to break and can double as a pry bar.

Ratchets

Finally, the last tool a good mechanic cannot live without is a ratchet, three of them, to be exact. While there are numerous variants, you are most likely to need the three basic sizes in any given situation: small, medium and large. This is one of the most extensively used tools in the business, allowing you to loosen or tighten the bolt or nut attached to a socket – and everything in a car has a bolt, or a nut, or a socket.

Vehicle maintenance is a tricky business and a trade entailing years of learning and practice. While you should leave the heavy-duty repairs to a professional, you can easily learn the fundamentals of vehicle maintenance and save money and time by fixing minor car problems yourself, utilizing only these essential mechanic instruments.

Looking but not touching!

I just wanted to take a short moment to share with you a fantastic product I have only recently come across! It might surprise many of you that I didn’t already own one.

Those of you that follow this blog and my reviews will know I have been into cars and mechanics since I was very young. However it wasn’t until recently that I actually really appreciated the other side of being a petrol head and getting to know how cars need to be maintained. Of course, I always kept my cars clean and shiney but when there have been any mechanical problems I have taken the machines straight to the shop or to a trusted friend for them to look at. However, a friend recently introduced a new gadget into my life which has changed that. He saw a review of it and thought it would be perfect for me… I got a nice and shiney new Leatherman multi-tool! You can see this life changing review for yourself here http://bestmultitoolkit.com/reviews/leatherman-super-tool-300-multi-tool-review/

And it does pretty much everything you could ever need – and it actually makes you feel comfortable enough to use it rather than keeping it on a shelf with your 1 million other gadgets that never really see the light of day.

So why all the fuss?

Firstly, this gadget has so many different functions. I know it is great for tweaking a few mechanical bits and pieces, but despite that, I can see it would be useful for pretty much anyone. People doing home improvements could use this to straighten paintings and tighten door frames. Those that are avid campers would love this tool and have that tent up in no time, fixing any little issues almost immediately.

Features:

Pliers

For me the first test of the Leatherman was its pliers. One of the motors had a few loose bolts and I decided rather than taking it in to be looked at, I would first try myself. The Leatherman has not one, but 2 sets of pliers. The thing that really surprised me is just how strong and hardy they are. They could put regular pliers out of business for sure. A cool feature is the sloped handle which really makes the pliers easy to move about and I noticed that this was incredibly useful in some of the tighter, smaller spaces in the motor. I was able to fix everything in under half an hour and since then the Leatherman has not left my side!

The Leatherman Promise

So the 20 different features of this Leatherman is a selling point in itself. But, another fantastic aspect of this product, and I guess the company in general is the guarantee that comes with it. They have a policy to look after you and the Leatherman for 25 years. They will also cover lights under a separate policy for 10 years which is good to know! Under this policy they will repair or replace the product if damaged. It is always good to know when you are in safe hands with a brand like this.

Any drawbacks?

So I am a huge fan of this product (as you might already be able to tell). But there are a few drawbacks that I think is only fair to note. It is really heavy. It weighs almost 300 grams or 10 ounces. So it’s not necessarily easy to carry about with you on your person. It would be better to store it in the glove box of similar. I think for a manual worker or someone who is travelling light this would mean the Leatherman is too hard to carry. However, for someone like me, who is always in the car, it should never be a problem!

You may be mechanically minded. Maybe you love driving your car, you know a lot about the latest models and you know what you want out of the car you own.

Everybody has a dream car, and sometimes that dream involves making a car of your own- from scratch. Car restoration can be a lot of fun, especially if you already have some experience with automotives.

However, doing it yourself isn’t for everyone. It’s expensive, problems can arise and you may find yourself with less skill than you thought you had. You may find yourself wishing you’d just bought that Mitsubishi Triton or Toyota Outlander and been done with it.

To avoid the bitter taste of regret, consider the options available and whether the outcome will really personally suit you. Here are 5 things to think about before delving into restoration:

1. Don’t think that you’re making an investment. Restoring a car is unlikely to make you much of a profit in the long-run.
2. It’s important to go with a car that keeps it’s value. It’s difficult to know whether the car you intend on restoring will remain fashionable. Do your research, talk to people who are in the know and make a calculated decision.
3. Talk to people that have experience in car restoration first. If this is a new thing for you, get some good practical advice before you begin. You can find many internet forums, talking about others experiences with this.
4. Know what you want before you go to the dealer. This will help you avoid any mistakes when you’re going to make a purchase. Don’t allow yourself to be swayed by persuasive salespeople. You need to know what you want before you get to the buying process in order to make a knowledgeable decision.
5. Don’t make the mistake of going with a vehicle that is too rare to source parts for. Some older vehicles won’t have readily available parts. Make sure that you’re able to locally source all the equipment you need to build your new car.

Restoring a vintage car can be extremely rewarding. It’s amazing to see a vehicle that you’ve built entirely by yourself. But it is hard work. Put yourself in the best position to have a great start in building your own car. Learn what you need to know, don’t expect everything to be perfect and make calculated decisions before you commit to anything.

Do you consider yourself mechanically minded? DIY is not for everyone, but if you think you’re up to the task of restoring a classic car there are a few things you should consider before beginning.

Car restoration is definitely not an investment. You’re not going to make money over the time that it takes to complete this task. This process is a hobby, throw away your ideas about making money from this ASAP.

However, with this in mind it’s still important to choose a car that will retain value over time. While it’s difficult to guess how trends will follow – as with anything certain cars come in and out of style over the years, some people are very knowledgeable in this area and can give you practical advice on what kind of model to go with.

Engage with people that have experience in this area. If you’re new to this hobby you may have a friend or acquaintance that can offer some practical advice to help you with working on your car. Failing this, consult internet forums, there’s a lot of discussion going around on this topic. Experts regularly post their own experiences with certain models online and this can help you learn quickly.

When you go to purchase a car, make sure you’ve done your research and know exactly what you’re after. This will help you avoid the regret that comes with making quick decisions. Choose a car that is working already and always, always avoid cars with rust like the plague. The last thing you want is a model that’s broken beyond repair it will only cause headaches – the worst kind imaginable.

Make sure the car you go with is popular enough to have available parts sourceable from stores close enough to you. Without a doubt you’re going to need to replace certain parts in your machine and you really don’t want to add extra difficulty to this by having difficulty finding the right pieces to fit in your vehicle.

Overall the restoration of a vehicle can be an extremely rewarding process. The experience of driving a car that you’ve built yourself is unlike any other. You’ll feel pleasure and pride each time you take a trip – whether it’s to the grocery store or a long drive. Invest in the help of experts, do your research and enjoy the work that goes into restoring a classic car.

Modern cars are so complex that replacing a bulb can mean removing a wheel. Are high costs inevitable or are drivers being ripped off?

Women drivers whose cars need fixing are charged a “female premium” by sexist garage owners, being forced to pay an average of £45 more than men for the same repair work.

The trouble with women says David, is they dodge car maintenance. Do they ever check the oil or the tyre pressure? No