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Robert MaxwellUpdated: Oct. 20, 2023
DIY car maintenance and repair work is tough, but having the right automotive tools makes it much easier. Here are the tools you need.
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Socket Wrench Set
Our vehicles are held together by hundreds of bolts of various sizes and lengths. That’s why any aspiring DIY mechanic should invest in a good set of socket wrenches, like this 192-piece DeWalt Mechanics Tool Set.
Less than $200 with a limited lifetime warranty, this set is a serious bargain. Without a full socket set, you can’t do much to fix or tune your vehicle. Everything from changing tires to changing oil depends on your ability to loosen and tighten precisely sized bolts.
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Open-End Wrench Set
Working on vehicles sometimes means loosening or tightening bolts in close quarters. In these situations, you may not have room to wield a socket wrench. That’s why open end wrenches are must-have tools.
Sometimes you need the low profile of an open end wrench to loosen a bolt a socket wrench simply can’t reach. This BullTools Ratchet Wrench Set, with 22 wrenches of metric and imperial sizes for less than a hundred bucks, is a good choice.
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Impact Wrench
As every experienced mechanic will tell you, sometimes elbow grease and determination aren’t enough to loosen stubborn bolts. Dirt and corrosion can set in, partially fusing bolts to the threads. Make your life considerably easier by investing in a good cordless impact wrench.
Impact wrenches are handheld power tools shaped like a drill or impact driver. They have wrench sockets attached to their tips for loosening stubborn bolts. This tool isn’t cheap, but you’ll consider it well worth it after loosening a few bolts no amount of hand strength could unthread.
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Torque Wrench
Every DIY mechanic has to change tires, whether you’re switching from all-season to winter tires or fixing a flat. A torque wrench, like this Tekton Torque Wrench, makes it much easier. At $43 and change, you might consider it expensive, but the peace of mind these give makes it well worth it.
Tightening the lug nuts that hold wheels in place is where long-handled torque wrenches shine. These can be calibrated to exert a specific amount of force, expressed in foot-pounds. They’ll let you know when the lug nuts are secure so you avoid over-tightening.
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Car Battery Tester
Without a functioning battery, you and your vehicle aren’t going anywhere. That’s why a hand-held electronic device like this Konnwei Car Battery Tester is so helpful.
When you test your battery, note the battery voltage. A fully charged battery should be at least 12.6 volts. Lower than that and the battery may be losing its ability to hold a charge and needs replacement.
Many testers also let you check your battery’s cold cranking amps (CCA), another indicator of overall battery health in winter conditions. This measures how much electricity flows from your battery at 0 F.
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Funnel Set
DIY vehicle care includes draining various fluids from your car and replace them with fresh stuff. A simple set of funnels, like this KarZone Auto Funnels Three-Pack, makes this much easier. This lopsided, compact set, make spills easier to avoid and only costs less than $10.
Motor oil, coolant, transmission and brake fluidand windshield washer fluid need to be replaced from time to time. The reservoirs where these fluids are stored often have small openings. Even experienced, steady-handed mechanics rely on funnels for adding vital vehicle fluids.
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Drain Pan
When replacing certain engine fluids, it’s important to collect and dispose of the spent stuff. Driveway oil and filter changes require a drain pan like this one. Spilling motor oil, coolant or any other engine fluid is bad for the environment. Take them instead to a certified disposal center.
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Battery Booster
Few car problems will stop you in your tracks quicker than a dead battery. Traditional vehicle wisdom suggests always traveling with a set of booster cables in your vehicle. A better option is a portable battery booster.
This device comes with two gripper clamps that hook onto your battery terminals. One charge provides enough juice to jump your battery several times. Retailing for $100, this NOCO GB40 Battery Booster also features an emergency flashlight and USB port for charging your phone!
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Collection of Pliers
Much DIY vehicle work involves loosening tight things and tightening loose things, so a good set of pliers is essential. At just $44, this set of Irwin Vise-Grip Pliers is my favorite.
It includes a pair of slip-lock pliers that adjust for gripping objects of different sizes; needle-nose pliers for gripping small, thin objects in hard-to-reach places; standard pliers; and wire cutters. I have used each tool on my vehicle many times. I consistently find Irwin pliers outlast and outperform other brands.
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Ramps
DIY mechanics work underneath vehicles just like the pros. But the at-home mechanic probably lacks a vehicle hoist to lift their car off floor. Most DIYers, even serious ones, can’t justify investing in a vehicle hoist.
A more practical solution is a set of ramps. Selling for about $165, this Service Ramp Set from BiSupply can boost the front or back of your vehicle 6.6 inches, enough to make draining oil, changing fuel filters and a host of other under-vehicle jobs considerably easier. I’ve had everything from a Toyota Echo to my half-ton pickup on these, and they’ve never let me down.
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Bonus: Anti-Seize Compound
Ask any seasoned auto mechanic, and they’ll most likely tell you that bolts are always seizing up on vehicles. That’s why every mechanic I know considers anti-seize compound to be liquid gold.
Technically a material more than a tool, you spread this inexpensive product over the threads of bolts likely to corrode or stick to their respective inserts or nuts. It keeps corrosion at bay. Even if you keep an impact wrench handy for stubborn bolts, there’s no point damaging a bolt or your vehicle if you don’t have to. Anti-seize compound keeps threads working as they should.
Originally Published: February 10, 2022
Robert Maxwell
Robert Maxwell has been a passionate DIYer since the mid-1990s, when he received his first childhood tool set. His rural upbringing gives him a lifetime of experience in all things DIY, from carpentry and fine woodworking to welding and vehicle repair, all of which he practices regularly from his self-built cabin in the woods in Northern Ontario, Canada. Robert has been a regular contributor to Family Handyman since 2020, where he writes from firsthand experience on a surprisingly wide variety of DIY topics.
