Most essential tools to keep in an FD
 

hey every1,
Id like to know what tools you carry in your cars.

After seeing sum1 swap out his FD's spark plugs with a pair of pliers in the middle of an rx7 cruise, i decided i might wanna keep a vital tool kit in one of the rear compartments.
So, lemme know what tools you keep in the car, just in case somethin might happen.

Thanx,
Zach

Not to be trite....
 

But my AAA, card and a checkbook work great! I have built hotrods for over 40 years..(am 55),big block chevvvyz... etc. Now i am enjoying driving more and wrenching less..... Sincerly, Carter

Condom??? WIll wrap your tool for when you get laid cuz we drive such sweet cars.

Re: Not to be trite....
 

hehehe

I vote for the AAA+ card, and a cellphone.

A 10mm, 13mm, and spark plug socket would be good choices. A fire extinguisher. Flashlight. Distilled water.

i was thinkin a socket set, distilled water, and oil were defs....ne other suggestions?

Re: Re: Not to be trite....
 

Honestly, I don't think you need to be out on the street working on your car. I agree with BicuspiD, a fire extinguisher, flashlight, distilled water/coolant (or mix) and a cellphone.

If it's that broke where you need tools, just get it towed.

Based on my experiences, a flashlight, funnel, water/coolant premix, and cell phone don't hurt. All other things like spark plugs should be checked periodically anyway. A fire extinguisher is something I need to get myself.

fire extinguisher for sure
without a doubt

Cellphone with the names and numbers of towing companies in the area(s) I cruise. I think the car is too complicated and hard to get into to rely on repairs on the side of the road.

My insurance company gets paid to provide a $60 tow anytime and anywhere. I would rather get the car home to my garage instead of making a goof on the road.

For that same reason, I also change my rad hoses every 20K, my plugs every 15, and keep a close eye on glitches when I see/hear them.

Normally, I would think that this is too much trouble, but on the other hand, I feel that I am driving a unique/special car and I don't mind going the extra mile so that I can go the extra miles.

JUUUUUUUUUUMPERS, jack......

From my experience, jumper cables, STRONG ROPE, I would say cellphone but sometimes when in the mountains no service will work...... , flashlight, basic most used/popular sockets/wrench, electrical tape, aaaaaaaaand some other minor stuff I can't think of right now.......

-Dan

atf
You just never know when u gonna flood.





another engine, usually thats the outcome

I carry a socket/ratchet set, pliers, screwdrivers, a 20 oz. bottle of water/coolant, 1 qt. of oil in my car.

well i carry water, oil, and like some sockets and what not for like loose things, but im thinkin of kidnapping a rotary mechanic and stuffin him in my trunk when i break down :cool: but for that to happen my car has to work again first :p:

If you believe in Murphy's laws and it's collarries, the more complete the tool set you carry, the less likely you are to have something break.

I carry about an average-szied tool box for longer trips. No steenkin' cell phone for me.

Re: Re: Not to be trite....
 

So you really haven't ever worked on a FD, or any Mazda for that matter, more used to VWs? 13mm???

Otherwise, I don't carry one single tool other than the ones that came with the car.

Don't carry parts? Don't carry tools...

Jeff

omg... No we know why so many FD owners complain about "clunking" noises... It's their freaking tool boxes in the trunk... :rolleyes:

so If im reading this right, you pay 60$ and the ins will pay a tow guy to take your car half way across the country. is that right?

how about AAA+ don't they tow any distance with that membership too?

I think AAA will only tow the car to the nearest dealership or to your home/garage.

It's been a while since I was a AAA member, so that could be wrong or they could have changed. I'm with State Farm and they have a similar policy. However, with AAA, even if it's not your car, as long as you are riding in it you can get it towed (unlike with normal insurance companies).

Boy, that was constructive...


On the subject: I keep just a few emergency things with me if I go on a long drive. Coolant, Distilled H2O, Oil, premix, and and that's about it. I keep the car very well maintained. Do thorough checks before and after I take it out. I replace ANYTHING at the first sign of possible failure. I consider my car as reliable as a Honda, because I make it that way. I'm more worried about a tire blowing out or a rock smashing the windshield than anything... I also take the cellphone... Just in case!

So what you are saying is, if I need to get my car transported somewhere (like if I was moving) I could deliberately break it (disconnect TPS or something like that) and have AAA tow me across the country? :D Sweet

I keep my Craftsman mechanics tool kit in my car. 75 pieces in a zip-up carrying case. Fits right behind either seat. That pretty much takes care of all the screw drivers, combination wrenches, 3/8" and 1/4" socket drivers and extensions with both metric and English long and short sockets. I would suggest adding pliers to the kit, or at least replacing the English pieces with torque clamps for the intercooler pipes, zip ties if you use those, or maybe jumper cables if you don't daily drive your car or have your pulleys really under driven and don't charge the battery while its in the garage.

Money..........Just LOTS and LOTS of MONEY;)

That's how I travel too. No need to pack anything but

In order:

fire extinguisher (has saved my car already from fire)

road flares (I have never had to use them but I thought that about the extinguisher too)
air in the spare tire (I always see people with flat spares! They are useless without air in them!)
lug wrench and jack in opertating condition

I typically toss used belts under the spare just in case as well.

3/8 rachet

10, 12, 14, 17, 19mm sockets with 3 inch extension

1/2 rachet

14, 17, 19, 21mm

You could basically take the entire engine apart with just that.

Unless you are removing the wastegate and precontrol turbo actuators which are bolted by the ONLY 13mm size nuts on the car.