So here's where I'm at...

Post #200,038 by inthane-chan 3/22/05 11:46:08 PM Reply	So here's where I'm at... First jumped the car on Friday, tried to drive it on Saturday, and that's when it failed. Went back out tonight and tried to start the car again - no dice. No charge at all on the battery. Haven't tried to jump it, but the dead battery theory is lookin' pretty darn good. I will admit to having minimal to no skills in car repair, but I'm willing to learn - sadly I have no garage and minimal storage space. What essential tools would you stock for car repair on a budget? The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not "Eureka!" but "That's funny..." -Isaac Asimov
Post #200,039 by Another Scott 3/23/05 12:09:14 AM Reply	Wrenches, Screwdrivers, Voltmeter. Those things should do you for most simple repairs. You'll probably need metric wrenches for your Volvo. A good adjustable wrench is handy too, but it's tempting to use it when you should use something that won't slip. Needle-nose pliers, diagonal cutters (dikes), a heavy duty pocket knife, and a pair of channel-lock pliers will help cover almost any simple eventuality. Sets are usually cheaper than buying wrenches (or screwdrivers) individually, but you'll end up with some that you'll never use. The most commonly needed wrenches are 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", 9/16" and 5/8" or their metric equivalents. Buy good ones and you'll never need to buy them again (until they walk off). I don't have much luck with Craftsman screwdrivers - the straight tips often break, and the philips tips often round off. But they've got a lifetime warranty... If you're going to be doing more than simple things (changing the oil, changing lightbulbs, changing the battery, etc.), then you'll want a decent socket set and a ratchet too. Sears, Lowes and Home Depot are reasonable places to look. If you know what you're getting, places like Harbor Freight can be a source of bargains - but they sell a lot of junk too. The best tools are from places like Mac and SnapOn, but they're quite expensive and overkill for your needs unless you're doing it for a living. HTH. Cheers, Scott.
Post #200,057 by boxley 3/23/05 7:40:24 AM Reply	since you dont have kids that will lose the tools goto sears and get craftsman, they really stand behind the warranty, if it breaks you walk in, no receipt needed they hand you a new one. Bundled socket set is not expensive, look for sale. hammer, screwdrivers adjustable wrench, vice grips, channel locks needlenose and regula pliers. thanx, bill All tribal myths are true, for a given value of "true" Terry Pratchett Any opinions expressed by me are mine alone, posted from my home computer, on my own time as a free american and do not reflect the opinions of any person or company that I have had professional relations with in the past 48 years. meep questions, help? [link\|mailto:pappas@catholic.org\|email pappas at catholic.org]
Post #200,042 by Andrew Grygus 3/23/05 2:20:44 AM Reply	Re: So here's where I'm at... As I said, if the battery is really, really dead it'll suck your jumpers dry. You'd get better results pulling one terminal off the battery and just have the jumper connected to it - at least you wouldn't have the drain. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #200,046 by CRConrad 3/23/05 5:04:00 AM Reply	Metric socket wrenches, plus two inchy ones: 1/2" and 9/16" An adjustable wrench is OK, not just for emergencies but used judicially even in normal maintenance and repair work -- but please, please, don't get anything other than a [link\|http://www.bahco.com/files/Leaflet%20Adjustable%20Wrenches_ijqrefqqkcekocbournjsajpr.pdf\|Bahco]. (Buying one of those really cheap Chinese ones shows one is not just a cheapskate, but stupidly so. If you insist on buying a cheap-shit one, at least buy the cheapest-shit German one you can find.) [link\|mailto:MyUserId@MyISP.CountryCode\|Christian R. Conrad] (I live in Finland, and my e-mail in-box is at the Saunalahti company.) Your lies are of Microsoftian Scale and boring to boot. Your 'depression' may be the closest you ever come to recognizing truth: you have no 'inferiority complex', you are inferior - and something inside you recognizes this. - [link\|http://z.iwethey.org/forums/render/content/show?contentid=71575\|Ashton Brown]
Post #200,054 by jbrabeck 3/23/05 7:16:16 AM Reply	Concur with "don't buy cheap" Been there. Ain't worth it. A good friend will come and bail you out of jail ... but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
Post #200,067 by Another Scott 3/23/05 8:16:56 AM Reply	It depends. Sometimes you need a BMF socket. You need a 1" ratchet and socket set. But you need it maybe once in 20 years. In a situation like that, I would closely investigate something like [link\|http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=2522\|this] 1" impact socket set for $60 rather than spending $600 for a comparable (but larger) set at Sears. For tools that you'll be using frequently, I heartily agree that high quality is better - meaning more than a lifetime warranty. High quality materials, good design, and careful construction. Cheers, Scott.
Post #200,071 by boxley 3/23/05 8:24:52 AM Reply	with kids, get the cheapest set wherever, several times All tribal myths are true, for a given value of "true" Terry Pratchett Any opinions expressed by me are mine alone, posted from my home computer, on my own time as a free american and do not reflect the opinions of any person or company that I have had professional relations with in the past 48 years. meep questions, help? [link\|mailto:pappas@catholic.org\|email pappas at catholic.org]
Post #200,089 by CRConrad 3/23/05 9:23:39 AM Reply	That's why I made the point only in regards to that... ...one specific tool: It really is the one that will get most use. (Yes, of course you should always use the correct fixed-size wrench wherever you can. But even if you do that, each single fixed-size wrench only gets as much use as the frequency of encounters you have with that exact size of bolt -- whereas with the adjustable one... :-) [link\|mailto:MyUserId@MyISP.CountryCode\|Christian R. Conrad] (I live in Finland, and my e-mail in-box is at the Saunalahti company.) Your lies are of Microsoftian Scale and boring to boot. Your 'depression' may be the closest you ever come to recognizing truth: you have no 'inferiority complex', you are inferior - and something inside you recognizes this. - [link\|http://z.iwethey.org/forums/render/content/show?contentid=71575\|Ashton Brown]
Post #200,094 by jbrabeck 3/23/05 9:34:31 AM Reply	Call it by it's correct name Adjustable wrench == knuckle buster. ALso increases your vocabulary. A good friend will come and bail you out of jail ... but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
Post #200,095 by CRConrad 3/23/05 9:35:34 AM Reply	OK: "Skiftnyckel". HTH! :-)
Post #200,102 by Andrew Grygus 3/23/05 9:58:25 AM Reply	Not to wory about knuckles . . . . an adjustable wrench won't fit anywhere in a recent car - there just isn't room. You can use it maybe on battery terminals. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]

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