Emergency tool kit

I had a few minutes this afternoon, and the weather was nice, so I took the Riley out for a drive.  It has been running rough and cutting off lately, which I thought was electrical but now turns out to be fuel related.  I realized on the side of the road that my tool kit was not very useful.  I had to call my wife and get a ride home over an adjustable wrench, which I did not have.  I am going to do a quick review of what I have in each car.  What do each of you carry for emergencies?  

A classic question, and answers will naturally vary according to each person, what kind of driving they're doing, what condition the car is in, and what kind of car it is.

Speaking of which, "I took the Riley out" is not a phrase I expected from a guy who goes by rustyvw and uses a SAAB logo as an avatar.

For classic stuff, you could start with a kit that more or less mirrors the car's original tool kit, and then building on that. Some quick and rough thoughts include end wrenches in appropriate sizes, slipjoint pliers, a few screwdrivers. To that you could add a tire plug kit, a 12V tire inflator, a test light and some fuses, a few feet of 16ga wire and a few electrical terminals, a small crimper, a few yards of Gorilla tape wrapped around an expired credit card, a flashlight or (human) headlight, a pair of nitrile gloves, a pair of lightweight work gloves, and maybe some kind of tarp or canvas to lay on.

The stuff I carry every day, regardless of vehicle, is mostly for me rather than the vehicle. I do keep some very basic tools with me (Victorinox Pioneer in one pocket, Gerber Dime in another, small cigarette lighter with a few feet of Gorilla tape wrapped around it, safety pins, good flashlight, etc.) but none of them are specifically aimed at roadside repairs.

There will be those who take little more than a cellphone and a AAA card. That is their choice. I like having more options.

An adjustable wrench should definitely be in your emergency tool kit, not only handy for improvisation for any oddball sizes but also in case you need to tighten two things of the same size against each other, like on a lot of suspension bolts for example.

My kit is customized to each car - for example I keep a ton of electrical spares in the Samurai but very little with the other cars, which have much less troublesome wiring - but the common basic tools include:

- Multi-tip screwdriver

- Hex key set if the car uses any of those

- Spanner set

- Adjustable wrench

- Jumper cables

- X-shaped lug tool

- Tire sealant can and maybe a tire patch kit if there's no spare tire (could still be handy even if there is)

- Something to pump up the tires with (a big pedestal/foot pump will do for smaller volume tires, for bigger ones only a 12V compressor is remotely practical)

- Spare engine accessory belt if it's roadside-swappable (generally aren't on lateral engines)

- Some spare engine oil (WARNING: huge mess potential, keeping it in its own ziploc is the least you can do!)

- Something to read engine codes with for EFI'd cars. On OBD2 cars, a BT-OBD2 device. For OBD1 or aftermarket EMS, a list of blink codes could do.

- If the car has any known trouble points or central/major points of failure that can be addressed with small spares, keep those in the car. Cam and crank sensors are good candidates. A spare CoP/coil pack is generally a good idea on any car that uses them.

- Some zip ties

Those will give you a fighting chance at roadside-fixing things. For track use I take a lot more tools including jumbo zip ties, Gorilla tape I don't leave in the car all the time because summer heat in a car tends to destroy rolls of tape, impact gun and socket set, some spare brake pads and tools to change them and some spare brake fluid, plus a full-size spare which could not only help you drive home but also help you avoid wasting your entry fee.

I bring so much in the XJ. I currently have a full socket set, two 24" extensions for the CPS, every Etorx I've needed during ownership, a few pliers and screw drivers, hammer, tape measure, every sensor(tested!), and a floor jack. Usually I have a multimeter and a few lengths of wire but I'm a dummy and forgot them.

Keep spare belts in the car.  It's amazing how many parts stores no longer really stock V belts, it's almost like cars haven't used them for a few decades.

You can use a short length of ratchet strap to force a new belt on by getting it around all but one of the pullies and, using the strap under the belt, pulling the belt on over the last one.  If your engine has low enough static compression, you can do this by yourself, rotating the engine with the belt.  Elsewise you can get it wedged on as far as possible then bump the starter to get it the rest of the way.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

Keep spare belts in the car.  It's amazing how many parts stores no longer really stock V belts, it's almost like cars haven't used them for a few decades.

The old standard procedure is to keep the old belts after you install new ones and toss them in the trunk, since it doesn't cost anything extra.

A good multi tool is a useful thing to include.  I have Gerbers in each car, but there are many other brands and options available.

I drive an older e28 5 series BMW.  They came with a pretty comprehensive Heyco tool kit mounted on the inside of the trunk lid, I can do a lot of maintenance tasks on the car without having to dig into my toolbox for additional tools.  I believe 7 series BMWs from the 1980s had a similar tool set.  On your next visit to the salvage yard it may be worth checking the trunks of any of these cars that you see, although they're usually cleaned out.

In reply to stuart in mn :

I overwinter for about six months.  It seems that the alternator pulley (smallest pulley) causes a huge crack in that belt in the spring, so I go the opposite - I order new belts every year, the spares go on the car and the new ones go in the storage bin behind the seat.  This rotates stock 

On long trips, I will carry a replacement distributor because it's easier to swap a distributor than an ignition module, as well as spark plugs and an alternator.  Stuff that I'd need to make the car drivable for long distance.  I have found that I can drive only about 20 minutes with no alternator, however, while I can limp along quite a ways with a wonky ignition system.  ​

for the hobby car I pack tools to adjust the belt and carb. That ends up being screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, and needle nose pliers. Also fuses and a flashlight. And a can of fix-a-flat if I'm doing a road trip.

For the daily just the OEM kit that includes what's needed to change a wheel.

Thanks for the responses.  I already have a socket set, a 12 volt compressor, plus screwdrivers and some wire and crimp connectors.  Luckily, this happened less than a mile from home and I didn't have to pay for a tow.  I can't believe I never thought to throw a couple adjustable wrenches in there.  Maybe I should find a nice vintage looking box for it all, something that looks better in a 70 year old car than an old milk crate full of tools.  

I've been going through my various tool kits this winter. I'm still not entirely happy with any of them, but the basics are a tool roll with combination wrenches, a 3/8 socket set, a few screwdrivers, and some form of pliers. The older the car, the more additional stuff it gets, and the more modern cars get Torx tools as well.

For a toolbox, check out Toyo/Trusco. I just bought this Trusco ST-350, which is pretty great. They have other sizes to fit whatever scale you might want.

In reply to 02Pilot :

I have that Trusco box for household tools. 

In a car I think an all metal box would make too much of a racket. Maybe if it had a lined tray like a Ferrari tool kit:

In reply to j_tso :

I always put a liner in metal boxes, which is pretty effective. That being said, the Trusco box may well end up for household stuff; I haven't decided yet. I also like tool rolls - I have them in several cars.

RX-7s are nice if you have one made after 1980 and doesn't have a rear seat, because they have convenient storage bins for a permanent stash.  Left side gets 2 stroke oil and motor oil, right side has belts and a strap and some misc. stuff.

For longer trips I have a longish plastic tote.  Maybe 18"x30" and just tall enough that an alternator fits. My "get me off the side of the road three hours from anywhere" parts and tools go in it, and it's low enough that suitcases and stuff can sit over it.

Oh! I have a combo jump start box and tire inflator that I got from Harbor Freight that sits behind the passenger seat.  Works great for both duties.