Tool kit suggestions

[Wilbursan]

My apologies if someone has already done this but I didn't see it. I want to put together a small kit of tools to keep with me in the car, only the things most likely to be needed. I'm tired of carrying around a full set of sockets and wrenches. So far I have:

flashlight
battery cleaner
10mm wrench (I think that's right, for the battery)
air gauge (totally unneccessary on these cars but it's habit)

Obviously I've had trouble with batteries before (not on these cars though). I'm thinking I need to add the socket and extensions to remove/replace the battery. I also keep a window squeege and ice scraper but those aren't really tools. Any suggestions?

[CRV_33]

That's a good start. I would add the following:

-Flathead and philips screwdriver
-Pliers

[1080Rider]

Crescent wrench will get you out of a lot of problems... CRV's suggestions are spot on.

[ibc]

I'd add: booster cables, 1 quart of oil, sockets 10-20 mm, channel-locks, electrical tape, zip-ties, knife, rag, work-gloves, and USB phone-charger.

[Wilbursan]

This is actually starting to sound like the toolkit I put on my bike. It also contained some bailing wire, super glue, JB Weld and rescue tape.

[EdBwoy]

For my Nissans:
- Well-aired spare tire & wheel change hardware
- 2 Ga 25-ft long jumper cable
- 10mm wrench or 10mm socket and ratchet
- a combo flathead/Phillips head scrwedriver that I got from an old Lexus toolkit (Infiniti, that would be nice)
- magnetic pickup tool
- roll of paper towels & old bath towel
- quart of oil
- distilled water
- cell phone charger (thus the flashlight)
+ Infrared thermometer
+ OBD2 scanner
++ A spare crank/camshaft sensor because I drive an M45
Of course I keep my AAA roadside assistance card handy, and I'd rather just tow the car home to deal with it from the comfort of my garage.

[M37owner]

Wow EdBwoy, are planing to drive cross country?

Here's what I carry (most if it because I have lots of extra tools). But I've never needed to use any of these in last couple of years (except to help others).
1) socket-wrench set (Craftsman set in a nice blow molded case)
2) miscellaneous pliers, screw drivers, and flash light
3) small 12V air compressor and a tire plug kit
4) good set of jumper cables
5) HD breaker bar with a short extension and 6-point socket for the lug nuts
6) A LD aluminum hyd jack (also stores in a blow molded case)
7) safety glasses
8) Reflective triangles (I also have a couple of flares)
9) hand cleaner and paper-shop towels

[EdBwoy]

Wow EdBwoy, are planing to drive cross country?

Haha, now that I put it to print it does look a little too serious, at least I haven't started a mini-doomsday prep in my trunk with canned goods, radios and weapons. My kit varies by season and purpose of the trip, but I carry most of these things to be able to do minor maintenance activities while away from home and also to check out cars that I am always scouting for.

Still, I forgot to list:
- pocket knife
- latex gloves + work gloves
- a few Dollars just in case

Like you, I find that I have very rarely used my kit for emergencies; and when I have, it has mainly been to help others. That 25-ft jumper cable has made me popular with quite a few strangers - jumps anyone from anywhere, and the low gauge ensures we don't have to wait for any "juicing up" or "charging up" in inclement weather.

[Wilbursan]

- a few Dollars just in case

After driving 200 miles on a 400 mile trip and stopping for gas only to find out I'd left my wallet at home I started hiding money in the car. At some point I changed the hiding place because I felt it was too obivous (inside the users manual). Then I lost it. A few years later I empitied the car out in preperation for selling it and tucked inside a notepad was a $100 bill. Score!

[reggiebrown40]

Antigravity battery charger. Bring your own battery back to life, no waiting for AAA or bothering friends

[Wilbursan]

Actually a batter pack isn't a bad idea. I carried one for years but it was a piece of junk really. Are the new (er) Li-ion battery pack/jumpers any good? How long do they hold a good charge?

[centralcoaster33]

Can of fix a flat, OBD2 scanner/ code reader, flares or glow sticks, duct tape, electrical tape, a spool of black wire (maybe 16 gauge?) 12mm, 14mm, 8mm sockets, a leatherman tool (instead of pliers and knives), a small first aid kit, lug nuts key, mechanics gloves, jumper cables, pen, paper, plastic garbage bag, paper towels or rag. I carry all that and much more, like EdBwoy. You can help nearly any stranded person out there as well! I don't carry so much in fluids anymore, but a quart of oil is nice and whatever you usually leak, like PS fluid maybe. I figure I can dowse for water if I need it. Great question!

[reggiebrown40]

Actually a batter pack isn't a bad idea. I carried one for years but it was a piece of junk really. Are the new (er) Li-ion battery pack/jumpers any good? How long do they hold a good charge?

They are pretty good now, but watch out for counterfeit models as they pop up on eBay and Amazon from time to time. The batteries hold a charge for a long time, months actually. You can probably jump start 10 cars before needing to recharge. The best part is the portability as you can just walk over to the car that needs to be jumped instead of pulling your car alongside, facing the car the wrong way on a highway, etc. Some cops will give you a hassle for facing the wrong way even though you're just trying to help. Or, if the car you need to jump is parked next to 2 cars where you can't pull a car in, it works great in that situation, especially if you can't locate the owners of those cars. it can be kept in an armrest or under a seat. I remember having to pull out the spare tire to get to the jumper cables only to find the clamps had rusted. It serves as a bright flashlight and charges laptops and cell phones as well.

[EdBwoy]

I must admit I have tried portable jumpers in the past but always been disappointed to the point I never bothered to even find a good one.
So you're telling me something like THIS is what will solve all my first world problems while bringing me to the year 2017?

[reggiebrown40]

I must admit I have tried portable jumpers in the past but always been disappointed to the point I never bothered to even find a good one.
So you're telling me something like THIS is what will solve all my first world problems while bringing me to the year 2017?

Yes. I'm familiar with the antigravity ones, but I'm sure the Nico branded ones function the same way. The only question is build quality which I can't vouch for on anything other than the antigravity ones. They are twice as expensive as the Nico brand but come with a 3 year warranty. If decide to buy the antigravity battery I would suggest buying directly from their site, not eBay or amazon. I got a counterfeit one the first time around from Amazon but my buddy got an authentic one from eBay. Go figure.

Hopefully someone from the community can chime in and vouch for the Nico branded battery.