Auto Tech must have tools?

[rival904]

Aside from the basics, wrenches, ratchets, sockets impacts, what are some specialty tools that are real life savers?

The only thing I think I am missing is the coolant filler/vacuum thing from SO. But I am curious to see what some others recommend.

Already got a good pressure tester, scanner, axle nuts, inner tie rod tools, etc etc.

 

[98sierra]

You will need anything and everything. Wether you need it tomorrow or 2 months from now you will need it. Buy anything and everything.

 

[86k10]

People have been wrenching without the coolant vacuum filler tool for a long time. I'm sure it's great but not on the high priority list.

 

[poprockcrusher]

The scanner is for the boss to buy

 

[Fedwrench]

It all depends on what you're working on but here's a few of the things on my cart that are frequently used:

cable operated hose clamp pliers
radiator hose picks-handy for hoses and electrical connectors
Milwaukee M12 cordless tools- time is money, power tools speed things up.
Laptop- most if not all service information is online. having a laptop in your bay is the way to go.

 

[devoncoolman]

The lisle no spill coolant funnel. Freaking awsome. Saves time bleeding the system and saves you from making a big mess. Its great for the price. You cant buy a $40 tool that will do as much for u as that thing.

Honestly specialty tools depend on the vehicles u work on. I work on everything for compact cars to diesel pickups to class 8 tractors and triaxle dumps.

What do you work on?

 

[volaredon]

People have been wrenching without the coolant vacuum filler tool for a long time. I'm sure it's great but not on the high priority list.

I agree; I have been "in it" for 25+ years and STILL have to buy tools/equip regularly to keep up.
I took a few years off looking for "something greener" and wound up in places I never before previously dreamed of including working for min wage again in my 40's and a stint on SS Disability after a "Home improvement" accident right in my very own front yard and a trip back to Community college for an Associate's degree in another field, that did me no good to this point, BTW) and I wound up going back to what I know, which is wrenching!
I am 10 years older and have 5 years more "hands on" experience at being a pro mechanic than my 2 co workers do, but I seem to have to "borrow" stuff from the younger guys more than the other way around.
Part of that is that auto repair is becoming way more specialized these days much like you wouldnt have a brain surgeon set a broken ankle, I was an alignment, brake and under car specialist and now working in the fleet garage I do "everything"
Like no shop I previously ever worked at did any AC work; now it makes up a huge portion of the work orders;
It depends on the type of shop you get into as to what you need; if you get into say a Chevy dealer you most likely don't need many "special" tools geard towards Ford. and the Chevy dealer should have most of the "specialty" stuff that pertains to them.
If you get into a ****** shop, you wont need cam bearing tools, piston ring compressors or valve tools... so figure out where you wanna go and alot of "what you need" will be determined by that.

I too have my own scanner. The current shop I have has a "shop" one, so my personal one stays home. No other shop that I have been at did I EVER need a scanner-- and when we did, we'd "borrow" one for "just that ONE job" or farm the car out... again dictated by the type of automotive work we did.
I primarily have my own scanner so I can do my own cars here at home... on my own stuff (only) yes I do everything it may need except for things like alignments since it dont pay to spend thousands nor do I have the space for something I'd really use maybe twice a year. (besides, I do have "buddies" that "help me out" whenever I do need an alignment or tires mounted/balanced etc on my own personal vehicles)

these days there are not anywhere near as many "we fix everything" types of places like the Old days.

 

[czgunner]

I use the **** out of my xl flex head ratcheting wrenches. Mine say EZ Red.
Definately a battery powered driver and impact.
Cheap code reader.
Thread "restore" kit. Mine says Cornwell.
SO long flexhead 1/2 ratchet (replaced my breaker bar).
Trim/panel tools.
Universal impact sockets in 1/4 and 3/8.
Locking extensions in 1/4 and 3/8.
BIG pry bar.
32 mm 12 point axle nut socket.
Caping chisel.

 

[383novamike]

Fluted sockets

 

[03protege]

It all depends on what you're working on but here's a few of the things on my cart that are frequently used:

cable operated hose clamp pliers
radiator hose picks-handy for hoses and electrical connectors
Milwaukee M12 cordless tools- time is money, power tools speed things up.
Laptop- most if not all service information is online. having a laptop in your bay is the way to go.

I'm not an autotech but I found these tools to be a life saver during my engine swap.

 

[rival904]

Chain tire store, so anything and everything that comes in the door.

Got 1/2 Ir impact, SO ct8810, th SO 1/2 cordless impact, 2 Matco air ratchets, impact swivels, hex keys, torn, etorx.

Think like tune ups, belts, shocks, water pump here and there, radiator, etc etc. little stuff mostly

 

[98sierra]

If all you do is tune ups and brakes then you only need basic tools?

 

[rival904]

Well I've used the ball joint press, scanner, pressure tester, and the ct8810 more than I can imagine. I know I still need a power probe, some nice drill bits and taps, the gearwrench belt tool but I was looking for little tools that a few techs have as a must have of sorta

 

[Frosthy]

Coolant Pressure Tester before the fill/flush kit.
OBD2>Cig Lighter memory saver plug in thing.
GearWrench Serpentine Belt Kit (Massive Timesaver!)
Gearwrench Flex-Head Ratcheting Wrenches
Small, but live-data capable scan tool (to quickly grab codes/info)
Wheel Bolts Stud/Hangers for Euro cars (ReverseLogic.com)
A second job for when it's slow.
Invisiblility cloak to hide from the Snap On Man when he comes to collect.

 

[Trey T]

small LED flashlight like Streamlight Strion LED

 

[Dust]

Cordless screwdriver. Worth its weight in gold for the time savings.

Be careful though, all the ones I've bought recently have really weak gearing. I've broken three newer Black and Deckers on screws that should have been a cinch to break loose. My old Black and Decker still just laughs 'em off. I'd use that one all the time except the bit clip fell out. The $10 Harbor Freight one is holding up, but a tight screw will jump the gears and make it all noisy, until I can jump it back the other way.

 

[ironmutt]

battery powered 1/4 drive impact and driver for dash work with long bits good set of picks and scrapers a 36 inch long straight and philips screw drivers a battery/alternator / starter tester mac makes a nice hand held thats less then 200 bucks but it saves a ton of time when you get the dreaded i dont know it just wont start customer also build a power port adaptor or buy one that lets use the port to have ground and power when doing electric test a set of sleeve wrenches for tie rods harbor freight ones work good dont buy the first shiny new thing on the truck borrow one first see if its worth it if cant borrow buy a cheap version to see if the idea is good then buy the high quality

 

[shoggoth80]

Serpentine belt tool if you don't have one already. Mine's a cheapie, but it is thin, and provides good leverage. Makes changing out serp belts comparatively easy when it comes down to cranking the tensioner over.

If you are getting your hands into tight spaces, ratcheting stubbies. I use mine a lot.

EZ Reds are nice. I still need a set.

 

[ozyborn]

Cutting torch, welder, duct tape, WD40? Not enough?

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Gearwrench XL box end/ratchet wrench set.

Get this and you will wonder how you ever managed without it...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000T8WFBU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Skin]

Probably should be a shop supplied tool but with more and more vehicles going to sealed engines/transmissions a pneumatic Fluid Evacuator wouldn't be a bad investment. Its so much cleaner sucking those fluids out than messing with the waste fluid pans anyway.

 

[Rider_996]

The best tool is your brain. Be nice to all of your coworkers so that when you need to borrow something... Saved my life many times. For all of the daily use tools like screwdrivers, combination wrenches, ratchets, get top of the line. When I bought my 1/4" cordless impact driver I had no idea it would be the most used tool I own. Get the hex drive, not the square drive, so you can use Phillips screwdriver bits, magnetic nut-setters, as well as short and long adapters for regular sockets. The next most used is the telescoping magnet. Of course that is not counting the flashlight. A fast code reader comes in handy, nothing fancy just to quickly read or clear codes. Remember that time is money in this biz, if it saves you time over and over again than it pays for it's self.

 

[3baygarage]

Buy some knurled ratchet spinner wheels to pop on your 1/4,3/8,1/2 ratchets. I'm always using them. You can find good deals on quality used ones such as Snap On,Mac,etc.. They help run a nut off quicker,LOL.

 

[mrborohachi]

Serpentine belt tool if you don't have one already. Mine's a cheapie, but it is thin, and provides good leverage. Makes changing out serp belts comparatively easy when it comes down to cranking the tensioner over.

If you are getting your hands into tight spaces, ratcheting stubbies. I use mine a lot.

EZ Reds are nice. I still need a set.

I went a while without having a Serpentine belt tool. Then I had to work on a friend's mom's Saturn and charged just enough labor money to get the OTC Serp belt tool, from what i researched it's the nicest set out there. Summit Tools carries it.

 

[abvw]

Air hammer, dead blow ball peins, balljoint separators, variety of angled needle nose pliers, multimeter stethoscope and most importantly torch, water and WD40.

 

[01ps]

Good air hammer, Power Probe, fuel pressure tester, graphing multimeter/scope, high and low amp clamps, ball joint kit

 

[JFBURLINGHAM207]

Good set of quick disconnect tools (fuel, AC ****** lines) Sockets for O2, and other sensor, and a long *** extension 20-24"

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

-good code scanner with live data (I have innova 3160b)
-pick set (doesn't need to be expensive, but not **** metal either)
-half inch impact gun (I have IR 3135qti & w7150)
-cordless driver for skid plates, air boxes and running down fasters(I have Bosch ps21-2a)
-tire inflator
-tread depth gauge
-oil filter pliers (life saver sometimes)
-hose clamp pliers
-extendable magnet tool
-various types of pliers
-vice grips
-pocket screwdriver is a must!
-flashlight
-safety glasses
-gloves
-dead blow hammer
-hood prop for Chrysler products (hahahaha)
-lisle spill free funnel kit
-reducers and adapters for ratchets
-razor knife
-tape measure
-ac/fuel quick disconnect tools
-soldering gun
-multimeter
-forgot to add my automatic wire strippers!


This is the stuff I could think of off the top of my head that I used almost daily in shop.

 

[richfinn]

Brake caliper wind back tools
Any kind of specialist sockets for the brands you work on
Inductive DC clamp meter or probe for checking current flow
Hand Impact driver and bits
Copper/leather faced hammer
Vacuum gauge
Inspection mirror
Metal Files
Hack saws
Thread file
Drills/taps/dies

In addition to all the other stuff.

I like to use my multimeter more than the PP3 as I use the "load pro leads" quite a lot, and I just prefer it when volt dropping wiring. You can use a current probe with it too.

 

[Dust]

hood prop for Chrysler products (hahahaha)

Ain't that the truth. I keep a number of sawn-off broom handles handy just for that reason, as well as some 4' long 2x4s for the liftgates.

From what I understand Mercedes and some other manfucaturers use the same supplier (Stabilus), and I've never seen their props never go bad. Chrysler must get the defectives because they're cheaper.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Ain't that the truth. I keep a number of sawn-off broom handles handy just for that reason, as well as some 4' long 2x4s for the liftgates.

From what I understand Mercedes and some other manfucaturers use the same supplier (Stabilus), and I've never seen their props never go bad. Chrysler must get the defectives because they're cheaper.

I think jeep should just stick to a manual prop instead of hood shocks, i dont think ive come across one with hood shocks that didnt go. my moms chrysler concorde (2000) went through two sets of trunk and hood shocks.

 

[shockwave]

A good tap and die set saved my *** more than I can count
Drill and bits (I use cobalt bits)
Chain wrench
Multimeter
Deep flex spline wrenches (cornwell,ezred,mountain and sk all have made them)but only mountain and Cornwall are currently available

 

[mech-tech]

The things I use frequently... good flashlight, inspection mirror, large empty tool box drawer for hiding extra parts left over, magnetic pick up tool, big enough lunch box to sneak off extra parts after the drawer fills up, back probe adapters for testing wire harness connectors, torx sockets

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

The things I use frequently... good flashlight, inspection mirror, large empty tool box drawer for hiding extra parts left over, magnetic pick up tool, big enough lunch box to sneak off extra parts after the drawer fills up, back probe adapters for testing wire harness connectors, torx sockets

Are these brand new extra parts, or extra parts left over from disassembly that never found a home?

 

[demonspeed]

I think it really depends on where you work. I'm at a dealership and we are on "team pay" where 4 of us split all our labor hours evenly. Sharing tools is tolerated a lot more in that situation, as long as you bring back people's stuff and don't damage it. And many of our specialty tools and heavy machines (a/c machine, jacks, etc) are provided by the shop. So I don't have many of the tools listed in this thread. I also don't have a weekly payment with the snap on guy.

I would highly recommend keeping your tool bill as low as possible. Some guys on here will tell you to buy everything on the snap on truck because its an investment. As much as I'd love to have all that stuff, it doesn't make much sense to have 60k in tools when you're starting out and making 30k a year. The reality is that this isn't a business where you will get rich, so you need to keep your bills/overhead as low as possible in order to live comfortably on your salary.

I have all the basics, and most of the weird specialty stuff that I use everyday or every week. Most of the other stuff I can usually borrow or the shop buys it for us all to use. One thing I recommend is a Streamlight stylus flashlight. $20 on amazon and I use it all day everyday. Don't bother with the $250 work lights the tool trucks are selling.

I'm sure a lot of ppl will **** on me for saying its ok to borrow tools, but when ppl borrow from each other evenly and respect each others stuff it can work and everyone benefits. But hey it's just my opinion. I'm an ASE master tech with 5 years at my current shop and I make a decent living doing it. That's what works for me

 

[rival904]

-good code scanner with live data (I have innova 3160b)
-pick set (doesn't need to be expensive, but not **** metal either)
-half inch impact gun (I have IR 3135qti & w7150)
-cordless driver for skid plates, air boxes and running down fasters(I have Bosch ps21-2a)
-tire inflator
-tread depth gauge
-oil filter pliers (life saver sometimes)
-hose clamp pliers
-extendable magnet tool
-various types of pliers
-vice grips
-pocket screwdriver is a must!
-flashlight
-safety glasses
-gloves
-dead blow hammer
-hood prop for Chrysler products (hahahaha)
-lisle spill free funnel kit
-reducers and adapters for ratchets
-razor knife
-tape measure
-ac/fuel quick disconnect tools
-soldering gun
-multimeter
-forgot to add my automatic wire strippers!


This is the stuff I could think of off the top of my head that I used almost daily in shop.

Brake caliper wind back tools
Any kind of specialist sockets for the brands you work on
Inductive DC clamp meter or probe for checking current flow
Hand Impact driver and bits
Copper/leather faced hammer
Vacuum gauge
Inspection mirror
Metal Files
Hack saws
Thread file
Drills/taps/dies

In addition to all the other stuff.

I like to use my multimeter more than the PP3 as I use the "load pro leads" quite a lot, and I just prefer it when volt dropping wiring. You can use a current probe with it too.

I bolded all the stuff I dont have. I know I am SUPER lacking in the drill bits/taps area.

 

[czgunner]

I work at a family owned independent shop, and most of the guys are really cool about borrowing/lending tools.
I have an unspoken rule of buying any tool I borrow 3 times.

 

[01ps]

People have been wrenching without the coolant vacuum filler tool for a long time. I'm sure it's great but not on the high priority list.

A coolant vac is almost mandatory these days with some of the cooling systems they have today, if you don't want to spend a bunch of time bleeding the system IMO.

 

[71Datsun510Wagon]

.....
Wheel Bolts Stud/Hangers for Euro cars (ReverseLogic.com)
...

The web site is reverselogic.us

Thanks for that Froshy! I didn't know there was such a tool. Those look handy and are now on my Christmas list.



Rob

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I work at a family owned independent shop, and most of the guys are really cool about borrowing/lending tools.
I have an unspoken rule of buying any tool I borrow 3 times.

I'm the same way. Except it's usually twice. The shop I worked in was the same, but I still asked before using. Most would just use the box closest to them. Drove me nuts when one tech, who had a ton of tools (mind you he used everyone else's, so his were still brand new) used my tools but never put them back in the same spot. This tech also was in this shop for years. Got on my last nerve. He wouldn't let anyone else use his tools though.