If you’re going to tinker, you gotta have the right tools. Not just the fundamentals – wrenches, sockets, ratchets, hammers and a good breaker bar. We’re talking about tools to diagnose problems and work more efficiently, tools to make your garage life much easier without a big investment.
Here are 10 inexpensive tools every car-lovin’ DIYer should be armed with. Once you have them, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.
Torque wrench: You don’t need a torque wrench to help you get your DIY jobs done faster. A torque wrench ensures you do it right! They come in two main sizes: a ½-inch drive for high-torque jobs like lug nuts and a ⅜-inch drive for lower-torque fasteners like small suspension or engine parts. To use the wrench correctly follow the manufacturer-recommended torque settings – found in your car's service manual. Expect to pay $250-300 for a high-quality ½” drive unit. Read everything you need to know about torque wrenches in our blog here.
Multimeter: Simple tasks like reading battery voltage or alternator output are easily accomplished with a multimeter – you don't need to be an electrical engineer to gain meaningful information. A multimeter also makes testing across circuits simple. About $40 will get you more multimeter than you'll likely ever need.
Battery-powered impact wrench: If you're swapping wheels with any frequency a ½-inch drive battery-powered impact wrench is a must have. Most ½-inch drive guns won't over torque wheel studs if you're careful. (Work on cars and lights trucks – won't require a ¾-inch drive.) Use it lightly and always follow up with a conventional torque wrench. Speed proportionality and adjustable torque are features worth shopping for, adding peace of mind and ease of use.
These cordless impact wrenches typically use 18- to 20-volt rechargeable batteries that are interchangeable with other tools. The batteries often cost as much or more than the tools, so consider the entire system and other tools you might want before you invest in one of these wrenches.
Air compressor: For most DIYers, we recommend a portable cordless air compressor. They come in a variety of types, which can be powered by 12 volts DC (your car), 120-volts AC (your house) or a battery from a cordless tool system. If you've already invested in such a system the tool by itself may cost as little as $40. More advanced and powerful compressors that offer multiple power sources are less than $150.
Compressors that require a wall plug tend to be heavier and less portable, but are more powerful. Larger units can even run air tools. But for tires, a high-quality one-gallon compressor is more than enough and will set you back $150 to $200.
A real tire-pressure gauge: Keep your pen-style tire gauge as a backup and invest in a real one that offers 1-psi precision. We prefer old-school analog gauges that retain their reading when removed from the valve and don't require batteries. Digital gauges typically offer more precision – often to 0.1 psi – but can be as distracting as they are useful when setting pressures above 20 psi. If you settle on an analog gauge, get one with a rubber damper around the dial to protect it if it's dropped. This style of gauge is highly susceptible to losing its calibration in an impact. Plan on spending $20 to $100.
Floor jack and jack stands: Don't lift a car off the ground unless you've got jack stands to support it. Buy and use these items together because one truly does depend on the other. Always buy a higher capacity floor jack than you'll need since the consequences for failure are unthinkable. Even though you'll only lift one corner or one half of your car at a time, a jack rated for the weight of your car is a good idea. Small sports cars can be lifted with a 1.5-ton capacity jack while you'll need a 3-ton jack for trucks and SUVs. Similarly, buy jack stands rated to support half the weight of your car.
Plan on $100 to $300 for a 3-ton jack and $50 to $100 for two 3-ton jack stands. Lighter aluminum floor jacks cost more but are much easier to transport.
Extension cord reel: A reel keeps you from cluttering your garage floor and stores the cord cleanly out of the way in space you'd likely not use otherwise. Not needing to roll and store extension cords saves time and space. It also cleans up your workspace by providing only as much cord as is needed. Most cord reels include a multi-tap outlet so you can plug in multiple devices. And most can be ceiling or wall mounted. A reel isn’t expensive or glamorous but it’s worth every penny. Budget $40 to $200.
Tool roll: You'll be hard pressed to find a more useful tool organizer than a well-thought-out tool roll. These can be used in several ways: As a complete travel toolkit that replaces a toolbox or as smaller, individual rolls used for keeping open-end wrenches or other tools together and organized. We prefer the former, which stores all the tools we need when traveling in one compact, organized and rattle-free roll. Tool rolls also serve as good organizers when laid open inside drawers in your rolling toolbox at home. Expect to spend $6 to $60 for a fabric roll.
Magnetic tray: Once you've used a magnetic tray, you'll never work on a car without one again. These small vessels stick to any ferrous surface and keep parts, fasteners and tools right where you need them. Most are powerful enough to work upside down. Nothing has ever been more useful for keeping lug nuts nearby when they come off the car. They cost almost nothing and few tools have higher value. Expect to spend between $3 and $20.
OBD II scanner: Every car sold in the U.S. since 1996 uses the On-Board Diagnostics II system (OBD II) that monitors and reports on a car's engine and emissions functions. OBD II scanners plug into the diagnostic port located near the driver's knees, and in many cases, will reveal the specific problem that's triggered your check engine or emissions lights.
These scanners are a good start for finding faulty sensors, bad solenoids and other electrical problems. Many can also display live engine data like engine speed, coolant temperature and intake air temperature. About $40 will get you a scanner that will suit most DIY needs.
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