Take a good look around your mechanic’s workshop the next time you’re there. You’ll likely see a wide range of heavy-duty tools useful for various repairs, both small and large. But did you know that as an occasional garage tinkerer, you don’t need all those expensive tools?
Yes, you don’t need heavy-duty industrial mechanic tools to maintain your car at home. You can do most DIY auto repair tasks with a cordless drill, wrench/socket/ratchet set, OBD2 code reader, and a car jack or ramp.
This guide will take a quick overview of the tools that mechanics use the most. Then, we’ll explore the top 5 best mechanic tools you need for your garage and how each one will help you.
What Tools Do Mechanics Use Most?
It’s challenging enough to come up with a mechanics tools list without taking up a whole article, so how much more difficult it would be to pick a few that mechanics use most of the time.
Generally, you can group a mechanic’s tools into three broad categories:
- Standard, everyday tools: These are the tools that mechanics will likely use across most jobs. They include affordable tools that you, as a DIY-er, can afford to own (and already do, probably). For example, mechanics will undoubtedly have a complete set of screwdrivers to work with.
- Intermediate tools: Mechanics will also have several intermediate tools, which require some investment. Mechanics don’t use or need these instruments for every car they work on, but they come in handy. A DIY-er like you can buy some of these tools (maybe a cordless drill or an OBD2 scanner) from your local hardware store.
- Advanced, specialized tools: Last but not least, mechanics also rely on expensive, advanced tools. Some of these are highly specialised tools like cylinder compression testers. Others might be expensive industrial versions of standard equipment, like workshop hydraulic car lifts.
It's hard to say which tools mechanics use the most because they never know what car problems they'll have to fix on any given day.
My best guess is that mechanics use tools from the standard and intermediate categories the most because those are used for a broader range of car troubles.
Those tools include diagnostics equipment like OBD2 scanners because they help mechanics troubleshoot problems quicker.
Top 5 Must-Have Mechanic Tools
An average Jane or Joe looking to equip a home garage with a few helpful mechanic tools will not likely invest a lot of money in the same heavy-duty gear a workshop would have. You won’t, right?
That doesn’t mean that you don’t want to have enough to DIY minor repairs in your garage. In that case, you’ll want to know the best mechanics tools for a DIY-er like you?
Here’s our pick of the top 5 must-have tools for your garage.
#1 Cordless Drill
What it is: You probably expected this list to begin by telling you to buy screwdrivers, right? Well, that’s a little too obvious. So instead, we’ll do you one better: get yourself a cordless drill.
It doesn’t have to be a top-of-the-line model that’ll cost you an arm and a leg. You’ll still be happy with an entry-level cordless drill, as long as it's from a reliable brand.
Just make sure that you get a spare battery for it as well. That way, you don’t have to pause your repairs just to recharge it all the time.
How it’ll help: There are three reasons the cordless drill is number one on this list. Firstly, most models will come with a handful of essential screwdriver bits. So, right out of the box, you can use it to thread or unthread screws in any part of your car.
Secondly, you can choose to invest in more bits later on to make the drill useful for a broader range of uses. For instance, you can buy automotive drill bits if you plan on doing some complex bodywork in the future.
Lastly, using this power tool will save you loads of energy. Screwing and unscrewing things with a manual screwdriver will tire your muscles fast.
#2 Wrenches, Sockets, and a Ratchet
What it is: The cordless drill will help you no doubt, but you’ll also want to invest in a basic set of wrenches, sockets, and a ratchet.
How it’ll help: Loads of car parts, especially those under your hood, rely on fasteners other than screws. So, you’ll need a basic set of these hand tools of various sizes to deal with the nuts and bolts under your hood.
#3 OBD2 Code Reader
What it is: Mechanics at auto workshops have access to onboard diagnostics scanners like OBD2 code readers. They also have access to the databases that help them interpret those diagnostics codes.
As a DIY-er, you can also buy a standard OBD2 code reader or scanner. They plug directly into your car’s OBD2 port and retrieve any active trouble codes your car has.
How it’ll help: Some people enjoy troubleshooting their cars the good ol’ fashioned way, but if you’d instead get to the root cause quicker, you should get an OBD2 code reader.
They’ll save you time and help you avoid the trial & error process by showing you active trouble codes. That way, you can jump to the root of the problem and fix it quickly.
#4 Jack and Jack Stands or a Ramp
What it is: Working under your car becomes a lot easier when you have a way to elevate it slightly. You can purchase a car jack and jack stands or invest in a car ramp instead.
How it’ll help: You can get creative with how you lift your car to work underneath it, but you’ll be in harm’s way if you don’t do it safely. A car jack will help you lift the vehicle quickly, and jack stands will help you keep it that way while you’re underneath it.
Some people prefer a ramp because you just have to drive onto them slightly to elevate a part of your vehicle.
#5 Duct Tape and WD-40
What it is: Okay, so these aren’t car mechanic tools per se, but you’ll still find them handy. When it comes to home car repairs, there is no better team than a roll of duct tape and WD-40. Hardware stores know this so well that some even sell them together as a bundle pack of sorts.
How it’ll help: I bet you’ve heard these lines: If it moves when it shouldn’t, use duct tape. However, if it doesn’t move when it should, then use WD-40.
For example, if you can’t get a rusted bolt to turn, spraying WD-40 will help. Plus, if a part of your bumper won’t stay on, you can use duct tape to hold it in place until you can get to a workshop to fix it correctly.
These 5 car mechanic tools might not seem like much at first glance, but it shows that you don’t need to spend a fortune to equip your garage with necessary tools. Instead, start with these 5, and you’ll find them incredibly helpful with most basic car maintenance and repair tasks.
You can learn more about cars and the best mechanics tools at CarpartAU. The Blog is continually being updated with helpful information to make you a more well-informed driver in Australia and beyond.
By Ray Hasbollah