Inspired by recent work on the car, I'm thinking it's time to audit my tool kit. I'm thinking essentials to carry in the car, then stuff at home for planned jobs.

For the car I've got:

Jump leads (I need to read up on their use with an auto box)

Tow rope - ditto

12v tyre pump

Wheel brace

Warning triangle

LED torch

Adjustable spanner

Hi Viz vests x2

First Aid kit

Couple of screwdrivers - slot and crosshead

12v circuit tester

Assorted 12v cable

Cable strippers

Cable ties

Tape

Disposable gloves

plus the car jack etc as supplied.

I had my scoot tyres "Ultrasealed" and would love to do the same for the car, but my dealer doesn't offer it. I'm pondering then a big can of Holts Tyreweld but have read that its use usually renders the tyre unrepairable. Then again, I can't remember the last time I was actually offered a repair. Perhaps its the stupid look on my face when I try to casually stroll in to Kwikfit pretending to be a real man. They immediately go in to "new tyre guv" mode.

Anything else needed?

At home I have a 3/8" socket set for my scooter, and a set of hex sockets. I'm thinking that would suffice for car stuff too. Anything needing more than that I'll leave to the dealer.

I have a manual footpump, a battery charger, a spark plug socket, metric spanners, and a set in fractions of inches - can't remember their name.

Can we talk torx ? From searches here I understand many trim parts are held with torx fixings. I can get a set of torx bits and a 3/8 holder but would this be overkill for trim ? Would a torx screwdriver set be better, or both ?

Is there anything obvious missing ?

All views gratefully received.

As a long time repairer of old cars I would say that with a new modern car there is nothing you can do on the road apart from replace a punctured wheel.

So carry the stuff to safely change a wheel and forget the rest.

Unfortunately I'm not an expert on fixing cars. (Give me a computer to clean up and I can help)

But seems to be a lot of weight to carry round (therefore more fuel consumed) for a car that has 3 years warranty and road side recovery. Though i'd still keep the hi vis, torch, first aid kit and maybe the tow rope.

As Norry say's the only thing we can do is the tyre (if you have a spare) otherwise its a tin of foam and the compressor.

Rog.

Edited 13 May, 201214 yr by RogN

Thanks chaps. Yes, I'm old school, I know. The car stuff doesn't weigh that much, but yes, the reality might well be that I'd just ring Skoda Assistance.

Rubs chin with hand....

PS ours was a demo car, and came with a spare tyre, rated at 50mph, so no foam kit in the car.

A number of the items you mention I carry in the car fairly regularly;

Torch x2 - 12v plug in and a small battery pencil type

Viz vest x2 - required in Europe

Fire extinguisher - required in Europe

Spare bulbs - required in Europe

First Aid Kit - required in Europe

Warning Triangle - required in Europe

Tow rope

Folding spade (army entrenching type for winter)

RAF style leather flying gloves (can keep your hands reasonably warm but also allow you to carry out tyre changes etc.)

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1e6e026f3a

12v to 240v power converter (charging things up that only have a three pin plug charger)

Rain coat (changing wheel in bad weather)

Travel rug

VAG 12v tyre pump

VAG tyre weld (yes I also have the spare; double insurance on long holiday trips)

VAG screwdriver (used to get them as standard but dropped as a cost cutting measure)

TP

I've got pretty much all that kind of kit in my garage or the boot of my 40 year old MGB. For the Yeti - forget it ... 99.999% certain you'll never need any of it - and in the unlikely event of a problem, call Skoda Assist.

Windows NetBook and vcds?

I have a Draper Torx driver set (screwdriver style) purchased from Amazon, which includes all the sizes you are likely to encounter. For removing the door cards, the screws are a long way down a very narrow hole, I don't think you would get a 3/8in socket driver down there.

Windows NetBook and vcds?

Easier than that: one of these http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1c2055eb9a

plus an Android phone. Then if the car throws a fault code and goes into limp-home mode, I can just plug in the diagnostic module, read the fault code on my phone, clear it, and drive normally.

Edited 13 May, 201214 yr by r999

sounds like a great way to drop your fuel economy?

sounds like a great way to drop your fuel economy?

Run the same route quite a number of times with differing levels of stuff in the car, including totally empty of my belongings and I've not noticed any difference in economy.

Weather, traffic and acceleration/deceleration if anything appear to be the biggest deciding factors when it comes to fuel usage.

TP

Cars? Fixing them? Not for me! Give me a knackered old dog or cat, or even a cow stuck in giving birth at half three on a freezing cold, nipple erecting, windscreen-washer-freezing morning and I will strip to the waist and get armpit deep to sort it all out with success.

No - seriously - the ONLY thing I would carry extra on a journey [iN THIS COUNTRY] would be a pair of rubber gloves of the sort that surgeons espouse - to keep hands clean after all the guddling with tyres and oily bits that might go wrong. Other than that I would sit tight inside the comfy cockpit and call the professionals out. [There was a thread recently of a family with a new-corn baby en route across Dartmoor that highlighted the efficiency of the rescue teams....].

The only extra thing I'd carry [apart from Tim's list of Continental requirements] would be a bumbershoot [for fans of The Aristocats - an umbrella!!!!].

Good kuck with your Yetiiing as opposed to "Scooting" - which, incidentally, is what labradors and poodles do with blocked *nal glands!!

Skoda Assist & RAC Card!

Would never change a tyre on the motorway after a pal was killed some years ago by a wagon driven by an overseas driver who was over his hours!

Some years ago I was working late when a female colleague knocked on my office door. "Oh Bobdog (or whatever) I'm glad you're still here, my car won't start, will you come and have a look at it?" "Certainly" I said, and off we went. "It's blue" I added when we got outside. "Can you fix it?" "Almost certainly not." What do you do when your car breaks down then?" "I call someone who knows what they're doing!"

A number of the items you mention I carry in the car fairly regularly;

Torch x2 - 12v plug in and a small battery pencil type

Viz vest x2 - required in Europe

Fire extinguisher - required in Europe

Spare bulbs - required in Europe

First Aid Kit - required in Europe

Warning Triangle - required in Europe

Tow rope

Folding spade (army entrenching type for winter)

RAF style leather flying gloves (can keep your hands reasonably warm but also allow you to carry out tyre changes etc.)

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1e6e026f3a

12v to 240v power converter (charging things up that only have a three pin plug charger)

Rain coat (changing wheel in bad weather)

Travel rug

VAG 12v tyre pump

VAG tyre weld (yes I also have the spare; double insurance on long holiday trips)

VAG screwdriver (used to get them as standard but dropped as a cost cutting measure)

TP

Add a set of fuses in selected sizes to fit the Yeti.

Cars? Fixing them? Not for me! Give me a knackered old dog or cat, or even a cow stuck in giving birth at half three on a freezing cold, nipple erecting, windscreen-washer-freezing morning and I will strip to the waist and get armpit deep to sort it all out with success.

No - seriously - the ONLY thing I would carry extra on a journey [iN THIS COUNTRY] would be a pair of rubber gloves of the sort that surgeons espouse - to keep hands clean after all the guddling with tyres and oily bits that might go wrong. Other than that I would sit tight inside the comfy cockpit and call the professionals out. [There was a thread recently of a family with a new-corn baby en route across Dartmoor that highlighted the efficiency of the rescue teams....].

The only extra thing I'd carry [apart from Tim's list of Continental requirements] would be a bumbershoot [for fans of The Aristocats - an umbrella!!!!].

Good kuck with your Yetiiing as opposed to "Scooting" - which, incidentally, is what labradors and poodles do with blocked *nal glands!!

By Gum, our very own James Harriott

You might want to add a gas powered soldering iron, solder, a selection of surface mount capacitors and an oscilloscope to your kit for all the ECUs on board too.... (or at least somes fuses, seems to be off your list...)

Or alternatively do what I do - a telephone with access to a taxi number and a list of the countries finest hotels !

Many thanks for all your suggestions.

I've decided on this

and will carry it around in this

I jest.

Yes, the number for Skoda Assistance is in the car and on my phone. I do have a selection of fuses, and as we're en France en vacance next month I have all the "euro" stuff.

TP, somehow I still have the VAG screwdriver from our Passat. Oops

I have a Draper Torx driver set (screwdriver style) purchased from Amazon, which includes all the sizes you are likely to encounter. For removing the door cards, the screws are a long way down a very narrow hole, I don't think you would get a 3/8in socket driver down there.

Thank you mbrock, very specific and useful.

Cheers all.

Thank you mbrock, very specific and useful.

Here's a link - the "Tx-Star" fits both normal and security Torx screws.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-53515-11-Piece-Tx-Star-Tamperproof/dp/B0001K9VAO/ref=pd_cp_diy_0

Cheers mbrock

Michael,

One very useful tool is one of the little plastic spoons you get for stirring your espresso at the autoroute cafes. One persistent niggle is that the tangs that fit the 12 V outlets often are weak and the + contact to the male plug for auxiliaries, like a GPS etc. do not make reliable connnection.

The fix is to bend the tangs a little in with a small screwdriver. You need the plastic spoon between the screwdriver and the grounded sides of the outlet, or the screwdriver will make a shortcircuit and blow the fuse.

Ingenious ! Thanks Agerbundsen.

Here’s my own list of what I carry:

in car

windscreen scraper

reflective waistcoat(s) (you need to be able to grab one, if not put it on, before you open the door if stopped in a dangerous place)

wind-up torch

head torch (Petzl do a good emergency one which packs into a tiny case)

emergency glass hammer/belt cutter

fire extinguisher (you might use it up on someone else’s fire and not be recompensed, but such is life)

first aid kit

tyre gauge

windscreen wipes

paper or notebook

pens

in-car phone charger

drinking water

in boot

tow rope

jack support pad (suitable scrap of thick ply for use on soft ground)

warning triangle (I’ve recently noticed the Yeti has some neat straps for securing a compact triangle, just inside the tailgate)

space blanket

plastic whistle

warm blanket (which can also be used as a pillow)

poncho or other emergency rainwear

gloves (I use nitrile disposable)

booster cables (spend the money and buy proper ones; cheap ones may be too short, have too high resistance, and may not work at all)

old towel or similar for cleaning up mess

scrap of carpet or similar (to use for kneeling on the ground)

bungee straps

duct tape

insulating tape

copper wire (for temporary repairs)

cable ties

spare fuses

spare bulbs

tools

extending wheel wrench (with sockets to cover common sizes: two double ended sockets will cover this)

screwdriver(s) (plain bladed ones can also be used as emergency levers)

Pozidrive/Philips/Torx bits, with driver (according to need)

combination pliers

adjustable spanner (good quality: Bahco or similar)

knife (even if you carry one anyway)

haemostats (locking forceps)

hammer

junior hacksaw

flexible long-reach pickup tool (pearl catcher) (very useful for retrieving things lost between car seats, etc.)

a list of everything in your kit, because over time some of it will stray and you need to check periodically

also, of course, check requirements for motoring in foreign lands; though some of these are slightly absurd, such as the mandatory carrying of headlamp bulbs where owners can’t do the job themselves.

(plus specific snow-related kit in winter weather;)

I know: you’ll say some of this is over the top. However, about the only significant item I’ve listed here which I’ve never used is the fire extinguisher, and I wouldn’t argue that because I’ve never needed one so far I never will. Some of the stuff here earns its place because it doesn’t weigh much, cost much, or take up much space.

I agree with others that there may be little you can fix on cars these days; but you may need to help somebody else who’s stuck, or fix something not car related when you’re away from home.

I agree too about being extra careful about taking great care on hard shoulders, etc. I once ran out of fuel on the A34 and had my car written off by a truck which disappeared down the road. I was behind a crash barrier at the time: until then I’d thought this was a rather superfluous precaution to take.

Cheers Xenophon. Looks a long list but actually I've got a lot of it and it really doesn't take up that much room, given the car's assorted nooks n crannies

Off to France in 2 weeks. Here's hoping I don't need any of it