Emergency tool kit items to keep in car?

[Alikris]

I'm surprised that I can't find a previous discussion on this, so I'll start one.

I'd like to keep a small emergency tool kit in the car, only a few items, but key important ones that would be needed in case of a breakdown.

Things like jumper cables, spare bulbs, fuses, torch, fuel can etc I already keep in the car, but what about actual tools? Would a screwdriver set and small socket set be enough or are there other must have items that would help in the case of a Rover 75 breakdown? (eg Torx T50 bit?)

Thanks,
Ali.

[Leyland Worldmaster]

Blanket, candle, water, soap, anti-bacterial gel, wet wipes and a few cereal bars.

[Heddy]

A lot of breakdowns I believe are caused by component failure so tools are superfluous. I also think most of us have breakdown cover too so 'why bark yourself' etc.

[topman]

I mobile phone fully charged and breakdown cover. They'll be able to sort you out with a jump start, take you to a petrol station etc. I don't think there are many breakdowns you'll be able to sort out with a screwdriver set.

[barney bear]

Originally Posted by topman

I mobile phone fully charged and breakdown cover. They'll be able to sort you out with a jump start, take you to a petrol station etc. I don't think there are many breakdowns you'll be able to sort out with a screwdriver set.

Why risk yourself trying to fix a problem at the side of the road when the AA/RAC can recover you back to a place of safety were you can tinker to your hearts content

[MSS]

Originally Posted by Leyland Worldmaster

Blanket, candle, water, soap, anti-bacterial gel, wet wipes and a few cereal bars.

I'm trying not to imagne how you entertain yourself when broken down!

For a wheel change, a torque wrench with appropriate range is a must in my view.

[barney bear]

Originally Posted by Leyland Worldmaster

Blanket, candle, water, soap, anti-bacterial gel, wet wipes and a few cereal bars.

What are the wet wipes and anti bacterial gel for you dirty boy
Are they for while you wait for recovery

[Salad-Dodger]

Five litres of coolant for most of us I recon.

[Scaramanga]

Tow a spare 75

[Jakg]

Originally Posted by Alikris

are there other must have items that would help in the case of a Rover 75 breakdown? (eg Torx T50 bit?)

T50 will help you remove a seat, a seatbelt or a brake disc. Can't see you needing to do any of those at the side of the road!

I had an odd breakdown the other day - despite the problems I've had with my car, it's only actually left me stranded twice (dmf and fuel pump failure).

Pulled into an underground car park, turned off the engine. Noticed I was quite far out so turned the ignition on the move the car forward - nothing. No engine, no electrics, just dead.

Tried a couple more times - absolutely nothing.

Bit weird as everything was working 100% before, battery is massive and new-ish.

Little bit of diagnostics and it's definitely electrical - I have a 12v cigarette lighter splitter thing wired direct to the engine bay fusebox, not wired to any other part of the cars wiring - but the light on it is very dim and faltering.

Close look at the positive battery terminal reveals that it's come loose!

The battery terminal is a block with the wiring to the fusebox and alt/starter in one, which then bolts to the battery. At some point in the journey it's come loose from the battery, but the power form the engine via the alt is enough to keep everything running. But as soon as the engine goes, so does the power...

Luckily, I had an adjustable spanner in the boot, remove and reseat and working perfectly - I know how to put the battery terminals on, but apparently the garage I used last month to replace the brake pipes don't!

As it was an underground car park, no signal to call my breakdown company, and even if I did - fix in 5 mins versus a callout in 2 hours.

I like to at least look at faults first before giving in and calling the breakdown company - my girlfriends car overheated in traffic, she called her breakdown company and about 8 hours later it arrived back to me on the tow truck diagnosed with a faulty thermostat. Actual fault was a corroded fuse on a fan which could've been swapped (or even just cleaned - all I did!) at the roadside.


Anyway, back on topic - I keep a big sportsbag in the back of my car with a "couple of things". Over the years a couple of things has grown quite a lot! Here's most of it:

Jump Leads
Folding shovel - handy if stuck somewhere in snow
Sheet to lie on - Who wants to get covered in muck if you need to go under the car
Cable ties (multiple sizes) - Can fix virutally anything with them
Side cutters - to cut the cable ties
Multi-tool (knife, scissors, pliers, you get the idea)
Couple of screwdrivers - multi-tool screwdrivers are useless
First aid kit
Wellies - in case you need to go through water
Ratchet straps - I tow a trailer every now and again, seemed a sensible place to keep them
Reflective thick coat - to wear if stuck
Reflective thin coat - to attach to something if required (e.g. a tow pole, or in a car in a precarious place)
Warning triangle
Spare numberplate - in case mine is damaged or falls off
27w LED spotlight (powered from cigarette lighter) - useful if I need lots of light
Kitchen roll
Adjustable spanner
Tyre inflater - never used my spare, hope it doesn't have a slow puncture
Rope - thin (long) - useful for securing stuff
Rope - thick (long) - useful for more heavy duty securing
Rope - thick enough to tow a car with (long) - have used to tow my girlfriends car when dead, and used to pull (by hand!) my Mums car out of a flood
Towing strap
Life hammer
Tape
Water

Also have these in the car as well:
Spare fuses & bulbs
Breakdown cover
Phone chargers - a selection of the most common leads (Apple Lightning, USB Micro & Mini B)
Sleeping bag
Pillow

I'm sure there's loads more I've forgotten.

EDIT - Previous thread - http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...d.php?t=185318

Next thing I'm thinking of is a (small!) socket set.