I do as much of my own car maintenance as I can. Over a few cars, including the Citroën C4 Grand Picasso I drive now, a Mk1 Ford S-Max and an Audi A4 1.9 TDI before that, I’ve learned which tools earn their keep. Here’s the kit I’d recommend for someone starting out.
Safety first (don’t skip this section)
- Trolley jack rated well above your car’s weight
- Axle stands, a pair at least. Never work under a car held up only by a jack.
- Wheel chocks for the wheels staying on the ground
- Nitrile gloves and safety glasses. Oil, brake fluid and grit in the eye are no fun.
The core kit
- Socket set: a good 3/8″ drive set covers most jobs, with a 1/2″ drive set for bigger bolts. Make sure it has deep sockets and extensions.
- Breaker bar: for stubborn wheel nuts and crank bolts.
- Torque wrench: wheel nuts, sump plugs and caliper bolts all have torque specs. Too loose is dangerous, and too tight strips threads.
- Combination spanners: 8 mm to 19 mm covers most cars.
- Torx and hex bits: French and German cars use Torx everywhere. My C4 and the A4 were full of them.
- Screwdrivers, pliers and a set of trim tools for interior panels without breaking clips.
For servicing
- Oil drain pan big enough for your engine’s full capacity
- Oil filter tool: a strap, claw or cap-type wrench. Some engines, such as the 1.6 HDi in my C4, use a cartridge filter in a plastic housing, so you need the right socket for the cap.
- Funnel, rags and a roll of blue paper
- Brake bleeding kit: a simple one-man bleeder makes brake fluid changes easy
For diagnosis
- OBD2 scanner: a cheap Bluetooth adapter and a phone app reads fault codes on any modern car. See reading fault codes with a cheap OBD2 scanner.
- Multimeter: for checking batteries, fuses, bulbs and sensors
- Inspection light: a rechargeable LED torch or work light
- Battery charger or jump starter
Brand-specific extras
- Volkswagen Group (Audi, VW, Skoda, SEAT): triple-square (XZN) bits for some bolts, plus a VCDS cable or OBDeleven for proper diagnostics
- Citroën and Peugeot: plenty of Torx, and a Diagbox-compatible interface for full diagnostics
- Ford: FORScan with a compatible adapter works wonders on cars like the S-Max
Nice to have
- A kneeling pad or creeper
- Penetrating oil for rusty bolts
- Magnetic pick-up tool for the bolt you will drop
- A Haynes manual, or workshop info for your exact car
Start small
You don’t need everything on day one. Start with the safety kit, a socket set and a torque wrench, then buy tools as jobs come up. Good first jobs are changing oil and filters, swapping bulbs and wiper blades, and preparing for the NCT.
Leave a Reply