Ask Lemmy

Headlamp. Headlamps are so useful for doing mechanical work and doubly so if it ends up being dark. A flashlight is also helpful, but as a companion to a headlamp.

A baggie of 100 zipties (12 inch or bigger), electrical tape, hose clamps. These are so often useful for DIY kludged together nonsense.

An extendable magnet. In case you drop something in a weird spot.

High dexterity gloves. Mechanix or something like them in case you're touching a hot/spiky/unknown fluidity bit.

A change of clothes, including a long sleeve shirt isn't the worst idea. If you encounter trouble and need to get under the car you'll either want to change into the spare shirt before or after, and generally having spare clothes ready is just a good idea.

A first aid kit and road flares.

I'd ask in !dadforaminute@lemmy.world They're great with questions like this

I keep a portable jump starter/battery bank in the car, just in case. You can get one for ~100 bucks and for the one or two times I used it (on other people's cars), it's been totally worth it.

I have this one: https://a.co/d/2SFOanD

An OBD2 scan tool. So if a check engine light trips on, you can check if it is something serious and you need a tow, or you can continue on.

As someone who changed a flat by touch on a dark road at midnight... a good flashlight and/or lantern.

If you have locking lug nuts, a spare socket for them. When I worked as a mechanic, it wasn't uncommon to need to do a repair only to find the last mechanic had not returned it. We had other options, but the owner would have had a bad night with a flat tire.

Honestly with such a reliable car I don't think you need much and the skid plate was just a fluke. Oil and coolant are probably not needed unless either are leaking. I drive a similarly reliable vehicle, a Camry that just crossed 210k miles, and just carry jumper cables, gloves, a flashlight, and a tow rope that I had laying around. Anything big is going to be too much to repair on the side of the road, so a flat tire or dead battery is about all I'm concerned with.

In your tool list, I didn't see you mention a ratchet/breaker bar and socket for the lug nuts. The ones that come with the vehicle are usually lacking, so you may consider adding those.

Regular slip joint pliers.

A pack of auto Fuses that match your car.

A good flashlight.

A good phone battery pack.

Find a pack of plastic car clips, for things like the skid plate, bumper, that sort of thing. Whatever style of fuse it uses, get an assortment (10a,15,20,25). A thing of coolant and oil, I would also say a battery tester. And of course, zip-ties, duct(duck) tape, wd-40.