Reply to: Imperial or Metric - What unit used in cars?

[DoctorStrangelove]

Oxyacetylene is the best heat treatment for "difficult" fixings.

I've just remembered the inductive heater thing that was used by Fuzz Townshend on Car SOS.

Looked a bit more controllable than the dear old oxy.

Something like:

https://www.uktoolbox.com/products/s...iABEgKJZPD_BwE

[BigDataPro]

Google does. Have you heard of it? It's smashing.

Have you tried buying an imperial set of tools on any site?

If you can't find this out how on earth are you going to even find the injectors, let alone service them?

There you go! Jack of all arts, master of None. Do you really have to answer every post even without knowing anything about it? How did you learn computers? Born with that knowledge is it?

I'm really concerned about/for your near and dear.

[DoctorStrangelove]

Eh, they're good tools for a fair price IMHO. I broke a Snap-On breaker within an hour of having the thing - these things happen, no matter what the brand!

Was it Advanced/Pro that you broke, or just normal? I find my Advanced stuff to be very heavy duty

It was donkey's years ago, I don't think they'd invented "Advanced" then.

It was probably a 13mm ratchet/open ender.

Should have loosened the bolt with something a bit more substantial before hand.

I do miss the miraculous way oxy loosens bolts, though avoiding setting stuff on fire is inneresting sometimes.

[NigelJK]

Couple of other things:

Intercept all dishcloths/drying cloths/towels (handy for kneeling on)/rags heading for the bin/local tip. You will need then

Good hand cleaning wipes.
Good degreaser
Wire brushes
Plenty of disposable gloves.
Swarfega for cleaning up afterwards


A good 'first job' is to replace the brake disc pads. Saves loads of ££. You will need a calliper reset tool for this £20.
If you're still up for it swap out the disks themselves, especially if you are thinking of moving the car on soon.

If you have offspring try and get them involved.

A small bit of mechanical sympathy goes a long way.

Oh and sign up to Euro Car Parts and keep an eye out for their 'Sales'.

Aim to be doing your own Servicing within a year to get your investment back.

[vwdan]

The 2nd time you do a job, you have to find the tool you bought to do it the first time, this can be frustrating.

And I've broken a Halfords ratcheting spanner, which didn't impress me much.

Stone me, that socket set is expensive.

Eh, they're good tools for a fair price IMHO. I broke a Snap-On breaker within an hour of having the thing - these things happen, no matter what the brand!

Was it Advanced/Pro that you broke, or just normal? I find my Advanced stuff to be very heavy duty

[DoctorStrangelove]

Most useful item is a long breaker-bar, not just for wheel nuts but also for stuck injectors and stubborn nuts and bolts. I also use it to lift the wheel in place.

Add... barbeque lighter; the flame is just right for heating up stubborn nuts and bolts.

Got a 3/4" drive breaker bar & some large sockets: used to remove the hub nuts on a Granada: guess how I figured out that one nut was LH thread.

Oxyacetylene is the best heat treatment for "difficult" fixings.

[Lance]

barbeque lighter; the flame is just right for heating up stubborn nuts and bolts.

one of these ?




or do you mean this sort?

[Paddy]

Wanted to buy a (Car) mechanic tool kit, so that I can open and look into Car injectors etc. But many talk about Metric and Imperial in toolsets such as (Ratchets, Sockets etc).

Does any one know if Cars in the UK use Metric or Imperial measurements? Any recommendation for a (beginner) mechanic tool kit?

Don't skimp on tools.
Most useful item is a long breaker-bar, not just for wheel nuts but also for stuck injectors and stubborn nuts and bolts. I also use it to lift the wheel in place.
Battery Impact wrench saves a lot of time. £100 upwards
Battery screwdriver and nut driver. Saves time. £25 upwards
Axil stands for safety.
Set of male and female Torx
Lots of WD40
Good Code Reader
Add... barbeque lighter; the flame is just right for heating up stubborn nuts and bolts.

[Paddy]

And Mr C doesn’t think he’s done a proper job on the car until he returns to the house bleeding.

So a first aid kit with antiseptic wipes and fabric plasters is a must have as well.

Gloves, gloves and more gloves when working on a car.

[DoctorStrangelove]

Pretty much guaranteed to be metric.

If you like nice things, you won't beat Halfords Advanced for the cash - lifetime guarantee, too though I'm yet to actually break anything Halfords.

They do some really nice sets which have pretty much everything to get you started:

Halfords Advanced 200 Pc Socket and Ratchet Spanner Set | Halfords UK

Genuinely good tools

One tip with cars, though, is you'll often find the first time you do a job means going out and buying some kind of tool - this does eventually ease off, but it can be pretty frustrating

The 2nd time you do a job, you have to find the tool you bought to do it the first time, this can be frustrating.

And I've broken a Halfords ratcheting spanner, which didn't impress me much.

Stone me, that socket set is expensive.

[Scorp1]

Did you get a good discount on the ratchet ?

[Lance]

Do you feel like a fraud when you can't do anything without relying on paying a 'skilled professional' perhaps and need to lash out?

I was trying to be helpful. You may disagree, and that's fine.
But why are being such an arse about it?
Why resort to personal insults? I know it's general but there's no need.

I'd call you a **** but you're neither deep enough or warm enough.

[vetran]

Saying someone isn't suited to learn how to do something because they don't already know is a circular argument. Nobody is born knowing what tools to use.

I don't think it strange someone has interest in knowing how to do things outside their job. None of these things are magic that only professionals can do, though some do require specialist tools as well as knowledge. Painting, plastering, plumbing, electronics... I do think it strange that people with a crumb of knowledge (you're not a mechanic to my recollection) take such joy out of belittling others who lack it. Why do you need to make others small to feel big? Do you feel like a fraud when you can't do anything without relying on paying a 'skilled professional' perhaps and need to lash out?

Oh many people can learn how to do things but the way you approach the learning does indicate the likelihood of success.

[d000hg]

you say negative. I say realistic.
It's not like modern cars are anywhere near as repairable as a few decades ago. Minor jobs needing entire engine removal in many vehicles. No Haynes manuals any more either. And given the clear lack of even the most basic knowledge around tools, this would be a VERY steep learning curve for the OP.

It does seem strange for a professional IT contractor to think it just being negative to suggest that a skilled job should be done by a skilled professional.

Saying someone isn't suited to learn how to do something because they don't already know is a circular argument. Nobody is born knowing what tools to use.

I don't think it strange someone has interest in knowing how to do things outside their job. None of these things are magic that only professionals can do, though some do require specialist tools as well as knowledge. Painting, plastering, plumbing, electronics... I do think it strange that people with a crumb of knowledge (you're not a mechanic to my recollection) take such joy out of belittling others who lack it. Why do you need to make others small to feel big? Do you feel like a fraud when you can't do anything without relying on paying a 'skilled professional' perhaps and need to lash out?

[vetran]

you say negative. I say realistic.
It's not like modern cars are anywhere near as repairable as a few decades ago. Minor jobs needing entire engine removal in many vehicles. No Haynes manuals any more either. And given the clear lack of even the most basic knowledge around tools, this would be a VERY steep learning curve for the OP.

It does seem strange for a professional IT contractor to think it just being negative to suggest that a skilled job should be done by a skilled professional.

I wouldn't want a car he repaired on the roads I use