1. Pulley guard
   Hydraulic press
2. Bumper support
   Jack stand

When working under a car that's jacked up, good mechanics know to never go any further without putting jack stands into place. If the jack fails or shifts — and they do from time to time — a jack stand will keep the car supported and off the worker under it. Jack stands can be life savers.

1. Pipe fitting set
   Socket set
2. Allen wrench set
   Screwdriver set

If you work on cars — or any type of machine — for any length of time, you're going to run into the need for a socket set. A good wrench, a variety of sizes of sockets (both English and metric), Allen keys and extensions are great items to keep handy.

1. Combination wrench set
   Tuning compression array
2. Cable leads
   Breaker bars

While socket sets are often more convenient than an open wrench, there are times when you need a set of these to get the job done — the nut could be in a confined space, or you might need to counter-hold a bolt when getting it loose. A good set of wrenches has been a time-tested tool for mechanics throughout the ages.

1. Screw retriever
   Auto fuse puller
2. Circuit tester
   Nylon nut wrench

When a fuse blows, something in the car stops working. The fuses are easily replaced but are usually packed together in a tight enough grouping where it can be difficult to get your fingers on the right one. A fuse puller grasps the fuse firmly but not so hard as to break it.

1. Magnetic tray
   Oil pan
2. Hubcap storage unit
   Solar reflector

When working on a vehicle, you'll undoubtedly have a supply of screws, nuts, washers and other small pieces you'll need when it comes time to put it all back together. A magnetic tray or bowl will make sure that the tiny pieces stay put — and no batteries are required!

1. Hydraulic air compressor
   Machine oil reservoir
2. Door air wedge
   Water-cooled microdrill

There are few things as annoying as locking your keys in the car — you look through the window and they're RIGHT THERE! A door air wedge can get you back in by inserting it between the door and the weather stripping and then inflating it so you can slip a rod in and unlock the door. Presto!

1. Radio antenna
   Magnetic pick-up tool
2. Telescoping circuit tester
   Linear stethoscope

Even the most careful mechanics will drop a screw, nut or other small object down into a crook that's too small or too far away to be reached by hand. By using a pick-up tool with a magnet on the end, however, the part can be easily retrieved, and the work can go on.

1. Industrial vacuum
   Tire inflator
2. Fuel tank draining system
   Air compressor

Pneumatic tools are a great help when working on vehicles, but they require one thing to function — compressed air. A single air compressor can power a number of different tools as long as it's big enough to provide the pressure required.

1. Rim straightener
   Retread applicator
2. Wheel balancer
   Precision inflater

When putting new tires on the rim, the job is not done until the wheel is properly balanced and spins smoothly at speed. By using this machine, the tech will know where to put counterweights to make sure everything will roll evenly for better handling and ride comfort.

1. Timing key
   Tire gauge
2. Water pressure gauge
   Thermometer

Some have a needle gauge, some are electronic, and others simply have a stick that pops out to give you a reading, but whichever type you prefer, keeping a tire pressure gauge in the glove compartment is a no-brainer. They're cheap and if used regularly, will prevent flats and extend the life of your vehicle's tires.

1. Creeper
   Nap board
2. Spider roller
   Corpse hauler

When you spend a lot of time under cars, it's best to keep your back off the ground and be able to move around with a minimum amount of effort. A creeper can make the job of fitting in tight places a lot easier, and if a nap happens to take place on one every now and then, who's it hurting?

1. Ratchet wrench
   Lighted screwdriver
2. Torque wrench
   Pneumatic hammer

Tightening a bolt is a simple action, but if a mechanic uses too much force — as we're all tempted to do — it can strip the bolt or, in some cases, shear it off. By using a torque wrench, the mechanic can set it and hear a click when the required tightness is reached. It will also make it easier for the next mechanic to take that bolt off when the time comes.

1. Spark plug socket
   Allen wrench
2. Lugnut socket
   Automotive fuse puller

Removing or installing the spark plugs can be tricky in some vehicles, depending on the structure of the engine. A spark plug socket, however, can make changing them a breeze. The sockets come in two sizes — 5/8 inches and 13/16 inches — and often have a rubber insert to hold the plug firmly without damaging it.

1. Four-way lug wrench
   Crosshatch wrench
2. Multiple-use tire iron
   Camshaft balancer

Vehicles often have different sizes of lug nuts, and the tool that comes with the vehicle often isn't big enough to provide the leverage you need to get a stubborn lug nut off. The four-way lug wrench not only works with multiple vehicles but gives users all the leverage they should need to get the job done.

1. Engine hoist
   Car lift
2. Overhead floor jack
   Hydraulic belt adjuster

There are times when the engine needs to be removed from the vehicle for repair or a rebuild, and the engine hoist is the key for lifting it out from under the hood. Through the use of chains and hydraulic levers, one mechanic is able to maneuver the engine to where he or she needs it.

1. Underbody roller
   Tire alignment sensor
2. Floor jack
   Frame straightener

All cars come with a jack that can be used by the roadside or in the home garage, but if you need to elevate a car quickly and much more easily, a floor jack is the way to go. You can roll it to the preferred place under the car's frame and with just a few pumps of the lever, you're ready to go (after you set the jack stands, of course).

1. Air conditioner recharger
   Gas tank drain and reservoir
2. Oil drain and caddy
   Air compressor and filter

This probably isn't a necessary piece of equipment for a home garage, but for businesses that do a lot of oil changes, this oil collection and storage system is a great use of resources. This item keeps things nice and clean and stores the spent oil until it can be permanently and properly disposed of.

1. Digital reciprociter
   Remote digital thermostat
2. Digital timing light
   Fuel efficiency sensor

For older car engines and other engines with distributors, timing lights are a great tool to make sure the internal combustion process is timed to maximum efficiency. The light helps the mechanic determine if the spark plugs are firing at the correct interval to combust the fuel/air mix in the cylinders.

1. Bushing press
   Strut compressor
2. Spring straightener
   Vice clamp

When repairing or replacing struts, getting the high-tension spring off can be a challenge — after all, it's designed to support the weight of the car's frame. With this tool and a wrench, a mechanic can compress the spring down to the point where it can be removed from the strut's frame.

1. Electrical conduit
   Breaker bar
2. Screwdriver
   Ratchet wrench

Although it sounds violent, the breaker bar is as a lever that allows the mechanic to put much greater force on a stubborn bolt. By increasing leverage, one person can generate a great amount of force, and this is the tool that puts that force to use.

1. Oil dispenser
   Shop radio
2. Portable vacuum
   Battery charger and jumper

When you turn the key and nothing happens, you've most likely got a battery issue. A jump starter can be used in cold weather or when the vehicle has a dead or depleted battery. It can help a mechanic find out what's happening with your vehicle.

1. Spark plug cleaner
   Battery terminal brush
2. 12V outlet tester
   Fuse tester

For proper operation, the battery's terminals must make good contact with the rest of the electrical system, but corrosion and other matter can form on the terminal posts over time. By using a bit of cleaner and using a terminal brush, however, the posts can look as good as new!

1. OBD-II sensor
   Frequency modulator
2. Timing indicator
   Multimeter

When you need to check a fuse, make sure that a circuit is being completed, or are tracking down some other electrical irregularity, a multimeter is an indispensable tool. It has a bit of a learning curve to know how to use one effectively, but once you're up to speed, you'll find the problem in no time!

1. Timing coin
   Spark plug gapper
2. Distributor cap
   Thermostat

When changing a spark plug, the new plug must have a specific distance between its electrodes in order to make the right spark at the right moment. By using a gapper, you or your mechanic can set the gap at the recommended distance — usually between .02" and .1" — for your vehicle to run its best.

1. Screwdriver set
   Gasket scraper set
2. Chisel set
   Putty knife set

In order for the new gasket to make a tight seal, it's vital to get all the remains of the old gasket off the surface, and the best tool is one designed to scrape off old gasket pieces and residue. A set of these will offer different sizes and shapes that will allow the mechanic to prepare the surface for the new gasket and make a tight seal.

1. Transmission diagnostic scanner
   Brake lathe
2. Angle grinder
   Axle straightener

The rotors or drums of your braking system can become warped with overuse, or they can become pitted because of worn pads. If the warp isn't too bad, however, a brake lathe can give the part a new lease on life. This tool allows a mechanic to turn the surface flat and smooth.

1. Floor jack
   Mechanic's stool
2. Transmission jack
   Engine hoist

Transmissions are a major part of a vehicle's drivetrain and also one of the heaviest pieces of equipment on the automobile. By using a transmission jack, mechanics can more easily maneuver it around and get it at an angle where it can be serviced.

1. Infotainment CPU
   Circuit tester
2. Electronic owner's manual
   OBD-II scanner

Your vehicles onboard diagnostic (OBD) system can provide you or your mechanic with codes that can tell you how the engine and other systems are functioning — and even let you know what the "check engine" light's deal is! To read the codes, however, it requires that a scanner be plugged into the ODB port, usually under the dash near the steering wheel.

1. Shammy
   Driveway cover
2. Mechanic's apron
   Fender cover

When bent over under the raised hood with their heads deep in the engine compartment, mechanics are going to come into contact with the fenders and grille. By using a fender cover, they can protect your vehicle's paint job from zippers, dropped tools and other scratching hazards.

1. Piston repositioner
   Hood fastener
2. Replacement trunk latch
   Brake pad spreader

When replacing the brake pads, the calipers that push the pad against the rotor must be compressed. While something like a C-clamp can be used to do this, a spreader is easier and quicker to use.

1. Master bolt grip set
   Socket set
2. Screwdriver set
   Bolt hole drilling set

When you need to get pulleys, gears, steering wheels, harmonic balancers, flywheels and other items that were designed to stay put out of the way when working on the vehicle, your best bet is to grab a master bolt grip set and get to work.

1. AC recovery, recycle and recharge machine
   Tire inflator
2. ODB-II diagnostic device
   Automatic car jack

After it has been in operation for a while, your air conditioner will need a coolant recharge, and a machine such as this is a mechanic's best friend for the procedure. This device will capture the spent refrigerant, test the system for leaks, refill it with new coolant and give a report about what it has found.

1. Air conditioner charger
   Radiator coolant pump
2. Tire air pump
   Grease gun

While oil is the main lubricant of your vehicle's engine, parts like the steering system, suspension system, drivetrain and other elements require a lube job, which involves putting grease in various fittings and spots around the vehicle. A grease gun is the right tool for this job.

1. Antifreeze tester
   Refrigerant tester
2. Oil tester
   Fuel tester

It's a good idea to keep an eye on the condition of your antifreeze from time to time. If it becomes unable to do its job, your engine will pay the price. By squeezing the bulb and sucking a sample of antifreeze out, you can easily test you coolant's condition.

1. Bat wrench
   Pidgeon hole grinder
2. Seal puller
   Bulldog cutter

A car has many seals that have to be removed during repairs or maintenance. The right tool for the job is, of course, a seal puller. This tool has different sized edges for various types of seals and works by providing you with added leverage to pull seals off quickly and easily (or at least that's the theory).

1. Adjustable flash light
   Mini-vacuum/blower
2. Inspection camera
   Cylinder inspection tool

An inspection camera, sometimes called a borescope, offers a flexible tube with a light and lens at the end that transmits the image back to a screen, allowing the user — in this case, a mechanic — to get a better look at a hard-to-reach area. This saves time and effort because the other option is to remove parts to get a better look.

1. Sonic screwdriver
   Shock/strut expander
2. Pneumatic socket wrench
   Rachet wrench

There's nothing wrong with using a little elbow grease, but when you have tools available that can save you the strain, why not take advantage of them? When coupled with an air compressor — or in the case of cordless wrenches, a can of compressed air — a mechanic can make quick work of tightening and loosening bolts, saving time and energy.

1. Vacuum attachment
   Magnetic gripper
2. Dent puller
   Windshield suction cup

When installing a new windshield, it can be hard to get a grip on the glass, and you certainly don't want to break it! By using a set of windshield suction cups, you can get a handle on the replacement part, making the work a piece of cake. Get a grip!

1. Oil filter wrench
   C-clamp
2. Gas tank band remover
   Channellock pliers

When a vehicle's oil is changed, the oil filter also needs to be changed. Because they're sometimes on very tightly and it's difficult to get both hands on the filter, the best tool for the job is a special wrench designed to easily remove the filter. Some have a band to wrap around the filter, and others have jaws that grip the filter, but they're both designed to get the part off without spilling oil all over the mechanic.

1. "Slim Jim" lock pick
   Transmission adjustment wrench
2. Spark plug puller
   Serpentine belt tool

The serpentine belt is an important part of the engine, providing power for several systems, and has a long life. As with all belts, however, there will come a time when the belt needs to be replaced. With this tool, the mechanic can loosen the idler pulleys, replace the belt and restore pulley tension.