Auto ‘kikay’ kit must-haves

Summer is about to enter the scene, and we all know what Pinoys do during this season of vacays. But before you even think about that long road trip, take a quick stock of your ride.

Does yours belong to the 30 or so percent of all cars in the Philippines 10 years and older? If so, you need to make sure that it’s not just you and your swimwear that’s going along for the ride. Before you hit the road, it’s time to make pre-trip inspections.

First, make sure your car is road-worthy, so check that all parts and systems necessary for a safe run are working properly. Aside from making sure that your car undergoes scheduled regular preventive maintenance, you can do a spot check of your car guided by an easy-to-remember acronym that could spell the difference between coming back in one piece or forever resting in peace. That’s BLOWBAGA: Battery, light, oil, water, brakes, air (or tires), gas and accessories.

We have consulted local and international car-care experts in the persons of Ferman Lao, Alex P. Loinaz, Deanna Sclar (author of “Auto Repair for Dummies”), Steve Rendle (“The Car Book”) and Dan and Judy Ramsey (“Teach Yourself Visually: Car Care and Maintenance”) in order to put together for you a virtual shopping list of “must-haves and dos” for your car for a relatively hassle-free long road trip.

For the past 20 years, Ferman, the proprietor of auto tuning shop Speedlab, never fails to have the following items in his car wherever he goes: a spare tire, compressor, phone numbers of towing services, extra pre-paid SIM cards of different networks, contact numbers of his destinations and the Automobile Association Philippines hotline (632 7230808), and extra cash. He advised motorists to “fix everything that needs fixing a few weeks before the trip and not a few days before.”

Alex suggested motorists to always bring their car’s registration papers, a list of phone numbers of the expressways emergency services, a yellow vest with reflectorized white stripes, which should be worn when changing tires and moving around a stalled vehicle on the highway day or night. He also recommended the use of early warning devices and handheld reflectorized paddles, a magnetic roof mounted red LED flasher, a forehead and hand flashlight, a portable lighter plug air pump with light, tire gauge, a raincoat poncho with striped white reflector tapes, telescopic umbrella and low-cut rainboots, a pair of working gloves, handglove cream and hand cleaner, alcohol and thick paper napkins, and rags. He suggested motorists to also bring along silicon rubber sealants, and even nylon stockings to repair radiator hose ruptures.

“A woman’s nylon stockings can be used as a universal emergency fan belt, and it works!”

Of course, Alex wouldn’t forget the more conventional tools, such as wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, and vise grips. This automotive technologist and apparent “MacGyver” of the motoring world added jumper cables, nylon ropes, brake fluid, and fuses. On long trips, he said he brings a portable alligator jack and steel tow cable. Most of these items, he said, are kept in a translucent plastic bin.

In some countries, it’s actually required by law that cars should contain certain items, such as an early warning device, first-aid kit and spare light bulbs, according to Rendle. He added that the basic tool kit supplied by your manufacturer in your car won’t allow you to do much more than change a wheel, so it would be a good idea to carry a few extra basic tools just in case. Even if you can’t fix a problem yourself, someone else might be able to if you can supply him, or her, a screwdriver.

Remember, though, that the list could be endless, depending on how forward (or paranoid) thinking you are. It all goes down to striking a balance between taking up too much space in your trunk and having the necessary items to get you out of trouble.

1.) Jumper cables. One of the most common automotive malfunctions is the loss of power to start the engine, either from an old or faulty battery or from leaving the headlights on by mistake. Sclar noted that if you’re in this situation, and if your owner’s manual indicates that you can jump a start without harming your onboard computer, you can stop a passing vehicle, whip out your jumper cables, and “shock” your car back to life using the Good Samaritan’s own electrical supply.

2.) First aid kit. Sclar advised that you choose a kit that’s equipped with a variety of bandages, tweezers, surgical tapes, antibiotic ointment, something soothing for burns, and a good antiseptic. You can find inexpensive kits at drugstores and auto parts stores.

3.) Visibility tools. a) Flashlights. Your torch—emergency light—is just like your reflector because you can be visible to oncoming traffic on the road. You can use this also to see the parts under the hood during a vehicle breakdown; b) Reflector triangles can help make your stalled vehicle visible from other motorists—day or night, rain or shine; c) Reflectorized vests. It is not only the driver or his assistant who is exposed to pedestrian danger when alighting a vehicle. When everyone is required to vacate the car, it is ideal that everyone wear reflectorized vest to be visible to other motorists.

4.) Wrenches, which turn nuts and bolts. The closed end wrenches give you more grip, open end wrenches are easier to use in tight places, socket wrenches are easier to use than hand wrenches and adjustable wrenches allow you to adapt the wrench to the nut or bolt you’re turning.

5.) Lug wrench (or wheel brace). It is used to remove the wheel or lug nuts when you change a tire. Sclar advised that if you buy a lug wrench, get the cross-shaft kind, which gives you more leverage. “If your vehicle has alloy wheels with lovely, shiny chrome lug nuts, be sure your wrench is the right size and type so that it doesn’t scratch them,” she said.

6.) Light but important gadgets. Some tools that won’t take up much space and might help to fix simple problems at the roadside are screwdrivers (flat blade and crosshead), spanners or basic socket sets, pliers (which have different types, grab, twist, or hold parts), tire pressure gauge and a clean cloth.

7.) Spare and emergency parts. Sclar suggested that if you replace your spark plugs, save the old ones if they are not too worn. Carry them in your trunk compartment toolbox for quick replacement if something goes wrong with the ones in your engine. She said the same goes for old but not-too-cruddy air filters and other minor gizmos.

8.) A fire extinguisher. This isn’t really a tool, but Sclar advised that it’s a must for your vehicle. Get the 2 and one-fourths pound of dry chemical ABC-rate type.

9.) Jack and jack stands. A jack is necessary in order to lift the vehicle when changing tires. You also need a pair of jack stands to remove a wheel. Sclar warned that substituting boxes, stones or bricks for jack stands would be courting danger.

10.) A funnel. This is used to fill your coolant recovery bottle and add oil, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid and transmission fluid without causing messy spillovers.