Basic Tools

[mindless1]

Mechanical aptitude is just basic stuff. Tune up, oil change, radiator change.

lol, one of those things is a lot less basic than the others on modern cars. What I often find when I'm doing a repair is that some tools are obvious but then once you get to actually doing the job, random tools you didn't think of before hand can be necessary or at least make the work a lot easier, like an assortment of different lengths socket extensions, swivel joints, offset ratchet or wrenches, ratcheting wrenches, pry bar, rubber mallet, etc etc etc etc.

Even something as basic as spark plugs can be challenging on modern engines, needing multiple swivels or extensions and sometimes even to jack the car up, take a wheel and wheel well liner off to get to them through that area.

Oh, PB Blaster, especially in regions where it snows in winter or rains a lot so you've got rust to deal with.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Even something as basic as spark plugs can be challenging on modern engines, needing multiple swivels or extensions and sometimes even to jack the car up, take a wheel and wheel well liner off to get to them through that area.

Meh. I wouldn't worry about that so much.

If you have a "basic" car to go with your "basic" maintenance (meaning a transverse mounted I4 in a FWD compact or midsize sedan) spark plugs are 99.9% of the time right there on the top.

Also, modern spark plugs are a 100k+ mile thing, not a ~15k mile thing like they used to be. So they're not all that basic, in the sense that a lot of people will never need to replace them, at least not more than once. (Unlike changing oil or rotating tires.)

::wanders off, whistling "Don't Worry Be Happy"::

 

[mindless1]

^ I figure a college kid is a lot more likely to own a car pushing 100K mi than much under that. Long life plugs can make the job worse, that the plugs have been sitting in there for so many more years.

You may be right that it has an I4 engine, or it might have a V6.

 

[Torn Mind]

^ I figure a college kid is a lot more likely to own a car pushing 100K mi than much under that. Long life plugs can make the job worse, that the plugs have been sitting in there for so many more years.

You may be right that it has an I4 engine, or it might have a V6.

I pulled the spark plugs out of my mom's Matrix after maybe 6 years 95k easy enough. The Gearwrench magnetic swivel socket made the job fly. The job can be done with boots and extensions, but a magnet is far more reliable.

 

[Torn Mind]

i'd add one of those free harbor freight multimeters in a bag too (just make sure it works before tossing in to forget for months)

I would step up a grade and get a Klein on the cheap(~$20). The resistance readings on Harbor Freight meters will not be accurate when measuring resistance of sensors. Rechargeable 9v batteries are also something to consider if one forgets to switch the meter off.