Garage Tech Hints, Tips & Tricks - 101 Garage Tricks

Caught in a jam with only a standard wrench to try and turn a metric bolt or nut? Spare change from your pocket, like a penny or dime, can be used to slide between the wrench and bolt, taking up the slack and allowing you to turn the fastener.

Use tape or paint on the ends of a four-way wrench to mark the sizes for easy determination of which end you need.

Charging system acting up? With the key off, the system should read 12 volts on a voltmeter. Fire up the motor and it should read at least 13 or 14 volts. If it doesn't, then you have a problem.

Back to our quandary from the opening paragraph, with the oil filter wrench too big for the smallish oil filter at hand: The solution is tape. Electrical tape works best, but wrapping multiple layers of tape around the inside of the filter wrench effectively makes it smaller.

If for some reason you have to take your tools to work with you, be sure to spend a little time with a cheap engraver placing your name on all your tools to avoid any "confusion" from sticky hands.

Used serpentine and V-belts make great strap wrenches. Combined with pliers or vice grips, you can get a hold on just about anything round.

A used quart oil container or gear fluid container makes a cheap and easy funnel if you cut the bottom of the container off.

Did you know that the major brand-name wrenches have tighter clearances than swap meet, overseas equipment? Remember that next time you buy 30 wrenches for $19.99 and one of them slips off the fastener and you bust a knuckle.

Storing a removed driveshaft is best handled with a sock. Place the sock over the U-joint and it will hold the caps in place and prevent the grease from getting smeared anywhere.

With a lifted truck the aggressive tires will generally grab muck and toss it onto the truck's surface as you drive to a show. Mudflaps are definitely not show-worthy, so using some industrial spring clips to hold the mudflap in place just for the drive will save you from cleaning the lower half of the truck again.

Disconnecting your battery during extended storage will slow the self-discharging process. Charging the battery every 6-8 weeks will keep the battery healthy, insuring it will be useful when you need it.

Plastic milk crates are perfect for storing medium-sized garage objects and mechanical items like starters, alternators, and A/C pumps, and they stack easily out of the way. They aren't exactly easy to obtain anymore and we don't condone stealing, so don't tell us how you "found" yours.

Spark plugs do not come pre-gapped and as such, they need to be gapped properly before installation. Follow the manufacturer's numbers to the "T" whether your truck has a factory or aftermarket ignition.

Dropping your wrench while working under the hood will frustrate even the calmest of mechanics. Tie a string to the box end of your wrench and the other to the core support or your wrist. If you should drop it, reel it back in on the string.