5 Things Every Car Owner Should Have On Hand for Fast Fixes

Don't drive anywhere without these in-case-of-emergency items in your car. These five things can turn a few of the most common problems into easy fixes.

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1 in. x 3 ft. Black Steel Pipe

You’ve learned how to change a tire, but what if you can’t turn the lug nuts? It’s all about leverage. Keep a length of steel pipe in your trunk that has a large enough inside diameter to slide over your lug wrench. This’ll make quick work of even the most stubborn lug nuts.

Need to take a step back? We’ll walk you through how to change a tire here.

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Interdynamics A/C Pro Ultra Synthetic A/C Recharge R-134a

If your AC isn’t blowing very cold anymore, don’t start dreading an expensive repair right away. You might just need to top off the refrigerant. Using a recharge kit, it’s a super simple fix that you can do in less than 15 minutes. Next, learn how to recharge your AC yourself.

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Tire Plug Kit

 If you have a tire that’s losing air, you probably want to get it checked out. But in a pinch, you can repair it yourself if you can find the leak. Oftentimes the problem is obvious, like a nail or screw still in the tire.

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Headlight Restoration Kit

Have your car’s headlights gotten dim? Sometimes it’s actually an electrical problem. But sometimes a headlight restoration kit will quickly have your lights shining like they did when your car was new.

If cleaning doesn’t do the trick, check out this easy repair: how to repair a dim headlight.

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Cleaning
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Battery Terminal Cleaner

If you’re having electrical issues, or your battery is discharging so your car won’t start, you might be able to fix the problem for less than ten bucks. Take a look at your battery terminals. If they’re corroded, a quick cleaning could have you back on the road in no time!

For a complete battery care guide, check out: car battery care.

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Brad Holden
Brad Holden, an associate editor at The Family Handyman, has been building cabinets and furniture for 30 years. In that time, he has absorbed so many slivers and ingested so much sawdust that he's practically made of wood.