Here's a newbie question. I recently bought a new 2018 Bolt, which I love to drive, and sold my 2007 Prius. I carried a full set of tools in the Prius, but rarely used them. I used to do my own tuneups in the old days, but aside from adding windshield washer fluid, I don't see much in the Bolt that is user serviceable. What tools, if any, do more experienced Bolt owners carry in the vehicle, aside from the obvious 4-in-1 screwdriver?
Tools to carry
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Battery replacement master thread - please do not create a new thread.
aeckert
21 - 40 of 53 Posts
A loose tire in the back of the car could cause serious injury in an accident and bolting it or using nylon web fasteners or something to keep it in place would be prudent. It strikes me as odd to have to Mickey Mouse a spare tire setup with a $40,000 vehicle.
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1,576 Posts
I'm not convinced my full-size spare will be launched so easily should my Bolt suddenly come to a stop in the rear of another car (or a wall).
My full-size spare sits pretty snug and the rear seats actually prevent me tilting the spare out of the storage area below the false floor. With the hatch closed and the rear seats folded down, I tried pulling the spare up but it was caught by the closed hatch at the largest opening. So with the hatch closed and the rear seats up, the full-size spare I have is wedged in pretty tight and can't flip-up on either edge (the one touching the rear seat backs or the one touching the hatch interior trim).
If the full-size slides left/right out of the center where I have it, it's even narrower and harder to flip the spare up. I'm fairly confident it won't launch during a collision. If anything, I'd be more worried about the watermelon in my rear seat being launched into my back or jugs of milk and juice launching towards my head since they're not strapped down either. Plenty of produce become good projectiles: coconut, apples, oranges, pineapple, frozen dinners (slab of ice), drink cans, and so on.
Yeah, between the rear seats locked into the upright position and the snugness of a full sized spare, I'm really not that worried about it getting thrown around in a collision. It might manage to get loose if you rolled over a bunch of times, but by the time that happened you'd be dealing with a much lower velocity.
I used one of those thumb-plunger claw-grabber thingies with a neodymium magnet in its claws to grab a screw once. Another time (yeah, I've done it TWICE) I had to remove a couple of the screws on under-body panels to get at a dropped battery terminal clamp screw. I tapped on the panels and listened for the screw to hop-and-drop to locate it. PIA to the extreme!
Got it, though!
Amazing how a day can change to dark and cloudy with just a little rattling sound.
I tried my telescopic magnetic pickup tool-- the magnet was almost too good. Insult added to injury as the damned thing swerved and then clamped hard to the wrong target, several times. Then, Murphy's Law: the cheap scissors were not made of 304 and wouldn't stick. I didn't buy sufficiently crappy scissors.
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I just realized endoscopes can be had for about $20 these days. Might have to get one that connects via USB. They are waterproof and have LED lights so it can be used in dark corners. Considering how often I drop things into engine bays and can't locate them, it's sure to come in handy. Then again, if I had an EV I'm not sure how often I'd find myself in the engine bay.
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1,576 Posts
Careful with the $20 usb endoscope. I bought one too quickly and didn't realize it didn't have a rigid body like a goose neck light fixture.
I bought a 25' for $25 but without anything to guide the camera head, I had to tape it to a wire coat hanger and ultimately used fishing tape to get it through my HVAC ducting. It worked, but it was an ugly solution.
I'm going to use it again with a coat hanger (maybe this weekend) so look for detritus in the drain wells at the base of my Bolt's windshield thanks to this post.
Does anyone know of a source for a nonconductive something that would snugly cover the battery's negative terminal once the wire and clamp have been removed? Or maybe something that you could pull on over the wire and clamp so that if it bumps against the battery terminal it won't make a connection?
I would suggest (no, I am not kidding) a non-lubricated, non-spermicidal prophylactic (i.e., a rubber without any goo inside or outside) to put over of the clamp to insulate it. They come individually wrapped in a small package. If you would like something to protect the condom, carry a few old socks as well, to put over the condom. I am NOT kidding.
I can't tell if you're kidding or not...
My concern with that is that the latex is very thin and might not stand up if the cable is rubbing on it.
Or a finger cot? Maybe a little more substantial although (sorry, I have do this) maybe less sensitive.
That's why I also suggest a rubber band to hold it in place, or a sock to put over it - 12V is very low and doesn't jump barriers as easily as 120V.I can't tell if you're kidding or not...
My concern with that is that the latex is very thin and might not stand up if the cable is rubbing on it.
Back in the day, (rumor has it that
... ) "special forces" would carry a handful of each of two "off the shelf" things with them when they went out - (a) non-lubricated condoms (to put on the end of the barrel to keep out dirt and water), and (b) small non-scented, non-treated tampons (they work great to plug bullet holes and sop up blood).I carry both in the first aid kit in the boot of my car (the condoms are to put over a finger that has been badly cut and is bleeding all over the place, so it doesn't get on my upholstery; the condoms are to plug up my friend's nose on the way to the clinic after the moron gets in a bar fight and somebody breaks his nose - yeah, I have a friend like that, a real stupid drunk).
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26 Posts
I kept the booster cables from my ICE as it could still be used to revive a dead EV 12V battery.
I keep a "battery booster" (a Li-Ion battery pack with a 12V output) in case I need to jump-start myself. It's actually more compact than a set of booster cables, and it doesn't require a donor car.
The only catch is that it's a good idea to check and recharge the booster pack every few months.
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43 Posts
A few emergency blankets, the Mylar ones with a reflective coating. I had to use one a few years ago to cover a person stuck in a car. It was in the winter and we had to wait twenty minutes for the rescue team to arrive. I carry a reflective vest like the road crews wear if I need to get out of my car at night on the road side.
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6 Posts
I am always on the road and it is essential to take with me the most necessary things, such as the hammer with the screwdriver, the set of screwdrivers, the towing belt, the adhesive tape, the tire inflator, the flashlight. Yes, flashlight, because so many unfulfilled things could happen along the way. For example, when he had a small accident and I broke the wheel of my car. It was dark, no one around me, so I changed the weel due to the light of the flashlight. I purchased one, one year ago from amazon. Amazon.com: Vont 'Blaze' Tactical Flashlight (2 Pack) LED Flashlights, Extremely Bright Flash Light, High Lumen, Adjustable Beam, Water-Resistant, Gear & Accessories for Hiking, Camping, Survival, Emergency: Computers & Accessories It's the best, it has almost 24 hours life battery.
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10,220 Posts
Roll of paper towels. Used them so many times, especially when I had kids. Also, when I go to Vegas I grab a few handfuls of the wet-wipes by the casino cage and stock them in the car.
One more thing I have is a duster/detailer brush within reach. Occasionally when I stop at a light I will pull it out and clean off the surfaces. But that's mostly because I'm not good about cleaning the inside on a regular basis.
One more thing I have is a duster/detailer brush within reach. Occasionally when I stop at a light I will pull it out and clean off the surfaces. But that's mostly because I'm not good about cleaning the inside on a regular basis.
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