Are You Handy in the Garage? Take This Auto Shop Tools Quiz

Correct Answer!: A Torx wrench or a Torx bit is in the shape of a six-pointed star. Some people will refer to it as a star-head screwdriver or a star bit. Torx is actually a trademarked name, while the generic shape is called hexalobular internal.

Correct Answer!: If a car is overheating or not cooling properly, a laser thermometer can take precision temperature readings quickly and almost anywhere. You can use it to track a temperature variance back to its source and figure out what’s wrong.

Correct Answer!: Your average car has motor oil and washer fluid and anti-freeze that need to be changed or topped up regularly. A funnel ensures no mess occurs when that’s happening because spilled oil, for instance, can burn and cause some serious issues in your engine.

Correct Answer!: An impact wrench is what you need when torque is important, and your arms can’t do the trick. Most shops use ones that run on compressed air since many tools in a shop do, but you can also get electric and hydraulic versions as well.

Correct Answer!: OBD2 stands for onboard diagnostics II, and it’s a system that pretty much every car made after 1996 is equipped with. When a dash light comes on to warn you of a problem, an ODB2 scanner can determine exactly why that light came on and what you need to do about it.

Correct Answer!: An angle grinder is a serious tool for serious work and can be used to cut off rusted bolts or through sheet metal in a punch. As a power tool, they’re not very old devices, and the earliest ones date back to 1954.

Correct Answer!: A set of socket wrenches are pretty integral for any automotive work. For the most part, people call these ratchets since the majority of them operate with a ratcheting action, although they don’t necessarily have to do so.

Correct Answer!: Pliers are one of those multi-functional tools that can have any number of uses. They’re such a basic tool that we can’t really say for sure when or where they were invented other than that they’re extremely old.

Correct Answer!: A videoscope is a handy tool for diagnosing issues in hard to reach areas. Back in the day, a mirror on a stick was used to look around, but this is much easier to use and also more versatile for finding whatever you’re looking for.

Correct Answer!: A heat gun looks a lot like a hairdryer, and in a lot of ways, it’s a very similar tool. It blows heat which, in an automotive context, is necessary for doing things like applying tint on a window or a wrap on a vehicle.

Correct Answer!: A jump starter is the evolution of jumper cables. Instead of needing another car handy, and in cases where the cables won’t reach, a jump starter can give your car the boost it needs or charge other electronic devices as well.