Everybody has driving essentials that they need to keep in their car at all times. Whether it be an extra pair of boots, a great scarf or an old bottle of soda that rolled under your seat years ago, it just doesn’t seem right if those items are not there. But there are three additional gadgets that no driver should leave home without, as they are great to have in a bind and can save you money.
Though these items may seem unnecessary if you’re the kind of person who only uses your car a couple times a week to get to the corner store, once you have them in your car you won’t be able to imagine how you could have lived without them.
Electronic Tire Pressure Gage
Drivers underestimate the importance of keeping tires consistently at the manufacturer’s suggested pressure. But if you take your hands off the wheel for a moment and feel the wheels pulling one way or the other, you can be sure that the easiest fix is simply checking your tire pressure and adjusting the tire’s pressure psi according to the manufacturer’s suggestion.
No only will this keep you moving in a straight line, but it will also add to your vehicles fuel efficiency and you will quickly notice that your weekly fill up goes much farther.
Tire Inflator
Since most gas stations and car washes have coin-operated air machines, buying a separate one just to keep in your car – just in case – may seem unnecessary. However, it is an item that you won’t want to be without if you realize too late that your tire has a slow-leak and you can’t make it to the station without changing it.
More than that, keeping a tire inflator in your car is also a great tip if you often set out on longer road trips, or go camping for days without seeing people; not only can the tire inflator keep your tires in check, but it also works on bicycle tires, air mattresses and inner tubes as well.
OBDII Code Reader
Nothing is worse than getting in your car, starting it up, and watching as the dreaded Check Engine light clicks on. The light is mysteriously vague, and can refer to either inconsequential or highly dangerous issues with your vehicle. You could just take it to your local mechanic and ask them to read the codes, but that takes time, energy and money.
Investing in a cheap OBDII code reader is one of the smartest things you can do, especially if you have a persnickety older car that likes to flash its Check Engine light at you over the smallest matters.
Keeping a code reader in your car negates the inconvenience of having to run to the mechanic if it is a small issue, or allows you to prepare yourself when you must go to the garage for a more serious problem.
For more information on current 2014-2015 model gadgetry read the Palmer Dodge Reviews and more.
Republished with permission from HiTechReview. Read the original.
