BigCol Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 As a newbie to 7ing, I'd be interested to know what more-experienced people keep in their cars and what you'd recommend I should, be they for convenience, comfort, emergencies or whatever. eg half hood, tunnel bag, mobile phone holder, simple tool kit (what exactly?), ear plugs, tyre weld, cable ties, duct tape, AA membership card etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birkin S3 ZA. Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Cell phone.... to phone a friend, you don't need to pack the kitchen sink keep it as light as possible 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Absolute must, is clutch cable, throttle cable, couple of spare spark plugs, fuses, and if you have them, rotor arm and dizzy cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 as above plus, exhaust bobbin, cable ties, gaffer tape Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trotsky Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 I recently scraped the exhaust on a speed bump and broke the exhaust bobbin, after much head scratching I remembered reading that Radiator bobbins ( there are 4) are the same as the exhaust bobbin, so as a get me home , I nicked one .Elasticated tow rope, cell phone ,tyre weld( no spare)and multi tool are all I carry , I have lots of mates I have got out the **** in the past so rely on a good mobile phone signal to call in the recovery mob should anything else break. Throttle cable and clutch cable are probably a good idea tho as spares so I hear, but are they that prone to breaking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Indeed they are, more often than you might think ❗ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richy Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Stubby screwdriver for removing the nosecone. Richy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Well, I cut my motoring (and motorcycling) teeth in the 60s. In those days, you carried every conceivable get-you-home tool and spare. It's a habit that's hard to break, so I carry (especially when abroad): Half-hood Car cover Earplugs Full toolkit Towrope Footpump 5L petrol Throttle cable Exhaust bobbin Exhaust clamp Jump leads Various hoses Ty-wraps Jack (I carry a spare wheel too) Coil-on-plug Spark plug Assorted connectors and crimping tool Gas soldering iron Solder, flux Assorted wire Assorted nuts, bolts, washers (stuff left over from two builds) TPS Insulating tape Jubilee clips (various) Top-up oil Top-up coolant You may think this slightly OTT, but it reassures me! And, happily, an R400 has the poke to cope! JV Edited by - John Vine on 1 Sep 2013 17:31:17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 31, 2013 Member Share Posted August 31, 2013 More good advice here and here, including a reminder about mandatory stuff in other countries. I'd add a multitool (as above), a torch and a charging cable for the mobile 'phone. Jonathan Edited by - Jonathan Kay on 31 Aug 2013 19:41:15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 31, 2013 Member Share Posted August 31, 2013 ... and here's the usual reminder about where to store all of this. Jonathan Edited by - Jonathan Kay on 31 Aug 2013 19:38:53 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 C'me on. To save weight I don't even have a boot floor in mine. Earplugs, earplugs, earplugs, cellphone, driving licence, VISA card and a little cash will do. That's a total of around 130 grammes. Including the phone that is. Just keep the car in good shape - and fit for fight. When I go to a trackday it's a little different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birkin S3 ZA. Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Quoting RJ: C'me on. To save weight I don't even have a boot floor in mine. Earplugs, earplugs, earplugs, cellphone, driving licence, VISA card and a little cash will do. That's a total of around 130 grammes. Including the phone that is. Just keep the car in good shape - and fit for fight. When I go to a trackday it's a little different. That's the way to do it RJ Maybe my Birkin is just more reliable than a Caterham 😬 😬 Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 A clutch cable and throttle cable weigh f##k all, and having had the pleasure of both letting go, you'd be an 🙆🏻 not to carry them! Still, no doubt when yours fail, we won't hear about it, will we! Edited by - ozzy on 31 Aug 2013 20:59:17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birkin S3 ZA. Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 *arrowup* twin throttle cables and hydraulic clutch, if the clutch fails I will need more tools than the car will carry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Well, maybe you should have pointed that out to the owners of K series cars, before being a cocky 🙆🏻 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougBaker Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 I have a clutch cable and throttle cable as those are Caterham specific parts and the AA man will certainly not be able to get one of those. Everything else repairable is likely to be available. For long trips I will also be carrying some chemical metal as well. Having put a hole in the sump in the south of France a quick bodge would have been somewhat faster than finding an aluminium welder was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rampmonkey Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 I'm with RJ! Fully charged mobile and a key fob bearing the name of my recovery company! 😬 (Alright, before the antiquated stormin norman clan have a go for being irresponsible, I actually carry a wee box of stuff for niff naff and triv repairs!) A few sockets An interchangeable screwdriver set A roll of speed tape A roll of insulating tape Locking wire Snips/ long nose pliers A box of nuts, bolts and washers, grommets and 'o' rings! Cyalume Head torch Massive clutch of tie-wraps! Sorts most issues! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 OK, My car is a K-series. But hey, I thought someone said it was fragile? I have a hydraulic clutch, so the clutch cable won't break. The throttle cable can be replaced with a bike hand brake ditto and an electrical connector thingy (sorry, don't know the english word - one of these used for connecting wires with a a little screw in). No distributor, hence no need for a cap. In fact the throttle cable, a lost oil drain plug and a puncture is what I've experienced on the road in some ten years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Canadian quarter (25c coin that is an exact fit into nose cone dzus fasteners, much better than screw driver), tyre plugs with tyre rasp and needle, can of tyre foam, multi-tool, tyre pressure gauge and an old towel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigCol Posted September 1, 2013 Author Share Posted September 1, 2013 Thanks all... The query arose after my first post-run-in journey to Silverstone ahead of the F1 factory tour was briefly curtailed after my throttle pedal fell off on the A43. I was able to refit it and (literally) get it hand-tight so I could continue. When I recounted this incident later in the day, one commented with abject astonishment "you drive a 7 and don't carry any tools?" 😳 Whilst I don't want any excess weight (or to rob any already limited luggage space), I do feel a bit vulnerable and it seems sensible to have the necessary to be able to tackle simple fixes. ... and here's the usual reminder about where to store all of this. Jonathan Don't worry, I'm already on the list for some from the next batch, Jonathan! As a slight aside, which roadside assistance organisations are felt to offer the best service/value? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted September 1, 2013 Member Share Posted September 1, 2013 Quoting BigCol: As a slight aside, which roadside assistance organisations are felt to offer the best service/value?Which? have just reviewed this, September 2013. It's complex because you get different answers depending on what matters: low cost, fraction of repair at the roadside or waiting time. Sample sizes 35 to 3,026 per provider. They've also included carmakers' branded schemes. Current best overall: AA 73% Saga Breakdown 72% Discussed: Here and here and here. ;-) The ADAC option still looks interesting. Jonathan Edited by - Jonathan Kay on 1 Sep 2013 10:25:00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alastair B Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 They do break......I just had my clutch cable go yesterday, only 5 miles from home...and you guessed it travelling without tools. So I called the wife to bring out appropriate tools and pop into Caterham Midlands on the way, also very cloe, to get a clutch cable. You guessed it, not one clutch cable for a S3 RHD K series car available say the guys on duty on Saturday afternoon. So RAC it was, they were excellent. Arrived in 30 mins and with a clutch cable mending kit with replacement cable fed through old outer and grub screw nipple on the end all done in 15 minutes! So tool roll and some basic tools on my shopping list, plus a new clutch cable and I'll keep the RAC rigged up one as my new spare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z3MCJez Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Can you not drive 5 miles without the clutch? To prove a point, I once drove my old Fiesta for a day without the clutch. It was generally fine apart from having to start it in gear at junctions. Jez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenF Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 In addition to the above (good) recommendations, I would just add a spare brake light switch. They can be cleaned and made serviceable roadside if they get iffy, but it's a pain so having a spare for a straight swap is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Quoting BenF: In addition to the above (good) recommendations, I would just add a spare brake light switch. They can be cleaned and made serviceable roadside if they get iffy, but it's a pain so having a spare for a straight swap is good. And you of course notice that the brake lights have failed I usually check before I go out, but not whilst I am out And even with extra brake light Wayne will be dangerous as he does not realise how late you can brake in a Seven. I have been very close to being caught out in a roundabout, and only because the driver in front of be was awake and managed to pull away I escaped. That said, my brake light switch has never failed, and is one of the few parts of my car that's 18 years old and has not been refurbished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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