Fiat Spider Tool Kit

[NickFerrell]

I'm in the camp if people who believes my Spider was made to be driven. I take her on 3-8 hour road trips on occasion and drive her every day.
I'm in the process of making an "essentials" tool box to have in the trunk. What are some things that more experienced Fiat drivers keep in the trunk? My list so far:
2 ton jack
Metric socket set and ratchet
Phillips and flat head screwdrivers
Needle nose pliers
12-pack of Guinness

Suggestions?

[RRoller123]

Heavy duty rope and a fire extinguisher

[4uall]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMB4nYLCajU

[bradartigue]

I don't think the cars are that unreliable. Have driven them 8, 10 hours at a time. I have insurance with towing. Have never had to use it.

My "collector" cars that have actually required a tow or push: Porsche 928 (80 feet from home, but my god was it hard to push), Alfa Romeo Spider (2 blocks from my house, bad battery), FIAT 850 (caught fire, wish it would have burned to the ground, had to push it home), FIAT 850 (blew a freeze plug, wish it would have caught fire and burned to the ground).

Cars that have not: FIAT Spider. All 8 or so of them.

Stuff I got home with: Coil wire fell off; backfire blew apart AFM door (fixed with duct tape); clutch cable broke (never stopped on way home), engine mount failure (bound the gearshift so I couldn't get into 5th or R, no big deal); all oil blew out of motor (made a hell of a smoke, but about 2 blocks from home); exhaust fell off (loud); wheel bearing failed (okay I should have stopped); 3/4 of bolts fell out of alloy wheel on 2 sides after a tire replacement (tire shop receiving "a talking to").

The stock toolkit is actually pretty good at remedying most of the problems you may have. It has a 13/17, an 8/10, a stubby, a flathead, a philips (flat/philips all in one), a spark plug wrench, a carburetor adjusting wrench (up to 1980), a tire iron... The jack kind of sucks though.

If I was really into this I'd bring an extra set of plugs, a gallon jug of water, some duct tape...I don't know what else.

[Kevin1]

Everything you need fits in your pocket. AAA card and a phone. The best thing is to get the car running right, you will find it is as reliable as anything else. Most problems seem to arise more from age than any inherent unreliability.

Here is what I have carried in my trunk, just,in case. If a problem is is too serious for a roadside repair with these it is time to call for a tow. Everything fits in a small tool bag that stows neatly in the trunk next to the battery box.

Wrenches 8,10,13,15,17 and one,to fit your lug nuts
Pliers: needle nose and flat jaw
Screwdrivers: #2 philips and straight blade
Tire plug,kit
12 volt compressor
Jack
Flashlight
Small knife
Silicone tape (Self fusing thye can seal leaking hoses, fix wiring...)
A few 14" zip ties

Parts:
Magnetic pickup for distributor
Distributor cap
Rotor


Extras:
Gloves, mechanics gloves or heavy nitrile
Rags or paper towels
Small can of hand cleaner
Piece of old rug for lying down on the side of the road

[fiat218]

Not a tool in my trunks

[spiderdan]

Put lots of miles on my car and all I have in the trunk...
Stock tool kit (complete), stock jack (used once) and my "car bag".
Car bag includes, 1 liter of 20/50, funnel, gloves, rags, bungee cords, duct tape, a chamois for clearing the morning dew off the car at the cottage and a mickey of Crown Royal.
Cell phone (mechanics' # on speed dial) and a good road side assistance which includes up to 250 km flatbed towing (which I have yet to use in 13 years)
Never wished I had something else in there.

[AriK]

Put lots of miles on my car and all I have in the trunk...
Stock tool kit (complete), stock jack (used once) and my "car bag".
Car bag includes, 1 liter of 20/50, funnel, gloves, rags, bungee cords, duct tape, a chamois for clearing the morning dew off the car at the cottage and a mickey of Crown Royal.
Cell phone (mechanics' # on speed dial) and a good road side assistance which includes up to 250 km flatbed towing (which I have yet to use in 13 years)
Never wished I had something else in there.

Same kinda situation with me minus the Crown Royal. Kinda makes me wanna reconsider more essential tools in the event of a mishap on such a night as on Hwy Black Hole of Gloom. That would put a damper on everything.
I'm gonna pack that Crown Royal now!

[spiderdan]

I'm gonna pack that Crown Royal now!

Get the 26oncer, the "marble bag" is back

[AriK]

That looks great, how is it that i missed that in person? Gives me ideas for when my boot starts to look shabby