If you don’t already have a basic set of automotive tools, now is the time to begin gathering them. You’ll need sockets and a ratchet handle with extensions and a universal joint to get to hard-to-accomplish places, wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers (there are many varieties of this tool: at the very least, you should have a set of needle-nose pliers, some channel-lock style pliers, and a pair of vise-grip style locking pliers. Many older American-made cars and trucks use SAE (inch-based) fasteners, but foreign and most modern domestic vehicles use metric nuts and bolts, so a set of metric sockets and wrenches should be appropriate for most uses.
You’ll also want to purchase a spark plug socket in the correct size for the plugs that go in your car. A spark plug socket has a rubberized insert so the ceramic neck of the plug isn’t damaged during installation, and it often also comes with a built-in universal joint to make access to awkward locations easier.
You’ll also want a magnetic tray or coffee can to hold small parts and fasteners, some rags or shop towels, and a pad and pen to take notes and draw diagrams as you work. Having your smartphone charged and close by to take photos for reference is also a good idea. Depending on your vehicle’s ground clearance, you might also need a jack and jack stand to get underneath it safely. (NEVER go under your vehicle without supporting it in at least two different places and choking the wheels to keep it stable). Now, it’s time to start gathering the parts you’ll be swapping out during the tuneup process.
