I've only been a memeber for a couple weeks now, and one thing that I have noticed is that people here will spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on a swap (or any performance related mod) and not give one thought about being able to FIX it.

There have been so many questions asked here, that a Helms and a DMM would have cured about 85% of them....so why don't people spend a few hundred on some quality troubleshooting equipment?

I mean, just having a Helms alone is worth its wait in gold....if not just for the technical information presented about HOW your car works.

So this is where I'm heading with this topic: It seems there are always these group-buys going on....why not get a group-buy going for some package of equipment.....perhaps offered by our friends at ImportParts.com.

Compression gauge, Leak-Down gauge, Vaccum gauge, Spark Tester (Thexton 404), a DMM (maybe a Fluke 10 at the very least....gives you voltage and resistance, what more do you really need for basic troubleshooting), a Helms, etc...

Fluke 10 - $79.00 (Techni-Tool)
Thexton 404 - $7.00 (The Tool Warehouse)
Helms - ~$70.00
Noid Lights - Don't know where to get them, but there cheap too, and install AS an injector to let you know that your injectors are getting a drive signal.

I'm sure you could add more...and this is basic...but geeze...a Helms and DMM for less than $200. I think it should almost be added as an option for a swap....ehh.

Well, thats that...I just wanted to throw this out to see if I could get something going.....what do you guys think?

EDIT: The prices above are what are found on there respective web sites....I would assume that a group-buy would lower these prices.


[Modified by EE_Chris, 5:16 PM 2/18/2002]

 

i agree with you 100%. the first thing i bought for my car was a Helms manual. people bitch about the price but christ, a dealer charges $80/hr for work that you can do yourself with the help of a Helms.

id definately be in for a compression and leakdown tester. maybe a timing light and some jackstands would be cool. im not sure what a DMM is.. could you elaborate?

 

a torque wrench would be good too !

 

DMM - Digital Multi Meter

Timing light and torque wrench would be something else valuable to add to a package of tools.

But like I was saying before, how many of the problems presented could have been solved with the use of a DMM and a Helms? A lot I'd say...which is why I would think that these two items would be the more important ones to get first and foremost.

 

I think it is more a lack of confidence people generally have in themselves. I help out nearby people for almost nothing, just so they can see how easy things can be done. My multi-meter saved me so much money when trouble shooting everything, from cars to computers.

 

my garage has about everything I need. for reference, next on my list is a pipe bender.