2020 is finally coming to an end. If you're anything like me, the holidays are probably the last thing on your mind, and well, guess what—they're only two weeks out now. If you've not yet gotten anything for that car-obsessed special someone in your life, you're in luck as there's still time to stuff their toolbox this holiday season.
Below is a list of FCP Euro's top picks for must-have tools in anyone's toolbox, no matter what car they own, and best of all, they're all in-stock and ready to ship!
Autel AutoLink AL329 OBDII Scanner - $39.95
I start the list with one of the best buys on this list. An OBDII scanner has quickly become one of those "must-have" tools for the modern car enthusiast. The dreaded check engine light (CEL) illuminates, and what do you do? Instead of limping your car to a repair shop, you can start the diagnostic process yourself at home (or anywhere you might find yourself). One of the easiest diagnostic tests you can do is plug in an OBDII scanner and scan for engine fault codes.
Nearly all of our engine or electrical system DIYs feature the most common engine fault codes associated with the issue at hand, making the diagnostic and repair process that much easier. This scanner, while basic, will provide you with all of your car's engine fault codes as well as emissions readiness data—and best yet, it's compact enough to keep in your glove box.
Autel has a range of OBDII scanners across multiple price points, all with varying levels of features if you want something more full-featured. We highly recommend the MX808 if you're looking for something more robust, as it's our go-to at the office.
No-Spill Oil Funnel Kit - $21.65
This next one I didn't know I needed until I had the chance to use one. The car lover you're buying a gift for probably changes the oil in their car at least twice a year. At one point or another, I'm betting they have spilled oil all over the inside of their engine bay when doing one of those oil changes. Instead of making a mess again, this funnel makes it nearly impossible to do so.
The CTA no-spill funnel kit features a bayonet-style adapter that secures itself to the valve cover in place of the oil fill cap. The funnel then secures to that, creating a seal. You can even pour in two liters of oil at a time and work on something while you wait for it to fill.
CTEK MXS 5.0 New Test & Charge Battery Charger - $98.99
Right now, I have three cars in my garage that sit idly all winter long. With that, I'm constantly making sure their batteries don't go flat from sitting for so long. While battery maintainers are useful, sometimes you also need to charge a battery more quickly than that; that's where this CTEK MXS 5.0 comes in.
The CTEK MXS 5.0 is a "smart" battery charger and maintainer. Using a built-in fully-automatic microprocessor, the MXS can charge batteries up to 110AH and maintain batteries up to 160AH. Built-in temperature sensors allow this charger to optimize the speed at which your battery can charge using an 8 step charging program.
All of this means that whether you need one of the fastest battery chargers on the market or if you just need to maintain a battery over the winter, this CTEK MXS 5.0 is the one tool to accomplish both of those tasks.
NOCO GB40 Portable Jump Starter Pack - $124.95
If I could have only one product on this list, this NOCO GB40 portable jump starter pack would be it. I've gifted one of these to all of my family members who drive and have lost count of how many times it has gotten someone out of a pickle.
The NOCO GB40 is a 1000 Amp portable battery charger compact enough to keep in your glove box but packs enough punch to crank over nearly all cars. On top of being able to jumpstart your car with a flat battery up to 20 times on a single charge, it can also charge your phone or be used as an emergency flashlight.
This is the perfect tool to ensure you never have to meet a friend or loved one with jumper cables ever again.
Motive Brake Power Bleeder - $79.99
Any time I write about tools every car owner should own, without a doubt, the Motive Brake Power Bleeder is included. With a Motive Power Bleeder (also known as a pressure bleeder), there's no need to get a friend or family member to help you with your brake replacement. "Pump, hold...Pump, hold…" no more of this all too familiar back and forth with someone who'd rather be working on their own car.
To use this Motive Power Bleeder, you simply fill the reservoir with your choice of brake fluid (making sure that it matches your vehicle's manufacturer-recommended specs), connect it to your brake fluid reservoir, and pressurize. From there, work your way from the farthest corner to the nearest corner of your car, bleeding the old brake fluid out from each caliper bleed screw. To make the process even easier and cleaner, we carry Motive brake fluid catch bottles made specifically for this purpose.
If you're looking for something a little more budget-friendly, Motive makes a simpler version with a plastic end cap/adapter, a shorter tube length, and a lack of swivel fitting. For the occasional brake fluid bleed or flush, the simple "red label" version is more than sufficient.
Non-Marring Thin Wall Lug Nut Socket Set - $42.74
Don't ever worry about damaging the finish of your wheels ever again with these lug nut sockets from CTA Tools. With a thin wall design, protective plastic sleeve, and internal magnets to hold onto your lug nuts, there's almost no way to scratch your wheels.
This set of four includes 17mm, 19mm, 21mm, and 22mm—the four most common lug nut and lug bolt sizes you will run into. The bright color-coded design and small blow-molded case ensure that these don't get lost in the clutter of all the other sockets.
That rounds out FCP Euro's top picks for this 2020 holiday season. In case you're worried that special someone already has one of these tools, know that we have an extremely simple returns process. Coupled with our Lifetime Replacement Guarantee, they can return them to us at any time for any reason!
