[Stinkycheezmonky]

I've been working on cars since I was about 13 years old. I'm currently 32, and I've owned something north of 30 cars and wrenched on many more than that. In that entire time, I haven't used the following tools on a factory automotive fastener:

Deep 8mm socket
15mm socket
7mm allen key
T25 security torx bit

In 3 weeks of Focus ownership, I've used all of those. WHAT THE HECK, FORD.

 

[Gingy]

have used all of those except for the t25 securtity, wheres that gem used? lol

 

[Stinkycheezmonky]

MAF sensor bolts, and I think somewhere else under the hood?

 

[SPIinDisguise]

have used all of those except for the t25 securtity, wheres that gem used? lol

I do believe the seats, to take them out, etc.

Yeah Ford uses some strange ones, thats for sure.

Was poking around to find a ground for my HID fogs. next to the battery ground is one. and it wasn't metric, 5/16 I believe.

But yeah, I agree. Though I know them by heart now to change anything.

 

[spacemanspif]

My Monte Carlo is built around 10 and 15mm bolts. GM must really like them because the 2004 5.3 under the hood has a lot of them too lol

 

[felixthecat]

All the newer cars now adays use metric.

 

[Stinkycheezmonky]

Oh, I'm used to Metric. You can completely disassemble Hondas and Mazdas with a 10, 12, 14, 17, and 19mm. Throw a 13mm in there for good measure to be weird once in awhile. The rest of this crap though, forget it.

 

[zetecDon]

I will vouch for Mazda using mostly 8, 10, 12 and 14mm sizes all day long. If you have those four socket and wrench sizes, you can work on most of the car. But Ford has always used those security torx bits on their MAFs or intakes. I remember working on my Dad's 86 LTD and having to go out to buy one of those stupid security torx bits to remove a part of his air cleaner box.

 

[rexazz2]

hate running into odd sizes that are not normally included in the sets
18mm is one of those ones I have run into on my past vehicles

 

[spacemanspif]

The MAF bolts are security torx? I pulled a MAF tube from the junk yard a couple weeks ago and used my regular torx pack to remove the MAF and save money on not buying the sensor. Guess I better check my car before I dive into making the cheap SRI because I don't have the ones with the hole punched in the tip....

 

[sailor]

Cars or Cycles, I could usually guess region of origin by the fastener sizes.

If I'm using mostly 12,14's it's Japanese/Asian - if the 13's & 15's come out it's got a European/American heritage.

Security torx purchased for Cycle carb screws first, they'd use one out of four to keep amateur fingers out.

 

[pcordes1979]

IIRC the cam sprocket bolt on the SPI/SOHC engine is 15mm, at least on the Escort's. I remember that as when I went to remove the cam sprocket to replace the cracked one that was on there I had to use an impact wrench to get the bolt out and could barely get the impact with a deep well socket in there as the set of shorty impact sockets I have doesn't have 15mm or 17mm in it.

Haven't dug into the Focus enough to know all of the bolt head sizes yet.

 

[cannaert]

I think I have used every single tool in my box at least twice.
From my 4mm Deep well all the way up to my 36mm deep well.
As for my Torx bits I have used my t10 to my t60.
I think I have owned over 30 cars in the past 10 years and that ranges from AMC to VW.

 

[MineTwine45]

I've been working on cars since I was about 13 years old. I'm currently 32, and I've owned something north of 30 cars and wrenched on many more than that. In that entire time, I haven't used the following tools on a factory automotive fastener:

Deep 8mm socket
15mm socket
7mm allen key
T25 security torx bit

In 3 weeks of Focus ownership, I've used all of those. WHAT THE HECK, FORD.

I also wrench on my Focus and I don't own any of these except for the Allen key lol!

 

[amc49]

The only one I haven't used is the T25 security but I have one. Ford uses lots of 15mm. and 18mm. and on several cars, (Tempos, Topaz, Contour) they went there like 10-15 years ago. And how on earth can you work on cars or bikes with no 13mm.? I've used them since the '60s, Hondas use them all over the place as well as Kawasaki and Yamaha. 13 is VERY common, the equivalent of 1/2" SAE. 15 because it covers both 9/16" and 5/8' size bolt heads, commonly used in that size on cars. 18 covers the old 3/4" size bolt heads. 7mm. allens have been used on brake caliper pins for many years especially GM.

Wait till you find out how many 7mm. hex head bolts there are. 6mm. too. LOL. Even 11mm. in one or two places.

Deep 8 is used all over the place as well. Just used one today to remove IAC valve off a Tempo.

 

[Stinkycheezmonky]

Honda cars definitely don't use many (any?) 13mm. I have limited bike experience, just my '85 CB700S and to a lesser degree an older Yamaha TW200. I haven't wrenched on either enough to remember what was weird or not.

 

[iminhell]

I don't recall a 7mm Allen anywhere, or any Allen for that matter.


And I don't know what you're complaining about. At least you know those unused tools aren't broken.

 

[amc49]

Think disc brakes for 7 mm. allen, why the parts stores have carried them for years.

I think 15 is the new 14, 14 has dropped way off as of late. Much front end stuff is 15 on Foci. 18 too (struts). Several things attach to firewall using 7, intake ducting uses 6, oil drain plug is 13, 14, or 15 depending on year.

 

[Stinkycheezmonky]

And I don't know what you're complaining about. At least you know those unused tools aren't broken.

As amc mentioned, brake caliper bolts for 7mm allens. And I'm complaining because I either didn't have those tools period, or didn't have them in my lighter "abbreviated" toolbox because I never used them before [] (I was working on the car at my in-laws, 4.5 hours from home)

 

[homey55]

I think most oil drain plugs are 15mm, right? That has always been a well-used tool for me.