Chapter 03 – Automotive Tools and Test Equipment

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key automotive tools, measuring instruments, and related terms from the lecture notes.

Alloy Steel

High-strength steel used to make quality tools that are lightweight, durable, and long-lasting.

Heat Treating

Controlled heating and cooling process that hardens and strengthens quality tools.

Roll-Type Cabinet Tool Chest

Heavy, wheeled storage cabinet that keeps tools clean, protected, and organized.

Ball Peen Hammer

Hammer with flat and rounded faces for general striking; supplied in many weights.

Brass-Tipped Hammer

Soft-faced hammer that prevents marring delicate work surfaces.

Plastic-Tipped Hammer

Non-marring hammer (often lead-shot filled) that minimizes rebound on impact.

Flat Cold Chisel

Straight-edge chisel used for general metal cutting such as bolts or rivets.

Cape Chisel

Narrow chisel designed for cutting grooves, keyways, or slots.

Half-Round Chisel

Curved-edge chisel for cutting semicircular grooves.

Diamond-Point Chisel

Four-sided pointed chisel for corner work and tight spots.

Starting Punch

Tapered punch used to begin driving pins or rivets after their heads are removed.

Drift Punch

Straight, same-diameter punch that completes driving pins once started.

Pin Punch

Small-diameter drift punch for removing slender pins.

Aligning Punch

Long, gradually tapered punch for lining up holes in mating parts.

Center Punch

Punch that leaves a V-shaped dimple to center a drill bit or mark parts for reassembly.

Flat Mill File

Rectangular file for general smoothing and shaping of metal surfaces.

Half-Round File

File with one flat and one curved face for flat or concave work.

Round File

Cylindrical file used to enlarge holes or smooth internal radii.

Square File

Four-sided file for enlarging square holes or sharpening corners.

Triangular File

Three-sided file commonly used for filing angles and sharpening saw teeth.

Single-Cut File

File with one set of parallel teeth that produces a smooth finish.

Double-Cut File

File with two crossing sets of teeth for faster, coarser stock removal.

Safe Side (File)

Edge of a file with no teeth, allowing work next to a surface without cutting it.

Rotary File

Cylindrical cutting bit used with drills or air grinders to remove material inside blind holes.

Electric Hand Drill

Portable drill powered by an electric motor; common sizes 3⁄8″ and 1⁄2″.

Pneumatic Drill

Air-powered hand drill preferred for long jobs where electric drills may overheat.

Chuck

Adjustable jaws on a drill that securely hold the drill bit.

Drill Press

Stationary machine that lowers a drill vertically for accurate, perpendicular holes in parts mounted on its table.

Straight-Shank Drill Bit

Bit with uniform shank diameter for use in portable drills.

Taper-Shank Drill Bit

Bit with tapered shank that fits directly into heavy-duty drill spindles.

Carbon Steel Drill Bit

Inexpensive bit that dulls quickly and needs frequent sharpening.

High-Speed Steel Drill Bit

Durable, heat-resistant bit suitable for most automotive metals.

Cobalt Drill Bit

Premium alloy bit ideal for heavy drilling of hard metals.

Reamer

Precision tool used to slightly enlarge and true an existing hole for smooth, accurate size.

Impact Wrench

Air- or electrically powered wrench delivering rapid hammering torque for fast removal and installation of fasteners.

Impact Socket

Heavy-duty, oxide-coated black socket built to withstand impact-wrench forces.

Hacksaw

Hand saw with replaceable fine-tooth blades (14–32 tpi) for cutting bolts, tubes, and light metal.

Vise

Bench-mounted holding device with serrated jaws; may be padded to protect soft workpieces.

Taper Tap

Tap with long, gradual lead used to start and fully thread through holes easily.

Plug Tap

General-purpose tap with moderate lead; cannot reach bottom of blind holes.

Bottoming Tap

Tap with very short lead used to finish threads to the bottom of a blind hole.

Machine Screw Tap

Small-diameter tap for cutting fine machine-screw threads.

Die

Thread-cutting tool that forms external threads on rods, bolts, or shafts.

Slip-Joint Pliers

Adjustable-pivot pliers for gripping materials of various sizes.

Combination Pliers

Multipurpose pliers that combine gripping jaws with a wire-cutting edge.

Needle-Nose Pliers

Long, slender-jaw pliers for reaching into tight spaces; delicate.

Diagonal Cutting Pliers

Angled-jaw cutters for snipping wire and soft material.

Locking Pliers

Pliers with adjustable locking mechanism that grips parts without continuous hand pressure.

Snap Ring Pliers

Special pliers designed to install or remove internal or external snap rings.

Standard (Slotted) Screwdriver

Driver with flat blade for slotted screws; comes with round or square shank.

Phillips Screwdriver

Cross-shaped driver that fits Phillips screws to reduce cam-out.

Reed & Prince Screwdriver

Driver for pointed-cross screws similar to Phillips but with different angle and design.

Clutch Screwdriver

Driver for butterfly-shaped clutch screws found on some automotive parts.

Torx Screwdriver

Star-shaped driver providing high torque; tamper-resistant types have a center pin.

Magnetic Screwdriver

Screwdriver with magnetized tip that holds screws during installation.

Box-End Wrench

Enclosed-head wrench (6- or 12-point) that grips a fastener on all flats for minimal slippage.

Open-End Wrench

U-shaped wrench that contacts two flats of a fastener for quick application in restricted arcs.

Combination Wrench

Wrench with a box end on one side and an open end on the other, both the same size.

Flare-Nut Wrench

Partially closed wrench that wraps tube-fitting nuts for maximum contact without crushing.

Adjustable Wrench

Crescent-style wrench with movable jaw to fit various fastener sizes; prone to slip if poorly set.

Torque Wrench

Calibrated wrench that tightens fasteners to manufacturer-specified torque; available in ft-lb, in-lb, and N·m scales.

Ratcheting Box-End Wrench

Box-end wrench with internal ratchet for continuous turning without repositioning.

Allen Wrench (Hex Key)

L-shaped tool for screws and bolts with internal hex recesses.

Socket

Cylindrical wrench head that fits over a fastener and attaches to drive handles; available in various point counts and depths.

Ratchet Handle

Reversible handle with pawl mechanism that allows a socket to turn a fastener without removing the tool.

Flex Handle (Breaker Bar)

Non-ratcheting bar that pivots at the head to apply high torque or reach odd angles.

Speed Handle

Crank-shaped handle that spins a socket rapidly for quick fastener removal or installation.

Sliding T-Handle

Crossbar handle with adjustable position that delivers leverage at different lengths.

Extension Bar

Solid shaft that lengthens a socket setup to reach recessed fasteners.

Puller

Tool with jaws and forcing screw used to press off gears, pulleys, bearings, and hubs.

Electric Soldering Iron

Plug-in or battery tool (35–100 W) that heats quickly for soldering wires and terminals.

Rosin Core Solder

Flux-filled electrical solder that prevents corrosion; recommended for automotive wiring.

Micrometer

Precision screw-type measuring tool reading to thousandths of an inch for outside or inside dimensions.

Caliper (Inside/Outside)

Measuring tool that provides rough internal or external dimensions.

Divider

Compass-like tool with pointed legs for scribing circles or transferring measurements.

Dial Indicator

Plunger-type gauge that measures small linear movements (0.001″) to check runout, end play, and backlash.

Dial Caliper

Slide caliper with dial readout capable of inside, outside, and depth measurements to 0.001″.

Feeler Gauge

Set of calibrated metal blades or wires used to measure clearances and gaps.

Compression Gauge

Gauge that threads into a cylinder to measure compression pressure in psi or kPa.

Vacuum Gauge

Gauge connected to the intake manifold to read engine vacuum, indicating load or mechanical condition.