Get Out Of Jail (GOOJ) kit

[spitsfire]

After an interesting variety of breakdowns down the years, I've accumulated a bag of bits and pieces I keep in the boot. The idea is that they should give me the basic tools to make a 30+ year old car keep moving in the event of a breakdown.

My kit includes:
- All the fluids (brake, ATF, oil, coolant, power steering).
- basic tool set, jack, tow rope.
- 2 cans of emergency tire inflator.
- instant gasket.
- radiator weld.
- Ezy Start (known by another name in Australia - see here)
- WD 40.
- Cable ties, jubilee clips, duct tape, string.
- Set of bulbs, fuses, couple of relays, set of plugs.
- Fuel filter.
- Torch / Jump pack.

Does anybody else do this, or is it just my mix of apocalypse planning / habit of driving knackered old cars? If you do, what's in your kit?

[Turbobanana]

Be careful, OP. I commented along similar lines on another thread once, about a similar list of essential spares and equipment I carry, and was ridiculed. Most people seem content to rely on a breakdown service theses days.

[Riley Blue]

Over half my Riley's boot is filled with boxes of spares, a tool box, jack, 10 litre can of petrol, oil, water/anti-freeze, tow rope, jump starter etc., etc. Every winter I get them all out, bring them to the house, check everything over then put them all back.

At the moment they're spread all over the conservatory floor and as it's unheated that's where they can stay until the weather changes.

On the two occasions the Riley has failed to proceed this year, one was due to hitting a pothole damaging the front suspension and the other to running out of fuel (unfortunately after I'd used the reserve supply) so none of the boot's contents were any use.

[droopsnoot]

^ Similarly, I have quite a lot of stuff because I don't want to wait around for a breakdown service. I've only recently started carrying petrol, because someone else ran out on a recent trip, and after a mate had a pipe come undone due to a faulty clip, I've started carrying some spare clips. I probably have too much, but I'd rather lug it around and be able to fix the problem and get going than have to hang about for someone else to come out.

[Skyedriver]

Used to do this in the 1970's when my cars were "current" models
MG Midget boot full of a big heavy tool box, petrol, rope, jump leads etc.
Was met at one filling station by a rep from (IIRC) the RAC suggesting a joined their breakdown cover. "Nah, if it breaks I'll fix it" was the cocky reply of a spotty youth..
Nowerdays, jumper back, tyre inflater, and on a long journey, couple of screwdrivers and some duct tape. And my AA card.

[spitsfire]

Turbobanana said:

Be careful, OP. I commented along similar lines on another thread once, about a similar list of essential spares and equipment I carry, and was ridiculed. Most people seem content to rely on a breakdown service theses days.

I do get mocked for this, albeit good-natured! The only thing is, I'm currently missing the Rad Weld and coolant after lending them to... somebody who didn't have a GOOJ kit, and had to get a lift to come and borrow them from me!

[Turbobanana]

spitsfire said:

Turbobanana said:

Be careful, OP. I commented along similar lines on another thread once, about a similar list of essential spares and equipment I carry, and was ridiculed. Most people seem content to rely on a breakdown service theses days.

I do get mocked for this, albeit good-natured! The only thing is, I'm currently missing the Rad Weld and coolant after lending them to... somebody who didn't have a GOOJ kit, and had to get a lift to come and borrow them from me!

That's partly my justification - helping other people. I rarely need stuff myself, but in the past have helped out with jump leads, pliers, mole grips, tyre inflators, a wheel brace, and - on one memorable occasion - a fire extinguisher.

My wife has a slimmed-down GOOJ kit in her car that includes an OBD II reader for resetting warning lights as they come up (caveat: it's a crappy 12 year old Fiesta diesel that protests at her short daily commute and regularly throws up messages relating to gunked-up emissions equipment).

[RazerSauber]

I have a can of that Australian starting fluid. It was effective last time I used it!

I have a bottle of anti freeze filled with water, a pair of workman's gloves, a rain jacket, a bottle of XCP that I was using for something once and never removed and a breakdown subscription. My car did come with a bottle of tyre bogeys but I think it has well expired.

[moffspeed]

All Morris Minor & Series 1 Land Rover owners need a large hammer and a spare SU AUA66 fuel pump in the boot.

When the repeated blows with a hammer don’t revive the failed pump just slot in the new one.

I once donated my spare to a Minor owner in need on the road to Le Mans. Gave him my address to send the unit back to me on his return to blighty - never heard another thing.

Sometimes RAK’s / being the caped crusader just don’t pay off…

[98elise]

Only the basics.

Jump leads
Battery charger
Tyre compressor
Tyre glue
Puncture repair kit
Bulbs and fuses kit
Small set of tools