3 Indispensable Items for Emergency Vehicle Repair

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After being stranded a few times thanks to my relative neglect of electric maintenance in my vehicles (yes, I was much younger and less wise), I concluded that I should write a bit about it so you don’t have to repeat my bitter experiences. This is what my articles are all about. After all, if I am left stranded, I can’t call anybody except for a friend. Insurance companies limit their towing service to 80 km around the place where your address is registered. Go figure.

OK, one time I was cruising peacefully on my old Mustang (I miss you, Cherry Pie!) when climbing a steep hill, like 80 km away from home, suddenly she decided to take a nap. I parked next to the road with the inertia that was left, and the failure was total. Cranked the engine, but she didn´t start. I had a couple of bars on my cellphone and could make an emergency call to my dad. It was a desert road, at full sun. Sure enough, he arrived one hour later with my cousin and made a quick wiring check. His experience, plus the simplicity of my engine detected in five minutes what was wrong: two broken wires in the ignition module plug. With some tools, I could have fixed it by myself, but I wasn’t the guy I am now back then.

1- Heat Shrink Electrical Tape: The Indispensable Consumable

While items like first-aid kits, water purification tablets, and multi-tools often take center stage, there’s one that deserves a prominent spot: heat-shrink electrical tape. This simple item can prevent a critical system failure, and I consider it indispensable for any serious survivalist or prepper on the road.

Why Heat Shrink Tape Over Regular Electrical Tape?

While standard PVC electrical tape has its uses around the home, heat shrink tape (or tubing, also called sleeve) offers superior protection and durability, and this is better for vehicle uses. On the other hand, I’ve never been too fine-tuned in my finger precision, and losing part of a finger doesn’t help either. Wrapping tape needs to be done carefully, keeping constant tension to cover the wires perfectly. Easier said than done with the crappy cheap tape we find down here. Get the good stuff at least and not that cheap rubbish. The only counterpart of tubing is that you should have several diameters and use the adequate for the wires you’re protecting, but it’s not a big deal, they are cheap and don’t weigh.

Here’s why it’s a must-have:

1. Watertight Seal: Unlike regular tape that can allow moisture ingress, heat shrink tape, when properly applied and heated, creates a tight, waterproof seal. This is vital for protecting electrical connections from corrosion, a common cause of automotive problems, especially in humid environments or after traversing water obstacles.
2. Superior Insulation: Heat shrink tubing provides a thicker and more robust layer of electrical insulation compared to standard tape. This reduces the risk of short circuits and electrical fires.
3. Enhanced Durability: Heat shrink tape (or sleeve) is more resistant to abrasion, chemicals, and extreme temperatures than regular tape. This ensures that your repairs hold up under the harsh conditions often encountered in survival scenarios.
4. Secure and Professional Finish: Heat-shrinking the tape creates a snug fit that won’t unravel or become sticky over time, providing a more secure and professional repair. This reliability is paramount when you can’t afford failures.

Survival and Preparedness Applications in Your Vehicle:

The potential uses for heat-shrink electrical tape in a survival vehicle are numerous:

1. Repairing Damaged Wiring: Off-roading or unforeseen accidents can easily damage vehicle wiring. Heat shrink tape allows quick and reliable repairs to keep essential systems like headlights, taillights, and communication devices functioning.
2. Protecting Exposed Connections: Any exposed electrical connections are vulnerable to the elements. Applying heat shrink tubing gives us a protective barrier against water, dust, and debris, preventing future issues.
3. Securing and Organizing Wires: In a bug-out vehicle with added equipment like auxiliary lights, radios, or solar panels, heat shrink tape can help organize and secure wiring, preventing chafing and potential shorts.
4. Emergency Repairs to Other Gear: Beyond the vehicle itself, heat shrink tape is convenient for temporary repairs on other electrical equipment in your survival kit, such as charging cables or small electronics.

2 – Bolt and Wire Cutters

When assembling a comprehensive survival or preparedness kit for your vehicle, certain tools immediately come to mind: a sturdy knife, a reliable multi-tool, and even a small shovel. However, one seemingly simple tool that often gets overlooked but is undeniably crucial is a good pair of bolt or wire cutters. For any prepper (especially those navigating the unpredictable landscapes of Venezuela), bolt or wire cutters are an indispensable asset that can solve a surprising array of problems.

More Than Just Cutting Metal

While their primary function is to cut rebar, damaged bolts, and wires, the utility of wire cutters extends far beyond electrical applications in a survival context. Their sharp, sturdy jaws can be employed for a multitude of tasks:

1. Electrical Repairs: In a vehicle breakdown, damaged wiring can cripple essential systems like lights, communication devices, or even the ignition. Wire cutters allow you to cleanly sever damaged sections, strip insulation (often with integrated notches), and prepare wires for splicing and repair using heat shrink tape or other connection methods. This can be the difference between being stranded and getting back on the road.
2. Removing Obstructions: After a storm or in an off-road situation, your path might be blocked by fallen branches, entangled vines, or even damaged chainlink or spike wire fencing. Strong wire cutters can efficiently snip through these obstacles, clearing your way. These are heavy and cumbersome, so choose wisely the one you need. Mines are almost a yard long but they cut rebar like butter. My kiddo loves it. LOL.
3. Creating Makeshift Tools: In a pinch, the sturdy metal and leverage of wire cutters can be used to bend or shape softer metals for makeshift repairs or even as a rudimentary prying tool in certain situations.
4. Preparing Materials: For crafting shelters, setting snares, or other survival tasks, you might need to cut cordage, thin branches, or even tough fabric. Quality wire cutters can often handle these materials effectively.
5. Security and Egress: In a worst-case scenario, you might need to quickly disable a compromised electrical system or cut through thin security measures. While not ideal, wire cutters offer a potential solution.

Why Dedicated Wire Cutters Over a Multi-Tool?

While many multi-tools include a wire-cutting function, a dedicated pair of high-quality wire cutters often offers superior leverage, sharper blades, and a more comfortable grip for tackling tougher tasks. In a survival situation where efficiency and reliability are paramount, a dedicated tool is often preferable. I liked this model, as it’s foldable and saves space.

Don’t underestimate the importance of a good pair of wire cutters in your survival vehicle kit.

3 – The Crimping Tool For Reliable Electrical Connections

Maintaining the integrity of your electrical systems is paramount. I have found that you often don’t know you need a tool…until you need it. While items like jumper cables and basic repair tools are standard, a crimping tool is often overlooked. However, I consider it an indispensable addition to any prepper’s vehicle kit. The reason is simple. The terminals have a design. If you crimp this terminal using a different tool, it could get loose sooner or later. I have seen this happening many times, that’s why I mention it. This tool creates robust and reliable electrical connections. Even better, some models allow you to quickly strip a wire, and crimp it later with another area of the tool. This can be useful if you’re wearing gloves, and to avoid potentially deep cuts stripping with a blade (been there).

Crimping Tool In Vehicle Preparedness:

Unlike simply twisting wires together and hoping for the best, a crimping tool allows you to create mechanically sound and electrically efficient connections between wires and various terminals, connectors, and splices. This is vital for several reasons:

1. Ensuring Reliable Electrical Flow: We can’t afford intermittent or weak electrical connections. A properly crimped connection provides a secure and low-resistance pathway for electricity, ensuring your lights, communication devices, and other essential systems function reliably. This is why there is a standard method for crimping.
2. Preventing Corrosion and Failure: Loose or poorly connected wires are susceptible to corrosion, especially in humid or wet conditions. If the deformation of the materials is uneven, more current will flow on one portion of the wire than through the other. A tight crimp seals the connection, minimizing the entry of moisture and preventing premature failure of your electrical circuits.
3. Creating Durable Repairs: When making emergency repairs to damaged wiring, a crimped connection offers a far more durable and long-lasting solution than simply twisting wires together and wrapping them with tape. This is crucial when you need repairs to hold up under stress and vibration.
4. Working with Various Connectors: Your vehicle and any added survival gear utilize a variety of electrical connectors. A good crimping tool with interchangeable dies can handle different types of terminals, including ring terminals, spade connectors, butt connectors, and more, offering versatility in your repair capabilities. And it’s fun and very satisfactory to learn how to use them, indeed.
5. Professional and Safe Connections: Crimping provides a professional-grade connection that is less likely to pull apart or cause short circuits when compared to makeshift solutions. This enhances the safety and reliability of your electrical repairs.
6. Creating Custom Cables: For specific needs, you might need to create custom-length battery cables or power leads. A crimping tool is essential for securely attaching the necessary terminals.

Please pay special attention to keeping some spares inside your car, guys. These will occupy a tiny space in your toolbox: copper terminals (get the good quality ones, thick and sturdy as there is no need to “save money” here), and you could even get for a few bucks the whole setup for your vehicle: fuel injectors connectors, ignition modules, COILS!, TPS/IAC/sensors, etc.

Downloading the workshop manual and using it to build a shopping list will make it easier to purchase what you need. This is one of the wisest investments we could make: they won’t rot or get brittle with time.

Thanks for reading, fellows, and I hope you find this article useful.

Guys, the scenario ahead is grim, and I’m afraid things will get much worse before getting better. I appreciate your generous donations, as they put food on our table.

Stay safe, and keep tuned.

Jose.

What emergency repair items do you keep in your vehicle?

Have you ever had to make a quick electrical repair to get moving again? What tools do you consider essential for this type of issue?

Let’s talk tools in the comments section!

About Jose

Jose is an upper middle class professional. He is a former worker of the oil state company with a Bachelor’s degree from one of the best national Universities. He has an old but in good shape SUV, a good 150 square meters house in a nice neighborhood, in a small but (formerly) prosperous city with two middle size malls. Jose is a prepper and shares his eyewitness accounts and survival stories from the collapse of his beloved Venezuela. Jose and his younger kid are currently back in Venezuela, after the intention of setting up a new life in another country didn’t  go well. The SARSCOV2 re-shaped the labor market and South American economy so he decided to give it a try to homestead in the mountains, and make a living as best as possible. But this time in his own land, and surrounded by family, friends and acquaintances, with all the gear and equipment collected, as the initial plan was.

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