The Glove Compartment Project

If one looks back to the beginning of cars they were (still are) messy, dirty, oily and cold. Driving included as much tinkering as driving. Checking oil and lubricants, Checking tires and belts and the wind in your face piercing your hands. The rich people who could afford them couldn't be seen with dirty cold chaped hands. Thus the need for gloves and a box to put them in. The question still remains what to do with your goggles as the goggle box was never invented. After all, wearing them on your head wood indicate to people you had an automobile at times and places when you could not bring it with you. Like inside the house.

But what should you keep in your glove compartment it not gloves? I hope to shed some light on what you might need and more important why you need it.

Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night. (All About Eve 1950)

It happens to all all of us, your cursing down the street, you see blue lights behind you. And your thinking You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk? But no not this time. You know he is going ask "License, Registration, Prof of Insurance."

Best to have the last two where you can find them. Most people stuff them in the glove compartment where they can play a most impressive game of hide and seek given the space. Most insurance providers have some kind of pouch that will hold them and the they will give you for the asking.

My state is very friendly with the insurance company you can't have the registration without the insurance. Hence if your late with the Insurance payment poof goes your registration. Its the cop's job to inform you this has happened and to wait for the tow truck.

If this happens while out of my state your going to need the letter from your insurance company to get your car back from the impound lot. This letters also needed if you get pulled over in another state, towed for parking incorrectly and other hassles. Parking incorrectly in Philadelphia is easier then you think. Most insurance companies will give you one if your going out of town. Just in case.

The change (a small bag of it) is for the parking meter so you don get towed.

Lastly is the phone number of someone who will come to your aid day or night. Get up at two am and ask yours self this question "Who are you going to call?" I can remember the the bachelor party where after walking two miles and being overjoyed to find a phone six people looked at each other and in unison posed the question who are we going call? the phone seamed totally useless at that point.

When your car maroons you out in the middle of nowhere all you can think of is "When you marooned me on that god forsaken spit of land, you forgot one very important thing, mate: I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." and

Backup batteries for cell phone.

Now of course we have cell phones. If your car battery has just died it could be hard to charge your phone. This is also where you find out about the software glitch on the i phone that keeps it looking for service until the battery dies. Or the the phone feels sorry for the car battery and dies in sympathy. Or you were using the map directions or have been waiting on hold of an hour and just used up the battery.

This is why we have that number written down. Dead phones tell no tales. They do attempt to fly (out the window) , in an attempt to reach heaven. Next time that your stuck on the highway look on the side of the road and you'll see all the sad failed attempts.

I like this extra battery/ charger that plugs into the accessory plug formally the Cig. lighter, On one on the left i bought in desperation at CVS, unfortunately whereas the plug is the same this is only good for an iPod not I phone. why do they do that.

If your using your back up battery first determine what your location is. Triple A doesn't like it when you tell them your location is halfway between your house and where you were going. Write that down with the pencil in the kit.

The change (a small bag of it) is for the pay phone. Unless: Marty McFly: Wait a minute, Doc. Ah... Are you telling me that you built a time machine... out of a DeLorean? Doc: Yes, to go back to the 80ies and find a pay phone.

"Light Bulb" Gru from Despicable Me

Of course the cop might be pulling you over because you have a light out. This is easily fixed in newer cars as long as you have the bulbs. Most cars use the same bulb for for both tail light. Both as in there is two on each side (stop turn, running lights) and same as in they are all the same type of bulb (number) not in the same as your last car or any other car you owned.

As the song goes "We can drive it home With one headlight" , No headlights thats a different story. If you can fix the light faster than the cop can write ticket it may just save you a ticket. Todays bulbs are small and cheep.

If it a headlight on a 1994 toyota truck bring it to a shop the entire grill has to come off which results in several broken plastic clips and impossible to reach screws.

If you can replace a bulb you can replace a fuse.

Harbor freight has several multi packs. Make sure you get the correct ones for your car. The blade fuses come in six different sizes.

Several car's have lockouts where they won't let you shift into gear if a system is not working correctly. Such as a blown fuse on the break system.

Mostly i find that if you blow a fuse it will blow again soon.

Make a copy or mark in the owners manuel (Captain Barbossa: Aye. ...Buried in ... which cannot be found except by those who already knows where it is.) the page where they list the fuses and note on the which fuses you can switch in a pinch. Radio or horn for lights. Also know where the the fuse box is. Most are located under the dash on the drivers side, requiring you to do a headstand on the drivers seat.

Two useful tools are a small pair of pliers to pullout stuck fuses and a flashlight to see what your doing. The one on the right will also flash red so the tow truck will find you.

The most common problem is a flat tire.

The smart car pictured in step one does not come with a spare (they could not find a place to put one.) It does come with a small pump and a can of green slime. Don't Use fix a flat or green slime. Most tire shops won't work on a tire that has fix a flat in it.

A small tire repair kit is just as simple. This one is small enough to fit in the glove box. I would like T handles on the tools but these fit better in the glove compartment.

The small pliers can be used to remove a nails.

The change (a small bag of it) is for the air pump at the gas station.

The last two are more of a convenience.

Small ice scrapers. With the next ice age on the way this might be helpful. Winter comes sooner then we plan on and with the crazy weather of late petter be prepared.

You can also use these to get dog mess off your shoes.

Extra button and sew kit.

You never know.

A bag to put it all in.

Keep all these in a small pencil case so they don't get loss.