What tool is commonly used for tightening or loosening fasteners in automotive repair?

A ratcheting wrench is a hand tool that is specifically designed to loosen or tighten fasteners, such as bolts and nuts, easily and efficiently. This tool features a mechanism that allows for continuous rotation in one direction while allowing the user to reposition the tool without having to remove it from the fastener. This makes it particularly useful in confined spaces where there isn’t enough room to swing a traditional wrench fully.

While other tools are also used in automotive repair, they serve different purposes. A pry bar is primarily used for leveraging and prying apart components, not for tightening fasteners. A torque wrench is used to apply a specific amount of torque to a fastener, ensuring it is tightened to the correct specifications, which is more specialized. An impact socket is typically used with an impact wrench to loosen or tighten fasteners quickly, usually in high-torque applications. Therefore, while each tool has its place in automotive repair, the ratcheting wrench is the most versatile for general fastener adjustment.