Product Description

Most of us don’t know the first thing about the machines we’re licensed to drive – and this can turn a ticket to freedom into a ticket to trouble. If you’re like most people, you probably tend to drive around until something goes wrong with the car. You then incur the expense of replacing worn and burnt–out parts (or the entire engine) when low–cost, regular maintenance could have kept your wheels turning for a long time.

Auto Repair For Dummies is indispensable for anyone who is tired of nodding and smiling at the incomprehensible mutterings of your mechanic, only to end up shelling out money for repairs that you neither fully understand nor always need. This easy–to–understand guide is also for you if you

• Don′t have the vaguest idea of how a car works.
• Can′t identify anything you see under the hood of your vehicle.
• Are tired of other people assuming (especially if you’re a teenager or a woman) that you aren’t capable of handling repairs yourself.
• Don′t want to feel helpless in an emergency.
• Are tired of being ripped off because of your own ignorance.

This book shows you how your car works; what it needs in the way of tender loving care; and how to keep from being overcharged if you need to entrust repairs to someone else. Auto Repair For Dummies also gives you the scoop on these topics and more:

• What makes your vehicle go (and how and why)
• A program of "preventive medicine" to avoid trouble
• Shopping for tools and knowing how to use them
• Diesel engines and alternatively powered cars
• How to keep your car looking its best
• Dealing with on–road emergencies
• Checking your tires, alignment, and steering

By handling the simple maintenance and tune–ups and being able to diagnose trouble and perform the less complex repairs yourself, you’ll save some serious money. Once you break the ice (or crack open the hood), the heady sense of power will carry you through basic car repair and maintenance with confidence and ease.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #271228 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 600 pages

From the Back Cover
Praise for Deanna Sclar′s Auto Repair For Dummies
"Takes the fear out of do–it–yourself auto maintenance" —Detroit Free Press

"One of the clearest, most complete books on do–it–yourself car repairs and maintenance on the market." —Family Circle

"Sclar stresses preventative medicine for the automotive patient...with the bedside manner that any physician would envy." —Dalls Morning News

The classic guide, now completely revised and updated — over 750,000 copies of previous editions sold!

250 illustrations show you how things work

Your money–saving guide to maintenance and repair
Keep your wheels on the road and out of the shop with this friendly guide to auto care. In plain and simple language, Deanna Sclar dispels the mysteries lurking under the hood by explaining every auto system — and shows you step by step how to diagnose problems, make uncomplicated repairs, and perform routine maintenance.

Discover how to:

• Keep your vehicle purring with routine maintenance
• Troubleshoot typical problems
• Remove small dings, dents, and rust breakdowns
• Avoid getting confused by automotive jargon

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• Talk to us, ask questions, get answers

About the Author
Deanna Sclar is an acclaimed auto repair expert and consumer advocate. She has appeared on NBC′s Today show and NBC Nightly News and is a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Times.

Customer Reviews

A good start for the ignorant
If, like me you have been driving but are ignorant of what the internal combustion engine really does, this book will be right up your street. I knew nothing of the finer workings of an automoble before reading this and now I know my superchargers from my turbochargers. Written in clear and concise English like all of the other Dummies Guides it is a treat to read.

For those who are clueless when it comes to anything mechanical
I bought this book after spending 1200 euros in a year purely on routine servicing for my vehicles. I knew absolutely nothing about engines, or oil, or maintenance or anything of the sort.

In almost a year since i bought this book, I have carried out ten full services on my own vehicles and those of all my family members.
This book gives you what most ' how to' books DON'T.
That is ' THE CONFIDENCE TO HAVE A GO YOURSELF' without feeling inadequate, or confusing you with terminology that is hard to understand.

This book, like all Dummies books I've seen is written in extremely simple jargon that a child could understand, and assumes absolutely no prior knowledge. It quickly explains the basics, then moves on accordingly until you quickly reach a thorough understanding of each subject.

It's also written in a way that you can jump from section to section of particular interest, without having to read the book from beginning to end before you can attempt to do anything.

The only downsides to the book, and the reason I haven't given it 5 stars is that although simply written, its written for an American audience and some of the terminology differs from British.
The diesel section also is a little dated now, as diesel engines have improved leaps and bounds in the past few years. I feel this is partly due to the fact that until recently there were little or none diesel cars in the usa, so this section could be improved upon.

But a very valuable book to me, and a perfect present for anyone who would LIKE TO HAVE A GO, but lacks the confidence and know-how.
I certainly feel it has taught me a lot and has been a worthy investment.

Informative
Great book for those wanting to know a little bit more about their car and saving a few quid through minor repairs.