Auto Repair For Dummies

The top-selling auto repair guide--400,000 copies sold--now extensively reorganized and updated Forty-eight percent of U.S. households perform at least some automobile maintenance on their own, with women now accounting for one third of this $34 billion automotive do-it-yourself market. For new or would-be do-it-yourself mechanics, this illustrated how-to guide has long been a must and now it's even better. A complete reorganization now puts relevant repair and maintenance information directly after each automotive system overview, making it much easier to find hands-on fix-it instructions. Author Deanna Sclar has updated systems and repair information throughout, eliminating discussions of carburetors and adding coverage of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. She's also revised schedules for tune-ups and oil changes, included driving tips that can save on maintenance and repair costs, and added new advice on troubleshooting problems and determining when to call in a professional mechanic. For anyone who wants to save money on car repairs and maintenance, this book is the place to start. Deanna Sclar (Long Beach, CA), an acclaimed auto repair expert and consumer advocate, has contributed to the Los Angeles Times and has been interviewed on the Today show, NBC Nightly News, and other television programs.

Autorentext

Deanna Sclar is an acclaimed auto repair expert and consumer advocate. She has appeared on hundreds of radio and TV shows including NBC's Today show and the NBC Nightly News. Sclar lectures internationally on the ecological impact of vehicles and is active in promoting residential solar energy programs. Sclar is also the author of Buying a Car For Dummies.

Klappentext

Get the confidence and know-how you need to fix and maintain your vehicle like a pro!

Want to handle basic auto repairs yourself? This easy-to-follow guide gives you the nuts and bolts of diagnosing trouble and performing simple maintenance and repairs on your vehicle. You'll explore each system part by part and keep everything running in tiptop shape. Plus, you'll see how to go green on the road from recycling oil and parts to choosing alternatively fueled vehicles.

• Get to know your vehicle understand automotive systems; check under the hood; change a tire; follow basic safety rules; change spark plugs, fuses, and the battery; and replace the air filter and PCV valve

• Keep cool and in control add and change coolant, find and repair leaks, change the oil, and check brakes

• Ensure a smooth ride choose, check, and care for tires; and understand balancing and alignment

• Handle emergencies identify strange sounds and smells, jump-start your car, handle overheating, and more

• Work with a mechanic find a reliable service facility, describe problems accurately, and get the best deal

• Extend your vehicle's value clean it inside and out, touch up paint, and fix dings and dents

• Stay safe on the road install child seats properly; learn about rollover protection, traction and stability control, and navigation systems; and more

Open the book and find:

• The inner secrets of your vehicle what makes it start, run, and stop

• A step-by-step under-the-hood checklist

• Advice on buying and using the proper tools

• Driving techniques to extend the life of your car

• Eco-friendly tips for saving fuel

• Helpful illustrations that demonstrate repairs

• Reproducible Specifications and Maintenance Records

• The pros and cons of alternative fuels and vehicles

Inhalt
Introduction. Part I: Getting to Know Your Vehicle.

Chapter 1: Things Every Driver Should Know.

Chapter 2: Preventive Maintenance: A Monthly Under-the-Hood Check.

Chapter 3: The Way to Your Car's Heart Is through Your Toolbox.

Chapter 4: What Makes It Go? The Inner Secrets of Your Car Revealed!

Part II: Powering Up with Air, Fuel, and Fire.

Chapter 5: The Electrical System: Your Car's Spark of Life.

Chapter 6: Keeping Your Electrical System in Tune.

Chapter 7: The Traditional Fuel System: The Heart and Lungs of Your Car.

Chapter 8: Keeping Your Fuel System in Tune.

Chapter 9: Diesels For Dummies.

Chapter 10: From Horses to Hybrids: Alternatively Powered Vehicles.

Part III: Staying Cool and In Control.

Chapter 11: The Cooling System Up Close.

Chapter 12: Keeping Your Car from Getting Heartburn.

Chapter 13: Oil: Keeping Your Car Young and Happy.

Chapter 14: It's the Brakes!

Chapter 15: Be a Buddy to Your Brakes and Bearings.

Part IV: Smoothing the Ride: Steering and Suspension, Tires and Transmissions.

Chapter 16: Steering and Suspension Systems Smooth the Way.

Chapter 17: How to Keep Your Car from Getting Sore Feet: Tires, Alignment, and Balancing.

Chapter 18: Take the Drive Train: Understanding and Maintaining Your Transmission without Losing Your Mind.

Part V: Staying Safe and Dealing with Emergencies.

Chapter 19: Staying Safe on the Road.

Chapter 20: Troubleshooting Leaks, Squeaks, Smells, and Strange Sensations.

Chapter 21: What to Do If Your Car Drops Dead or Won't Start.

Chapter 22: When All Else Fails: Finding and Dealing with a Good Mechanic.

Part VI: Helping Your Vehicle Look Its Best.

Chapter 23: Keeping Your Vehicle Clean and Beautiful.

Chapter 24: Bodywork: Getting Rid of Dings, Dents, and Other Hard Knocks.

Part VII: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 25: The Ten Most Important Preventive Maintenance Measure.

Chapter 26: Ten Eco-Logical Ways to Save Fuel.

Appendix A: A Practical Glossary of Automotive Terms.

Appendix B: Specifications and Maintenance Record.

Index.