Introduction 1
About This Book 1
How I Became Intimately Involved with My Car, and Why You Should Too 2
Conventions Used in This Book 3
How I Picture You 4
How This Book Is Organized 5
Icons Used in This Book 7
Where to Go from Here 8
Beyond the Book 8
Part 1: Getting to Know Your Vehicle 9
Chapter 1: Things Every Driver Should Know 11
Before You Tackle Any Job 12
How to Fill ’Er Up Yourself 16
How to Open the Hood 17
How to Take Anything Apart — and Get It Back Together Again 18
How to Use a Jack Safely 20
How to Change a Tire 23
How to Get In When You’re Locked Out 28
Chapter 2: Preventive Maintenance: A Monthly Under-the-Hood Check 31
Getting Your Bearings under the Hood 32
Check the Air Filter 33
Check the Accessory Belts 34
Check the Battery 35
Check the Coolant 38
Check the Hoses 40
Check the Dipsticks 40
Check the Brake Fluid 44
Check the Wiring 46
Check the Windshield Washer Fluid 46
Check and Replace Windshield Wipers 46
Check the Tires 47
Drive and Enjoy! 47
Chapter 3: The Way to Your Car’s Heart Is through Your Toolbox 49
Shopping for Tools 50
Screwdrivers 50
Screwholders 52
Wrenches 53
Pliers 57
Gauges 59
Work Lights 61
Jacks 62
Jack Stands 63
Creepers 63
Fire Extinguishers 64
Funnels 64
More Things to Carry in Your Vehicle 65
Chapter 4: What Makes It Go? The Inner Secrets of Your Car Revealed! 69
Keeping Your Owner’s Manual Handy 70
Introducing the Engine Control Unit (ECU) 72
What Makes Your Vehicle Start? 72
What Makes Your Vehicle Run? 77
What Makes Your Vehicle Stop? 80
Part 2: Powering Up with Air, Fuel, and Fire 83
Chapter 5: The Electrical System: Your Car’s Spark of Life 85
Introducing the Engine Control Unit (ECU) 85
The Starting System 87
The Charging System 90
The Ignition System 92
Warning Lights and Malfunction Indicator Lights (MIL) 100
Other Electrical Gadgets 101
Chapter 6: Keeping Your Electrical System in Tune 103
Determining Whether Your Vehicle Needs a Tune-up 104
Changing Your Spark Plugs 105
Replacing a Battery 118
Changing Fuses 121
Dealing with Headlights and Directional Signals 123
Chapter 7: The Traditional Fuel System: The Heart and Lungs of Your Car 129
Basic Fuel System Components 130
Following Fuel through the Fuel Injectors 134
The Engine Block: Where the Fuel System and Ignition System Meet 139
Supercharging with Turbochargers 144
The Exhaust System 145
Chapter 8: Keeping Your Fuel System in Tune 149
Maintaining Your Air Filter 150
Replacing a Fuel Filter 153
Servicing the PCV Valve 156
Troubleshooting Catalytic Converters 159
Checking the Compression in the Cylinders 160
What to Do When All Else Fails 163
Chapter 9: Diesels For Dummies 165
Clean Diesels: Nontoxic Newcomers 165
The Pros and Cons of Diesels 167
What Makes It Go? 168
The Fuel System 171
The Electrical System 175
The Emissions System 176
Caring for Your Diesel 177
Getting Started on a Frosty Morning 182
Finding a Reliable Diesel Mechanic 184
Chapter 10: From Horses to Hybrids: Alternatively Powered Vehicles 185
Ethanol 186
Flex-fuel Vehicles 188
Hybrids 188
Electric Vehicles (EV) 192
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles 194
Part 3: Staying Cool and In Control 197
Chapter 11: The Cooling System Up Close 199
Coolant/Antifreeze 200
The Radiator 201
The Fan 204
The Water Pump 204
The Thermostat 205
The Heater Core 205
The Transmission Cooler 206
Air Conditioning 206
Chapter 12: Keeping Your Car from Getting Heartburn 207
Overcoming Overheating 208
Checking and Adding Liquid to Your Cooling System 210
Flushing Your System and Changing Your Coolant 215
Finding Leaks in the Cooling System 221
Buying and Replacing Hoses and Hose Clamps 224
Repairing Leaks in the Cooling System 230
Adjusting and Replacing Accessory Belts 233
Replacing Your Thermostat 234
Servicing Air Conditioners 236
Chapter 13: Oil: Keeping Your Car Young and Happy 239
How Oil Benefits Your Vehicle 240
What You Should Know about Oil 242
Choosing the Right Oil for Your Vehicle 245
How Often You Should Change Your Oil 247
How to Change Your Oil Yourself 248
Chapter 14: It’s the Brakes! 257
Brake System Basics 257
Drum Brakes 262
The Parking Brake 266
Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS) 268
Other Electronic Braking Systems 269
Brake Assist (BA) 269
Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) 270
Chapter 15: Be a Buddy to Your Brakes and Bearings 271
Checking Your Brake System 273
Getting at Your Brakes 279
Checking and Packing Wheel Bearings 287
Flushing and Changing Brake Fluid 291
Bleeding Your Brakes 293
Adjusting Your Parking Brake 296
Checking Anti-Lock Brakes 297
Part 4: Smoothing the Ride: Steering and Suspension, Tires and Transmissions 299
Chapter 16: Steering and Suspension Systems Smooth the Way 301
The Steering System 301
Suspension Systems 307
Chapter 17: How to Keep Your Car from Getting Sore Feet: Tires, Alignment, and Balancing 317
Tire Construction 318
The Secrets on Your Sidewalls, Revealed! 320
Types of Tires 325
Specialized Tire Systems 326
Tips for Buying Tires 329
Caring for Your Tires 331
Dealing with Defective Tires 341
Chapter 18: Take the Drive Train: Understanding and Maintaining Your Transmission without Losing Your Mind 343
The Drive Train 344
How Power Flows through the Drive Train 345
Manual Transmissions 350
Automatic Transmissions 354
Troubleshooting Your Drive Train 358
Taking Care of Your Clutch 360
Undertaking Transmission Repairs Wisely 362
How to Keep from Driving Your Transmission Crazy 364
Part 5: Staying Safe and Dealing with Emergencies 367
Chapter 19: Staying Safe on the Road 369
Air Bags 370
Side Impact Protection Systems (SIPS) 376
Adjustable Devices 377
Child Safety Seats and Booster Seats 378
Smart Seat Belts 383
“Eyes” in the Back of Your Vehicle 384
Brake-Shift Interlocks 387
Traction Control Systems (TCS) 387
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 388
Rollover Stability Control (RSC) 390
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) 391
Telematics: How Cars Communicate 391
Chapter 20: Troubleshooting Leaks, Squeaks, Smells, and Strange Sensations 395
Sounds 396
Squeaks, Rattles, and Vibrations 399
Smells 400
Smoke 402
Leaks 403
Strange Sensations 405
Directional Signals 406
Chapter 21: What to Do If Your Car Drops Dead or Won’t Start 407
Getting Off the Road Safely 407
Troubleshooting the Problem 410
Handling a Vehicle That Overheats on a Hot Day 413
Overheating When It Isn’t Hot Outside 414
If Your Vehicle Won’t Start 415
Chapter 22: When All Else Fails: Finding and Dealing with a Good Mechanic 419
Choosing a Service Facility 420
Finding a Reliable Service Facility 423
Evaluating a Facility 425
Getting the Best Possible Deal 427
Complaining Effectively 433
Part 6: Helping Your Vehicle Look Its Best 439
Chapter 23: Keeping Your Vehicle Clean and Beautiful 441
Environmentally Safe Ways to Clean Your Vehicle 443
Cleaning the Exterior 443
Cleaning and polishing your vehicle 451
Cleaning under the Hood 454
Cleaning the Interior 456
Remembering Those Final Touches 461
Chapter 24: Bodywork: Getting Rid of Dings, Dents, and Other Hard Knocks 463
Getting Rid of Rust 464
Removing Small Dents and Dings 467
Filling Small Dents and Holes 468
Touching Up Your Paint Job 470
Installing New Weatherstripping or Patching the Old 472
Dealing with Damaged Windshields 473
Turning to the Pros for Larger Repairs 474
Part 7: The Part of Tens 479
Chapter 25: The Ten Most Important Preventive Maintenance Measures 481
Change the Oil Frequently and Regularly 482
Do a Monthly Under-the-Hood Check 482
Check the Tire Inflation and Alignment 482
Keep the Interior Clean 482
Wash the Vehicle Frequently and Keep It Out of the Sun 483
Get Rid of Rust 483
Change the Filters 483
Change the Coolant 484
Lubricate the Moving and Rubber Parts 484
Get Scheduled Maintenance to Keep Warranties Valid 485
Chapter 26: Ten “Eco-Logical” Ways to Save Fuel 487
Take a Look under the Hood 488
Start Up without Warming Up 489
Drive Eco-Logically 489
Structure Trips to Save Fuel 491
Fill ’Er Up Eco-Logically 491
Keep Your Side Windows Shut and the AC Turned Off 492
Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated 492
Clean Out the Junk 492
Keep Your Vehicle Waxed 493
Use a Trailer Instead of a Roof Rack 493
Appendix A: A Practical Glossary of Automotive Terms 495
Appendix B: Specifications and Maintenance Records 527
Specifications Record 528
Maintenance Record 529
Index 535
