Auto Repair For Dummies

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.

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.