| Getting Comfortable with Your Vehicle | p. 7 |
| Reviewing Your Owner's Manual | p. 8 |
| Using Your Car Manufacturer's Web Site | p. 11 |
| Learning from the Pros | p. 12 |
| Finding and Taking Advantage of a Good Auto Parts Store | p. 14 |
| Understanding the Computer in Your Car | p. 16 |
| Knowing Your Vehicle's Warranty Details | p. 17 |
| Keeping Your Own Record | p. 18 |
| Putting Together Your Fix-It Kit | p. 21 |
| Deciding on the Basics of Your Garage or Work Space | p. 21 |
| Your In-Car Emergency Kit | p. 27 |
| About Packaged Kits | p. 30 |
| A Tool to Let Your Car Tell You What's Wrong | p. 31 |
| Thinking Ahead: Cleanup and Disposal | p. 31 |
| Playing Detective under the Hood | p. 33 |
| Anatomy of Your Vehicle Beneath the Hood | p. 34 |
| Identifying and Locating Fluids You Need to Check | p. 35 |
| Checking Hoses, Belts, and Connections | p. 45 |
| Scoping Out the Exterior | p. 47 |
| Before You Start | p. 48 |
| Check Your Vehicle's Balance | p. 48 |
| Look Over the Vehicle Front and Windshield | p. 49 |
| Check the Vehicle Rear | p. 51 |
| Inspect Your Tires | p. 51 |
| Check for Rust | p. 52 |
| Test Your Lights and Horn | p. 55 |
| How's Your Exhaust? | p. 56 |
| Oiling Squeaky Doors | p. 58 |
| Wrap Up with the Little Things | p. 58 |
| Practicing Good Maintenance Prevents Nasty Repairs | p. 59 |
| Reasons to Maintain Your Vehicle | p. 60 |
| Maintenance Steps | p. 61 |
| Maintenance You Should Schedule | p. 72 |
| Tuning It Up! | p. 73 |
| What's a Tune-Up? | p. 74 |
| The Why and When of Tune-Ups | p. 74 |
| How Often to Tune Your Vehicle | p. 75 |
| Symptoms of a Car Out of Tune | p. 76 |
| Same Symptoms, Different Causes | p. 76 |
| Don't Wait for Symptoms | p. 77 |
| Equipment You Need for a Tune-Up | p. 77 |
| Before You Do It Yourself | p. 78 |
| Doing Your Tune-Up | p. 79 |
| When a Tune-Up Doesn't Fix Your Vehicle's Performance | p. 88 |
| What to Do If Your Vehicle Fails an Emissions Test | p. 89 |
| Coping with the Top 10 Common Problems, Part 1 | p. 91 |
| Fixing a Malfunctioning Car Alarm | p. 92 |
| Replacing a Dark Headlight and Turn Signal Light | p. 93 |
| Dealing with a Soft or Flat Tire | p. 96 |
| Recharging or Replacing a Dead Battery | p. 100 |
| Tightening a Loose Fan Belt or Replacing a Broken One | p. 111 |
| Coping with the Top 10 Common Problems, Part 2 | p. 117 |
| Overcoming Heating and/or Cooling Problems and an Overheating Engine | p. 118 |
| Dealing with a Noisy Muffler | p. 129 |
| Doctoring a Vehicle That Just Won't Start | p. 131 |
| What Does "Flooding the Engine" Mean? | p. 135 |
| Coping with Poor Fuel/Oil Consumption | p. 138 |
| Knowing When to Take It to the Pros | p. 141 |
| Knowing What a Pro Should Handle | p. 142 |
| Recheck Your Warranty | p. 143 |
| Try to Get a Sense of the Cost | p. 145 |
| Find a Professional Mechanic | p. 145 |
| Request an Estimate | p. 146 |
| Make the Scope Clear | p. 148 |
| Ask to See the Parts Removed and the Work Done | p. 149 |
| Coping with Subpar Results | p. 149 |
| Congratulations! | p. 150 |
| Car Repair and Maintenance Resources Online | p. 153 |
| Glossary | p. 163 |
| Index | p. 171 |
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