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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