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How to Repair Your Car (Motorbooks Workshop Series)

Be good to your car and it’ll take you places.

Car care and maintenance aren’t just for mechanics. To ensure smooth sailing every time you’re behind the wheel, teach yourself to:

Understand the layout of your engine and the regular tuneups it needs
Handle basic roadside emergencies, from flat tires to dead batteries
Save money and improve gas mileage through regular maintenance

Under the Hood of Your Car

Taking good care of your car costs a bit of time and money in the short term, but the long- term rewards more than make up for it: your car will get better mileage, run longer and more efficiently, and operate safely. To keep your car in top shape all you need to do is learn basic car care, which includes:

General maintenance: How and when to check and change the fluids, belts, hoses, and filters to keep your car running efficiently and avoid breakdowns
Roadside repair: How to handle the flat tires and dead batteries that can afflict even the best-maintained cars
Cleaning: How to make sure your car looks good and is well protected from the elements

A Map of Your Engine

You don’t need to know a thing about the physics of combustion engines to perform basic car care. One thing you must know is how to identify the different parts of the engine that need maintenance and check them periodically to make sure they’re in good shape.