CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
A Word from Jamie
A Word from Danielle
CHAPTER 
HOW YOUR CAR WORKS
Let’s Get Started
Revolutions per Minute (RPM)
Cylinder Banks
Now We Come to the Cylinder Bit
The Electronic Control Unit (ECU)
The Oil
The Alternator
The Regulator
The Distributor
The Timing Belt
The Cooling System
The Exhaust System
The Head Gasket
Filters
Belts and Hoses
Brakes
Suspension System
Shock Absorbers
Tires
Tires and Wheels
CHAPTER 
GETTING DOWN WITH THE LINGO
Performance Characteristics
Valves
Horsepower (HP)
Brake Horsepower (BHP)
Torque
Zero to Sixty
Miles per Gallon
Engine Features
Turbocharger
Turbo
Twin Turbo
Supercharger
Carburetor
Fuel-Injection System
TDI
GTi
Driving Characteristics
Car Handling
Understeer
Oversteer
Traction
Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)
Front Wheel Drive
Four Wheel Drive
ABS
Power Steering
Automatic
Manual
Types of Cars
Sports Car
High-Performance Car
Hybrid Car
Electric Car
Biodiesel
CHAPTER 
CAR MAINTENANCE
Before We Begin
Owner’s Manual
Symbols on Your Dashboard
Maintenance Checks
Checking Your Oil
Coolant/Antifreeze
Brake Fluid
Wiper Fluid
Tire Pressure
Tire Condition
What Your Tires Are Trying to Tell You
Windshield Wipers
Wheel Alignment
Tire Balancing
Bodywork
Spotting Problems
A Few Things to Look Out For
What Is a Car Service?
Visiting Your Friendly Local Mechanic
Here Are a Few Tips for Trying to Minimize the Emotional Trauma
Who Do I Go To?
CHAPTER 
CAR DOCTOR
Starting Problems
Pedal Problems
Exhaust Problems
Engine Problems
Miscellaneous Problems
CHAPTER 
CLEANING YOUR CAR
Clean and Protect
Getting Someone Else to Do the Dirty Work
Doing It Yourself
Cleaning the Exterior
Car Cleaning—Shopping List
Car Wash
Wax
Cleaning the Interior
Upholstery
Carpets
Vinyl
Leather
CHAPTER 
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
What to Do if You Break Down and You Have insurance
What to Do if You Break Down and You Don’t Have insurance
Flat Tire
Dead Battery
Engine Overheating
Lost Keys
Faulty Alarm
What to Do After a Car Accident
How to Handle a Minor Car Crash Without the Police
CHAPTER 
DRIVING IN THE SNOW
Snow Tires
Snow Chains
Different Types of Snow Chains
Traditional Snow Chains
Diamond Chains
Cable Chains
Buying Snow Chains
Putting on Snow Chains/Cables
CHAPTER 
BUYING A CAR
Figuring Out What You Can Really Afford
The Car Itself
The Other Costs of Driving
Gasoline
Registration
Insurance
Maintenance
Unexpected Costs
Monthly Cost of Running a Car
Buying New, Buying Used, or Leasing
Buying New
Why Do Cars Depreciate at Different Rates?
How Can I Figure Out How Much My Car Is Going to Depreciate?
Consumer Reports
Leasing
What is Leasing?
The Ideal Candidate
Buying a Used Car
Tricks the Bad Guys Play and How to Spot Them
Unpaid Financing
Clocked
Salvage Title
Stolen
Cloned
Ringing
Cut ’n’ Shut
How Can I Prevent This?
Where Can I Find My VIN?
Finding Out the History of Your Car
Going to Look at a Secondhand Car
Under the Hood
Walking Around the Car
Interior
Behind the Driver’s Seat
The Test-Drive
The Engine
Suspension
The Brakes
The Gears
Wheel Alignment
Convertible
Professional Check
How Much Should I Pay for It?
The Paperwork
CHAPTER 
SELLING A CAR
How Much Is It Worth?
What Condition Is Your Car In?
Should I Fix It?
Putting the Car Up for Sale
The Ad
Viewing the Car
Test-Drive
Negotiating the Price
The Money Bit
Saying Farewell