You can save hundreds of dollars with the 'Auto Repair for Dummies' books!

If you're not mechanically inclined, there's perhaps nothing more frustrating than to get in your car, turn the key and have nothing happen. Is it the battery? I've heard of a solenoid and an alternator. Can this have something to do with the car not starting? Despair sets in as you try to figure out what the problem might be. You're already running late and you haven't got a clue as to what to do. You ultimately make do by calling a friend for a ride or calling a garage and preparing to max out your credit card. There's got to be a better way. There is. While it may not pull you out of the fire today, investing in the 'Auto Repair for Dummies' book for your make and model can save you a ton of money in the future.

Take it from me, if I can put these books to use, anyone can! My level of expertise is in the range of differentiating between a Phillips and a flat screw! I can identify a fan belt and find the dip stick for the oil. Oh, yes, I can also refill my water! Beyond that, I'm a lost soul in car land.

I first discovered the merits of the 'Auto Repair for Dummies' some decades ago. My 1968 Karmann Ghia began making terribly ominous sounds when I applied the brakes. A screeching sound of metal-on-metal. Not good. Having no mechanics handy, or affordable, I bought the 'Auto for Dummies' book to investigate the problem. It was a do-or-die proposition. I soon discovered the chapter pertaining to brake calipers. The book gave detailed diagrams, showing the workings of the brakes, as well as the all-important calipers. It showed exactly how to remove the tires and then dismantle the recalcitrant calipers. Although it took me an entire day to round up the parts and some bruised knuckles, the job was completed. Brand new, reliable brakes. The 'Auto Repair for Dummies' won a permanent place in my heart and made history in my mechanically disinclined life.

Working on cars or diagnosing their problems is not my cup of tea. So I didn't use my 'Auto Repair for Dummies' book to become a mechanic. However, some twenty years later, I inexplicably decided that I would learn how to tune up my VW bug. Simple enough, right? Ha! It was really a matter of saving money. If I could successfully replace brakes, this should be a piece of cake. I bought the 'Auto Repair for Dummies' book, having full faith that I would be guided to a successful tuneup. I wasn't disappointed. I didn't enjoy the scrapes and bruises, but eight hours later, I was good to go.

Prior to my adventures into brake replacement and car tuneups, a misbehaving car was a frightening, expensive and frustrating concept. Now, I know better.

Take this advice: go to the bookstore and look up the 'Auto Repair for Dummies' for your vehicle. Inspect the table of contents. You'll find a wealth of information that will help you prevent future problems. Take a gander at the section on diagnosing problems. These wonderful books lead you, step by step, through the maze of automobile problems and diagnostic procedures. No matter how mechanically challenged you might be, you'll surely know when you know you need a real mechanic.