How Cars Work

This book is intended for the individual who knows very little to nothing about auto mechanics. Each page covers one specific aspect of how a vehicle operates with a short and simple explanation accompanied with large and detailed diagrams. There are seven chapters over the seven most essential automotive systems with a brief test at the end of each. One cannot rebuild a car after reading through this book, but what it does give is an overall knowledge of how a car works. The reader will gain the knowledge to understand what is going on in a mechanic's shop and to better maintain his or her own vehicle. This book is not for someone who already knows the basics of or has worked on automotive systems. However, it is excellent for anyone who has never picked up a wrench or wants a brief introduction to the subject.

This book contains very basic material on the operation of the car; it appears to be a decent read for teenagers looking to grasp the basic; but the more mature readers will find this very shallow. The text contains the fundaments of auto mechanics; it is split into seven chapters; and each chapter describes a major automotive system. It has a test section at the end of each chapter to gauge how much you have learned. This book does not cover details on 2-stroke or 4-stroke engines; how the engine starts spinning after turning the ignition etc.

I must admit that it was enertaining reading this books with all the descriptive pictures.

I was looking for something that covered the basic car and this was perfect. It even has a test at the end of each chapter so you can see how you are doing. Recognizing that cars are complex, the author does a great job of simplifying and making good use of pictures of car parts. If you have an interest in learning about cars, this book would be a great place to start.

This is a very good book for beginners. The book is broken down into general sections (body, electrical, engine, etc), and typically each page has a drawing and about half a page of text. While some people have mentioned this book is good for juveniles, this is also a great book for adults who don't know much about cars - you'll get good information on the basics without being overwhelmed by details. You can always get a more detailed book if you like this one, but this is good enough to let you speak intelligently with your mechanic. The only complaint I have is that some of the drawings seem slightly amateurish, but they do seem accurate. This is a very small complaint, other than that, great book!

My sons are Avery (5), and Ethan (3). One unusually warm day in late fall we were walking past a neighbor's house and saw a few kids gathered around a huge fire truck engine. This neighbor is a volunteer fireman, and this engine looked newly painted. We go to take a closer look and Avery says "look Dad, the crankshaft". A moment later Ethan identifies the crescent moon shape of the top of the combustion chamber where the gas burns (his exact words escape me, but he indentified the area and function, perhaps with my prompting). We had been reading and re-reading the first few pages for a week or so prior. Beaming with pride I considered sending the author a blank check, then realized he would ask me to sign it..since I was (and still am) unemployed, I thought the better of it. But the sentiment was there. I found the book on the internet because Avery had taken to asking me how cars work whenever we drove in our van. My answers were shallow, meaningless, and likely very incorrect.
I had to do something.

We never finished the book together, and lately they have been asking for it again. I have nearly completed it. When it comes to car repairs, I have been taken to the cleaners so many times that I may not even have to shower anymore. Had I read this book much earlier in my life, I would have had the confidence to at least question some repair charges. This alone makes it worth its weight in precious metals. In truth, I am a mechanical idiot. If this book can assist my young sons and me in understanding how the engine works with the crankshaft to get the wheels moving, likely it will help others too.

I could have (and maybe should have) just said 'buy the book, you won't regret it. So doit. AND, if Tom ever offers a CD of his jazz guitar playing, I promise I won't write any more verbose reviews. I'll probably be too busy stealing his licks.

S-