Auto Fundamentals: How and Why of the Design, Construction, and Operation of Automobiles : Applicable to All Makes and Models

I almost didn't buy this due to the high price- £85 when it was first released- but I'm glad that I did. Back then, I knew very little about cars in general and nothing at all about engines apart from that they burned fuel, you sometimes had to top them up with oil. Growing tired of (and poor from) increasingly regular maintenance and repair bills, I decided to try to teach myself as much as possible so that I could work on my own car rather than taking it to a garage for everything.My goal was only to understand enough to tackle basic tasks, but by the time I'd read this book from cover-to-cover I knew enough to go out, buy the necessary tools and then strip down a cylinder head to replace a damaged exhaust valve. This might sound like an exaggeration but the book is so well written, illustrated and organised that even someone who knows absolutely nothing about engines etc can learn an incredible amount in a very short space of time (it took me about 2 weeks of reading it every evening to cover everything). It's incredibly comprehensive and detailed but it starts off every subject area with the most basic explanations and examples possible, gradually adding complexity until the examples used are real-life automotive systems or processes.After the successful valve replacement I went from dreading attempting anything car-related to actually looking forward to tackling new jobs, and in the months that followed I ended up not only getting my existing car into the best condition it'd ever been in but also buying another car specifically to restore and then performance-tune. This grew into a passion for cars and engines that has been with me ever since. I think so highly of this book that I'm about to buy the latest (11th) edition that's due to be released later this month (May 2014) to stay up-to-date on the major changes and advancements in technology that were either non-existent or at least very rare on cars of a decade ago but are now commonplace on newer cars.I highly recommend it even to those who already know a lot on the subject, because it's so comprehensive that you'll still learn something new, and if you're just beginning to learn like I was, you won't find a better starting point.

You could think from the title I gave the review that this book is only for dummies, it is certainly not intended to be a negative opinion.The way it explains all the different issues is such that anybody will be able to understand, even if you have nothing to do with car mechanics.I think that these guys deserve a maximum rating for their books on auto mobile mechanics.

Second Bind provided me with a very accurate description on the condition of book. Used book was in mint condition. Their price was very reasonable compared to other sources with sub par book condition. Delivery time was sooner than expected.Will definetly use their services again.

At first i wanted it's textbook version, then by mistake i placed an order on it's workbook version. And contacted the seller BOOKWIN, and easily they agreed on returns even though packaging was opened, which is against return policy. That was some amazing AMAZON's assurance. But i just thought about looking into it while i still had it and trust me i was completely amazed by the random page i opened [from brakes chapter].There were so many easy questions that one may not even consider, guys like me actually ignore them. BTW m in 3rd year doin mechanical engineering from DTU, delhi. And i can tell that the textbook (that i also have now) is a must buy before getting this, also this workbook is as important as the textbook. There are so many easy and "make sense" questions that people ignore even in a college like DTU. Even though it might never help in academics, but if you are some one like me that study not for marks but for knowledge, then i recommend every automobile engineer out there. And i am pretty sure companies seek this kind of basic but in depth knowledge in any engineer they'd hire.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I started this book not knowing much about cars and ended with a vast amount of knowledge. The book goes through basically every system under the hood of a car. It starts of extremely basic and works upwards in complexity as the book and chapters progress.Before reading this book it would be helpful to have the following:1. Knowledge of Physics, most importantly electricity and magnitism. There are a number of different applications inside a car that make use of solenoids, magnetic fields, inductance, AC/DC current, and many more concepts in this field. Knowledge and understanding of circuit diagrams also would help into understanding how things work.2. Principles of hydraulic systems.Thats basically it, being a Physics student I had these at my disposal so it wasn't too bad for me. The book DOES have explanations of all of these concepts, but it still would make understanding easier if you had the knowledge prior.Here are the pros and cons of this book:PROS:-Starts concepts off in a very basic manner but progresses into complexity. This helps satisfy people who may just be learning, and people who want to know the hardcore details of things.-VERY informative. There is so much information in this book that it is pretty much assured you will finish with a thorough understanding of the way cars work and run. It will most definitely help you diagnose complicated problems that you might be having with your car.-The end of each chapter provides questions and key words that are essential for understanding.CONS:-Many times in this book, it will refer to a system in a car that it has not yet been defined. For example, it may reference the differential in a suspension system, yet it has not said what a differential is. It would probably help (it did for me at least) to know a SMALL amount of information about each system in the car before you read this book. Articles on "ehow.com" are excellent in providing a good amount of information in a short concise article.-There are no answers to the questions at the end of each chapter. I guess there is a teachers edition or something out there, but the book I had had no answers for the questions. Which means you really do not know if you are right or not when you answer the questions.-The information on Anti-Lock breaks was extremely lacking. I found it strange that every other chapter of the book went into great detail except for on Anti-Lock breaks.Thats really all there is to say. I fully enjoyed this book. It has an incredible amount of information and you will definitely finish with an extensive knowledge about cars. VERY VERY please with this purchase! :D

Perfect textbook for anyone who wants to learn more about the inner workings of vehicle mechanics. Easy to understand and full of descriptive diagrams.

Upon purchasing my 3000GT SL, it was as if a whole new world opened up in my eyes—the petrolhead culture. Famous for the Japanese domestic market and American muscle fued, all while German and Korean engineering take a step back in their own territory and style of cars. Not even a few hours in after I began to drive my car home, I stumbled upon a souped up ’06 WRX STI, revving his engine next to me at a stoplight and flashing me a cliché Fast and Furious look. “Yoooo, is that twin turbo?” he snarked. “No I wish,” I said, hesitantly. Being that he seems like the typical egotistical show-off, I was almost tempted to make a knock-knock joke, since Subaru’s have the tendency to have engine knocking. Right as he did a burn-out in front of me, it irritated me enough to intentionally turn this daily driver into a racecar, and show him up the next time if he ever came my way.Browsing upon the various workbooks and textbooks in Amazon, I came across this workbook, loaded with 4 star ratings and a reasonable price of $21.03. It took a swift three days to arrive to my apartment, and there it bestowed upon my doorstep in a sturdy envelope. With eager eyes, I proceeded to peruse through the whole book, scanning for the pages that described the typical additions to your car that would make your car insurance cringe. Blow-off valves, turbochargers, superchargers, coilovers, air-bag suspension systems, cold-air intakes, limited slip differentials, roll cages—none were apparent in this book. My heart broke a little bit. I was hoping to refer to this book, rather than cramming episodes of Mighty Car Mods on youtube into my brain. Then, after giving this book a chance by working through the problems, along with the critical thinking scenarios presented in this book, it redeemed itself to me. The authors really meant it when they say it provides the “fundamental” aspects in auto mechanics. I may have learned my share in working and fixing cars with my dad, but it delved in depth on the thermodynamics that occur in things such as the four stroke cycle of an engine, and what the process occurs in catalytic converters. This workbook even went so far as to name off typical troubleshooting problems that the everyday driver encounters, like that annoying high pitch sound that just won’t go away, no matter how many times you take apart and put back together your car. Although this workbook didn’t give me the skills to turn my car Superstreet Magazine worthy, it assisted in helping me brush up on my maintenance skills.This book is for your average Joe, who wants to know more about what’s under the hood of your car in detail, with analogies and quizzes to better help with retention of the information presented. If you’re a petrolhead trying to further expand your knowledge--who can easily tell the difference between a Magnaflow and a grossly welded on lawn mower exhaust system--this book may be child’s play compared to what you currently know. Overall, it is a good workbook, and I would definitely reference this again, paired with my manual if little things like my alternator bearings or timing belt isn’t exactly the way it should be.