TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Vehicles and Systems List - 6
Chapter 2 - Engine - 11
Chapter 3 - Fuel System - 25
Chapter 4 - Cooling System - 29
Chapter 5 - Exhaust System - 35
Chapter 6 - Drive Train System - 39
Chapter 7 - Brake System - 43
Chapter 8 - Suspension - 51
Chapter 9 - Air Conditioning and Heater Systems - 59
Chapter 10 - Electrical System - 63
Chapter 11 - Anti-Pollution / Emissions Systems - 69
Chapter 12 - Safety Systems - 71

SECTION II
Chapter 13 - Glossary, Terms and Jargon - 75

SECTION III
Chapter 14 - How to do the 3000 Mile/3 Month Maintenance - 103

SECTION IV
Chapter 15 - How to do Annual Checks (12,000 mile or 12 months) - 109

SECTION V
Chapter 16 - Spotting Trouble Before It Strikes And Knowing What Happens, After It Breaks - 119

SECTION VI
Chapter 17 - Emergency Repairs - Tips and Hints - 137

SECTION VII
Chapter 18 - Tools to Keep in the Vehicle & Their Uses - 145
Chapter 19 - Tools Needed for Maintenance & Their Uses - 153

SECTION VIII
Chapter 20 - How to Clean and Detail your Vehicle - 161


Chapter 13 - Glossary, Terms and Jargon

AC - AC is the abbreviation for Alternating Current a type of electrical current.

A/C - A/C is the abbreviation for Air Conditioning (the slash between the letters, shows it's different from AC).

A/T - A/T is the abbreviation for Automatic Transmission.

ABS - ABS stands for Anti-lock Brake System.

CCA - Abbreviation for COLD CRANKING AMPS. This is a rating of how much power a BATTERY can give when required to start a vehicle.

ECM - ECM is the abbreviation for the ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE, better known as the vehicle's computer.

EFI - EFI is short for either Electronic Fuel Injection or Electronically Fuel Injected. This means that the computer controls the fuel injection process.

HEI - HEI is short for High Energy Ignition.

MFI - MFI is an abbreviation for Multi Port Fuel Injection

MPI - MPI is an abbreviation for Multi Port Injection

P/B - P/B is an abbreviation for power brakes.

P/S - PIS is an abbreviation for power steering.

PSI - PSI is an abbreviation for Pounds per Square Inch, which is a measurement of pressure.

P/W - P/W is an abbreviation for power windows.

Chapter 17 - Emergency Repairs (Hints and Tips)

QUESTION - I'm driving down the road and I notice that my temperature gauge is starting to climb. I know that I need to pull over as soon as possible but I am about 5 miles away from any help. Is there any way that I can make it to that help, without doing any major damage?

ANSWER - First, you are right, you need to get that vehicle off the road quickly. The answer to your question is yes, there is a way that you can buy a little time. First, turn off all accessories, such as the air conditioner as well as anything electrical that you don't need, like the stereo. The reason for this is that the A/C puts a strain on the engine, which in turn causes more heat. Limit the amount that the alternator has to work. Next, put down all of your windows. This is needed or else the next step will be very uncomfortable. The next thing is to put the heater on and turn the fan on high. This gives the engine another radiator and will help cool the main system. Also, keep your speed to about 25 MPH. This little trick will only buy you a few extra minutes but that might be enough. If you use this trick, make sure to purge out any air that will get into the heater core after you have made your repairs. If you fail to get this air pocket out, you will have other problems later, such as the heater won't work. Or, if you turn the heater on later, the coolant level will drop and then the engine will run hot, so make doubly sure to clear out any air pockets.

QUESTION - My vehicle is starting to get hot. I notice that the electric fan is not coming on like it normally does. I think that it might be bad. How can I get to a mechanic to have him repair it?

ANSWER - The first thing you can do is check it yourself. It might be the fan switch which turns the fan on when the temperature reaches a certain point and then turns it back off when the temperature cools down. This is a very common problem, more so than the fan going bad. The fastest way to check is to put on the air conditioner. You see, there is a second fan switch hooked into the air conditioning system. Every time you put on your A/C, the fan will come on and stay on continuously. This is because the A/C puts a major load on the engine, and without the fan, the engine would quickly overheat. If the electric fan comes on when you put on your A/C, then have your fan thermostat switch replaced. You can now drive as long as you want as long as you leave your A/C running. If the fan does not come on when you put on the A/C, the fan is bad and has to be replaced. You can either have the vehicle towed, or you can drive for a short while until the temperature starts to go up, then pullover and let it cool. After it's cool, start all over again. Keep repeating this process until you reach a mechanic. This way takes a very long time and you must pay close attention to the temperature, but you will be able to get where you are going.