Auto Fundamentals (Text)

Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: I hate cars, don't like to drive, and when I had to buy one I was determined that I might as well know what goes on inside one. I never thought the engineering and design of a car could be so fascinating, I stayed up reading this book. If you have even a mild technical bend you will enjoy the book, even if you don't like cars (I still don't).

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book!!
Review: I learned everything about cars from this books. The colors diagrams are very clear, and the text is novice-friendly. For car enthusiasts and people who've just grown fond of cars, this is an excellent starting point. I've recommended this book to at least two friends.

Rating:
Summary: This book is just incredible
Review: I purchased this book to gain a better understanding of the inner workings of engines. I was a bit hesitant at first because of the somewhat high price tag, but after reading only the first part of the book, the amount of knowledge I have gained is priceless. The book is incredibly detailed but everything is explained quite clearly and in easy to understand laymans terms. The authors have taken a very technical engineering subject and have successfully made it enjoyable to read. The abundance and clarity of diagrams and technical cut-away drawings in the book is astounding. Everytime I turn the page I found myself saying 'Wow!', then spending 10 minutes looking at all the cool pictures before I begin reading. If you are thinking about becoming a do-it-yourself mechanic or just want to know anything and everything about the workings of automobiles, this book is excellent.

Rating:
Summary: study time
Review: I'm reading the book right know and it's very informative. It is indeed a textbook and has to be read carefully and more than once to grasp the principles of the complex automobile. So if you're serious about learning cars, get the book, and set some time(like a class)aside to be able to grasp the information.

Rating:
Summary: Informative, Indeed, ... indeed.
Review: It may be noteworthy that I first declare my own prowess in the art of auto mechanics and engine maintenance - that being none whatsoever. Thus I started my journey through these grease-stained orange covers (evidently I picked up an older printing) still wet behind the ears, green at the gills, etc. I have emerged with a great deal of newly acquired knowledge nested in my brain. I think it would be equally useful to a seasoned pro that needs to look up a particular detail. The book provides detailed information on the various parts of the standard (int. comb. gasoline engine) automobile; starting with the fundamentals of a single-cylinder engine, working up from there, and eventually taking the reader through ignition, cooling, lubrication, fuel, exhaust, transmission, and electronic systems. This is a textbook (which explains the price), so it includes questions at the end of each chapter, which are helpful. Also, you should realize that picking up a book, even this one, will not be extremely useful if you don't have an old block or something to actually check out. Having said that, if you just desire a 'fundamental' understanding of auto mechanics, this is still a good bet (although you may want to pick it up at your library instead of buying it). Five stars!

Rating:
Summary: Informative, Indeed, ... indeed.
Review: It may be noteworthy that I first declare my own prowess in the art of auto mechanics and engine maintenance - that being none whatsoever. Thus I started my journey through these grease-stained orange covers (evidently I picked up an older printing) still wet behind the ears, green at the gills, etc. I have emerged with a great deal of newly acquired knowledge nested in my brain. I think it would be equally useful to a seasoned pro that needs to look up a particular detail. The book provides detailed information on the various parts of the standard (int. comb. gasoline engine) automobile; starting with the fundamentals of a single-cylinder engine, working up from there, and eventually taking the reader through ignition, cooling, lubrication, fuel, exhaust, transmission, and electronic systems. This is a textbook (which explains the price), so it includes questions at the end of each chapter, which are helpful. Also, you should realize that picking up a book, even this one, will not be extremely useful if you don't have an old block or something to actually check out. Having said that, if you just desire a 'fundamental' understanding of auto mechanics, this is still a good bet (although you may want to pick it up at your library instead of buying it). Five stars!

Rating:
Summary: Great Reference Book!
Review: My wife and I spent the weekend getting the alternator replaced in 1997 Altima. My wife ask me what the alternator was and I didn't have a clue. I hit the book store that day and looked at a huge number of books. No other book went into the level of detail I wanted about alternators. What's it purpose? Where is it located? What can go wrong with it? All this is covered in Stockel's book and about every part of the car.

Rating:
Summary: This is a must for any real car enthusiast!
Review: Reading 'Auto Fundamentals' is like taking a college Auto Tech class at your own leasure! Pretty much every question you have about the fundamental automotive systems WILL be answered by the time you finish this textbook. This is an absolute must-read for anyone looking to get into an automotive field, no matter what branch. Plenty of pictures (with thier own accompanying explanations) are placed throughout the book to give you plenty of visual aides to go along with the text. Although this is an excellent read, there are a few parts of the book that can overwhelm you (eg. automatic transmissions/transaxles and power steering systems we're so over my head I had to skip those chapters). The author goes into extreme detail at the beginning of the book, but that detail kind of tapers off near the end. Not so much that you won't be able to comprehend what your reading, but enough that it may get a little frustrating to read. I'm still giving this 5 stars though, it more than deserves it for it's wide variety of content and (for the most part) clarity.

Rating:
Summary: This is a must for any real car enthusiast!
Review: Reading 'Auto Fundamentals' is like taking a college Auto Tech class at your own leasure! Pretty much every question you have about the fundamental automotive systems WILL be answered by the time you finish this textbook. This is an absolute must-read for anyone looking to get into an automotive field, no matter what branch. Plenty of pictures (with thier own accompanying explanations) are placed throughout the book to give you plenty of visual aides to go along with the text. Although this is an excellent read, there are a few parts of the book that can overwhelm you (eg. automatic transmissions/transaxles and power steering systems we're so over my head I had to skip those chapters). The author goes into extreme detail at the beginning of the book, but that detail kind of tapers off near the end. Not so much that you won't be able to comprehend what your reading, but enough that it may get a little frustrating to read. I'm still giving this 5 stars though, it more than deserves it for it's wide variety of content and (for the most part) clarity.

Rating:
Summary: A comprehensive book for all mechanics
Review: This book explains in detail almost anything a person would want to know about cars. It is great for the beginner to the intermediate mechanic. The color illustrations explain visually everything taught by the book.