Autos Books

Carolyn Chute is basically an effortless genious. I loved the imagery of the trailers in the woods with their homey curtains. Thank you, Carolyn.

Carolyn Chute's manipulation of the English language alone warrants her place at the forefront of America's writers today. In Letourneau's Used Auto Parts, Chute continues to tell the story of the very poor of western Maine. This book, even more than The Beans truly evokes the world of the poor, the desperate, and the struggling; as well as their small but important joys and victories. This book truly opened my eyes to what is important in life.

The characters are all really depressing and it is another one of those styles in which improper grammar and a lack of literacy is used all throughout it. It was the style that goes along the lines of, "It was the store. I stood there. I saw. 'Hey watcha don' thwat ah thing fer?' He sputtered."


I don't recommend it.

This is a highly amusing cacaphony of Maine voices. Crowe Bovery's hands are tatooed with auto grease. He has spent three days with the college kid, Jill Luce. He shows up at the house of his boss. The boss's wife doesn't know Crowe has just lost his wife and children in a fire. Crowe smells like a motor running hot. Lillian Greenlaw is an ex-girl friend of Big Lucien Letourneau, Crowe's boss. Lillian Greenlaw is the second wife of E. Blackstone Babbidge.

Big Lucien has a reputation as a man of gold. At Miracle City Big Lucien lets in trailers. The leaders of the town are concerned the place will turn into a slum. Big Lucien's wife is so pregnant she doesn't attend a tupperware party. An old hippy, former wife of Big Lucien, visits. Hippies have big city accents, great hair, and love the outdoors. There used to be hippies on the property living in tents. Big Lucien's present wife's name is Keezhia. One of his former wives, Maxine, mother of Little Lucien among others, lives in Miracle City, too. Maxine works at the mill.

Patty and Armand Letourneau have a son, Severin. Patty works at a bar called the Cold Spot. People are ordered away from Miracle City. They are in violation of a new code. The back cover describes Carolyn Chute as a literary Diane Arbus. I second the characterization.

"Maxine is alone eating eggs. She has her favorite tape on low, the voice of Waylon Jennings just humming. She swings one cowboy boot in hard happy circles. 'Mmmmmmmmm,' she hums along." This a "manipulation of the English language" that should guarantee Carolyn Chute a position in the forefront of literary achievement? I think not. Her affected unpretentiousness in presenting her downbeat characters in economically wrecked western Maine is excruciatingly boring reading. The self-consciously folksy style brings the Letourneaus and the Babbidge's off as a crew of loutish oafs who, like the characters in "Tobacco Road," sit around in their shacks, crowded with wives, husbands, ex-wives, step-children, half-sisters and -brothers, cousins, uncles, doing almost nothing except occasionally shooting each other's guard dogs and lamenting the depreciation of land value. It's labor trying to plough through a narrative in which nothing happens and most details seem random and aimless.

In my opinion this manual is lame at best and largely useless to me because it does NOT cover all models. I bought it because I have a six cylinder L.L. Bean Outback and have waited 6 years for this to come out, and guess what? There is absolutely no mention of this engine in the manual and this engine has been around since 2000 or 2001. (Apparently I have a top secret engine in my 2002 Outback.) I guess if you have a four banger, it may be alright but I resent being snookered by the deceptive description of the contents. Shame on the author and Chiltons. Pass on this "manual." Spend your money on the shop manuals from Subaru and get something useable.

Pros: This manual can show you how to do just about anything in a fast\easy manner for your Subaru. Used it recently to learn all the tricks for changing headlight bulbs, took me a matter of minutes.
Cons: I have a 2000 and didn't like waiting so long for this manual to be released, I blame Subaru for making 6 years of similar cars, not Chilton.

This manual is significantly better the various other Chilton/Haynes manuals I've owned over the years. Usually it doesn't take long to discover critical information that's been left out- but I've had no such problems with this one. The photos and illustrations are plentiful and helpful.

this manual is nothing more than a haynes with different covers! shame on you people!!!! why can't the repair car manual producers create a decent manual!!!

Typical Chilton manual. For basic maintenance, this will help you get the job done. Don't expect this to be a factory manual.

This book is identical in content (word for word) to the Haynes manual. Their layout is slightly different. Buy one, but not both. Chilton seems to have larger diagrams, Haynes has more efficient print layout. Take your pick.

There are some helpful diagrams but the pictures were of very poor quality and with other information available on the internet and from available shop and assembly manuals, save your money and pass this book up.

This book had been out-of-print. The new edition that is now available looks like it was copied from an original on a Xerox copier. This makes many of the photos of little value since they did not reproduce well. The book is still good to have but it would be worth looking for an old edition with good quality photos.

Book pays to much attention to the "top of the line" Models.
Besides that its VERY good
Stefan

This is THE book if you are in the process of restoring a 1958 - 1966 Thunderbird. This book goes into every detail. I mean, they even give the specifications of the M 390 engine, right down to the cam lift and duration! This book goes into more fine details about the classic 4 seat Tbirds then any other book I have ever read. This is a must have if you are even thinking about buying or restoring one of these classics. It has chapters for every year from 58 - 66, and talks about every model for every year. Such cars as the 62 and 63 Sports Roadster, the Princess Monaco Landau, the 65 "Special Landau", and the 1960 sun roof are even included. This has to be the most complete restoration guide for these classic 4 seat Thunderbirds I have ever seen. Even if you think you know all about Thunderbirds, read this book! I can assure you that you will find things you never knew about these timeless classics.

This book isn't a detailed step by step guide in the specifics of restoring an old T-bird but it does give the new Bird owner a good idea not only of what he or she has, but what it is worth. There is a lot of very good info on the history of the 58-66 T-birds as well as an excellent section on the rare M-Code T-birds of 62-63.

Great reading for the T-bird fan or just for any car nut

Its good couse the information enough for beginner and intermediate in mechanic world. Thanks

For those of you who are looking for more than the typical Automotive Magazine information regarding automotive electronics – this book is a GOLDMINE. It is the best technical reference I have ever seen and the information is accurate. The author James E. Duffy knows more about modern automotive electronics than anyone else that I have found does. This book impressed me so much (after I had borrowed a copy) I searched it out on the net to purchase my own copy. Mr. Duffy covers the electrical systems in depth, all the ins and outs of computer control in the Big Three plus more. What interested me the most of the practical hands on approach to testing sensors and the specs of devices used. Want to know they typical outputs of Oxygen Sensors so you can test them with a handheld digital meter rather than buy some $$$ outdated tester? This is the book for you. Another example – one concise page covers pulling the trouble codes from GM, Ford and Chrysler vehicles. The garage charged my son $$$ to pull the codes on his Neon and said the results were inconclusive. I was able to pull the codes using the steps in this book and trace it to the EGR Solenoid. Starters, alternators, injection, it is all here in one book, you can throw away all the Fix- It books sold in auto parts stores which have maybe one chapter at the back covering eight model years of changes on three pages. I don’t think you will find anything better than this book. Good Luck.

I felt the book was outdated. Much of the content seems to be from much earlier editions and not relevant for todays more sophisticated automotive electronics. It would be more suited for an enrty level mechanic. The preview for the book is somewhat misleading, makes you feel it offers more than it really does. Therefore it did not meet my needs and I am returning it.

I purchased this book for my husband. I did so thinking it was trhe actual text book, but it turned out to be the study guide for the text book! I was not pleased when I recieved the book. NO WHERE on the ad for the book did it stsate it was a study guide. I didn't return it because he can use it for the class he will be taking. But, I still am not happy I was mislead.
This will not stop me from buying books from Amazon, I have bought some since then, I just want you to be aware of the misleading ad.

The book has too much info on the history of OBD, who cares. It needs more troubleshooting help. Like decision maps. It has some vehicle specific info, but again not enough. It is somewhat helpful for the beginer to OBD.

It has 1) How to extract the code 2) Code Number/Cause chart, but NO chart mapping the flashing light to the CODE NUMBER!!!!!!!!!! There's no mention of any other book to referece either. I can make my little light flash but this book gives me no stinkin' clue as to what it MEANS!!!

I use this book almost daily,it gives very good information to testing components and how to retrieve trouble codes for vehicles,although the code definitions are only the meanings of the codes,it supplies you with enough info to be able to know what to start looking at,and there are places on the web to get more help once you have the codes,so for as inexpensive as the book is,it should be in every do it yourselfers toolbox.

This book gives you the most bang for the buck. More complete information than many of the more expensive books. Easy to read and comprehend. Well organized for the weekend mechanic or professional.

It's the book, but what a chip papper

sistem mechanic chevrolet blaze

This manual has some really basic infomation. It is nothing like an acutal repair manual for my specific vehicles (1990 Suburban or 1972 C20). I have the Chevy repair manual for the C20 and it breaks down diagnostic and repair steps for just about every componant for the truck.

This one is pretty generic. Again, it is worth having if there is nothing more specific for your specific model/year.

This book is helpful but does lack information on replacing parts that are common replacements on Suburbans. Also sometimes pictures do not have arrows specifying which part it is actually showing. Since this is the only book I have found that covers Suburbans, it is helpful but I hope someday someone will do a complete teardown and use better pictures and/or drawings.

Lots of good stuff, needs to be more obvious about each model.

Love the book, however the different models are not differentiated well, so you really must read carefully.

i like the use of this manual its easy. any one could under stand it even a female like I. I myself can repair most stuff. thanks selina

the rare repair manual that i got was a big help the pages wasnt bent

i needed to rebuild starter motor but no have information on i

I bought the book for help in changing the serpantine and power steering belts on my Sebring JXi. The instructions were very clear and the diagrams excellent. This is one of the better Chilton's manuals

I have a '98 Cirrus with 2.5 engine. I bought the manual for guidance in changing spark plugs. The removal & installation section on page 1-39 and 1-40 only addresses the front 3 plugs. It is obvious by looking at the engine that something (the intake manifold plenum) must be removed in order to get to the back 3 plugs. By going to pages 3-23 & 3-24, the engine repair section, removal of the plenum is discribed. Is all of this necessary if the ultimate goal is just changing the plugs? Can the fuel line and the throttle body stay connected while the plenum is moved to one side? Maybe trial and error with provide the answer.

These manuals are a "must have" for me. I've always had one for all of my cars, and they've helped me with belts, radiators, electrical diagrams, alternators, suspensions, etc. The book pays for itself by letting you do it yourself instead of paying someone else.

The main reason I purchased the manual was to find out how to replace the 3 sparkplugs at the rear of the 24 valve 3.0 liter engine. You cannot even get a hand on them because the intake manifold is right above them. The instructions in the manual said only - 'the sparkplugs are accessible thru the valve covers'. This was no help at all. I think you either need to remove the intake, or have special tools. I would like my money back.

The book was packaged in plastic at an automotive store.
I have seen some sad efforts over the years but this one was a pleasant suprise. There were lots of clear photo's and clear
wiring diagrams. Spec's and maintenance information for the weekend mechanic were satisfactory. Most of the content was
directly related to this model. My last ford shop manual was
a 2 star effort so this was a good value for me.

I have read Clinton's book before that shows only pix and how to disassemble. So I haven't exepect much. ( You may read some review on that book. ) However this book explains which part and how to check it. For instancem using multimeter( voltage ). So the reader may find where is the problem by himself. I have read only part of this book ( where my car has problem ) , I am sure this will help a lot. I strongly recommend to the person who want to find the problem and repair it by himself.

For a beginner in auto mechanics, I found this book very helpful with it's lists of tools, photos and labels of parts. However, my biggest complaint about the book itself is the year models it represents. On the Taurus, for example, the body design changed in 2000, and you can no longer change your own rear turn signal light bulb, the manufacturer has it sealed off with access panels and silicone. This simple process/ repair has to be taken into a dealer to be repaired. This is something the book does not mention because it is talking about 1999 or previous body models. It would just be helpful if the book information represented the exact model years, so there's no confusion. Thanks. -S.L.

doesn't have everything in it. needs to be more specific

fascinante el mundo de la reparacion de automovile

a simple thing - I needed to see a construction of a body and chassis in order to identify how rain water drains, and where is AC drain - could not find it. I think the authors should revise the manual, and make it more complete.

This book has a fair amount of information about the car, but lacks quite a bit also. Many things you look for in it you can't even find because they didn't cover the topic. Things like fuse diagrams and simple things like what bulbs are used in the car are not even in the book. Get a Chiltons.