(Part 2) Best automotive repair books according to redditors

No, paper manual. This is it:

Porsche Boxster, Boxster S Service Manual: 1997-2004 https://www.amazon.com/dp/083761645X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bZJSDbP8CX1FD

here's a couple of kindle books for examples... there's plenty of online books on the subject. these are a place to start. 1 and 2

check the online resources at your local library too. they often have books you can check out to your computer, if you don't have time to look through the shelves. there are a lot of web sites with free ebooks too.

i personally wouldn't tune for knock, the power should be a bell curve so as you hone in on the best settings power should rise then fall after maximum power is reached, then start to drop off before it knocks.

so that is what i'd tune for. at worst knock tuning would be a disaster on some engines, and on others you're likely loosing power . at the dyno i've often seen people say tune to knock then back off a whatever a good number/% they've heard is.

you have to know a lot of about the math of specific engine you're tuning for to do proper calcs to get you base maps that are close, so since not all that is available, VE being the most useful, it often does become iterative and you just get a feel for it.

dynos aren't that complex, they just measure torque. the manual for them usually has the operation procedure in them, or the rep shows you. but basically you just do a pull on it while it measures rpm/tq and AFR then it plots an HP/TQ graph usually with some compensation for loss, or which conversion factor to use, SAE etc (where a lot of the online battles take place on dyno figures)

i prefer dynapak's myself, mostly since theyre a lot safer and i don't walk over the roller when concentrating on the laptop, and i've felt they're more controllable/repeatable but YMMV

https://www.dynomitedynamometer.com/dyno-dynamometer-article.htm has a good overview of the different styles.

these are some of the books i have

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0837603005

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470057572

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0837611083 (general motronic overview)

https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-Automotive-Handbook-Robert-GmbH/dp/0837617324

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0837615410

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932494421 good starter book

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0760315825

https://www.amazon.com/Auto-Math-Handbook-HP1554-Calculations (updated ver)

This question has been asked a bunch of times, but the one post I've found the most helpful was /u/that_video_art_guy's response in this post. For quick reference, here's the copy/paste:



I've read many of these books, I'm partial to the mechanics and team member books but find all of them to be very enjoyable.


The Super Collective Super list of Super Good F1 Books:

Mechanics/Team Members


[Life in the Pit Lane: Mechanic's Story of the Benetton Grand Prix Year](
http://www.amazon.com/Life-Pit-Lane-Mechanics-Benetton/dp/0760300267/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356716346&sr=1-5&keywords=steve+matchett) - Steve Matchett

[The Mechanic's Tale: Life in the Pit-Lanes of Formula One](
http://www.amazon.com/Mechanics-Tale-Life-Pit-Lanes-Formula/dp/0752827839/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356716346&sr=1-1&keywords=steve+matchett) - Steve Matchett

The Chariot Makers: Assembling the Perfect Formula 1 Car - Steve Matchett

Team Lotus: My View From the Pitwall - Peter Warr

Jo Ramirez: Memoirs of a Racing Man - Jo Ramirez

Art of War - Five Years in Formula One - Max Mosley, Adam Parr, Paul Tinker

Tales from the Toolbox: A Collection of Behind-the-Scenes Tales from Grand Prix Mechanics - Michael Oliver, Jackie Stewart


Technical Books

Red Bull Racing F1 Car: Haynes Owners' Workshop Manual

McLaren M23: 1973 Haynes Owners' Workshop Manual

Lotus 72: 1970 Haynes Owners' Workshop Manual

Tune to Win: The art and science of race car development and tuning - Carroll Smith

Engineer to Win - Carroll Smith

Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners and Plumbing Handbook AKA: Screw to Win - Carroll Smith

Race Car Vehicle Dynamics: Problems, Answers and Experiments - Doug Milliken

Chassis Design: Principles and Analysis - William F. Milliken, Douglas L. Milliken, Maurice Olley

The Racing & High-Performance Tire: Using Tires to Tune for Grip & Balance - Paul Haney


Technical Driving

Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving - Ross Bentley

Going Faster! Mastering the Art of Race Driving - Carl Lopez

Working the Wheel - Martin Brundle


Drivers and Rivalry's

Senna Versus Prost: The Story of the Most Deadly Rivalry in Formula One - Malcolm Folley

The Limit: Life and Death on the 1961 Grand Prix Circuit - Michael Cannell

Winning Is Not Enough: The Autobiography - Sir Jackie Stewart

Shunt: The Story of James Hunt - Tom Rubython

Alex Zanardi: My Sweetest Victory: A Memoir of Racing Success, Adversity, and Courage - Alex Zanardi, Gianluca Gasparini, Mario Andretti.

It Is What It Is: The Autobiography - David Coulthard

Flat Out, Flat Broke: Formula 1 the Hard Way! - Perry McCarthy The Black Stig, Damon Hill

F1 Through the Eyes of Damon Hill: Inside the World of Formula 1 - Damon Hill, Photography: Sutton Images


People Of F1

Life at the Limit: Triumph and Tragedy in Formula One - Professor Sid Watkins

Beyond the Limit - Professor Sid Watkins

I Just Made The Tea: Tales from 30 years inside Formula 1 - Di Spires

Bernie: The Biography of Bernie Ecclestone - Susan Watkins


Picture Books

McLaren The Cars: Updated 2011 Edition

Art of the Formula 1 Race Car - Stuart Codling, James Mann, Peter Windsor, Gordon Murray

Since Google seems to not be your strong suit.
Bently Manual

I've got an 08 MCS and I replaced the engine out of warranty. Aside from that I had the timing chain/tensioner, thermostat, and high pressure fuel pump all replaced under warranty. If I had to do it all over again I'd still buy my car in a heartbeat. Yes, my love for my car outweighs any and all problems I've had. I've had numerous amazing experiences in the 165,000 miles I've driven and I look forward to so many more.

If you can get a warranty with the purchase, do so, but I'd recommend looking at financing with your bank/credit union and also getting the warranty through them if possible. Just my personal experience that you're much better off doing that than getting financing or warranty at the dealer.

My biggest suggestion would be to see what the local MINI community is like. They can be your best resource to find out what shops do great work on MINIs (and will likely be cheaper than BMW pricing), and on top of that they make fantastic friends! Other than that, I'm thankful for the Bentley Service Manual (Amazon Link). I'm not incredibly mechanically inclined, but the manual has good detail and I'm enjoying doing my own work when I can!

Good luck and hope to see you back on here beaming with your new (to you) MINI!

Small Engine Repair Up to 20 Hp

Start tearing them down and building them up. Not a lot to it, I've been working on them since I was 12.

Well they are not really that complex at that scale but I'm sure if you wanted you could find any number of books on the subject like the following.

http://www.amazon.com/Small-Engine-Repair-Up-20/dp/0801983258

http://www.amazon.com/Race-Car-Vehicle-Dynamics-Experiments/dp/0768011272

http://www.amazon.com/Racing-Chassis-Suspension-Design-PT-90/dp/0768011205


Can't learn suspension design without chassis design!

If you're interested in ride/handling or chassis design:

Race Car Vehicle Dynamics

The Science of Vehicle Dynamics

Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics

Chassis Design: Principles and Analysis

You must be a masochist! As /u/verdegrrl mentioned, the corrado is an absolute nightmare in terms of reliability, but they are super fun and very unique cars. A low mileage, well cared for Corrado SLC would be a fantastic car to own, but they are highly coveted by enthusiasts and typically sell for wayyyy more than they're actually worth. The Corrado G60 is an interesting car from an engineering standpoint, but the superchargers are not very robust, and they're very expensive/difficult to [repair and replace] (http://www.bahnbrenner.com/vw_audi/products/606/G60_G_Lader_Supercharger_Rebuild_Remanufacture).

From 1983-1993 the Cabriolet was more or less unchanged. The 1993 model year is when VW introduced a new Cabriolet based on the A3 platform. Honestly I'm not really sure if the A3 version would be better than the older A1 version. I think whichever one has less miles and is in the best condition would be the best choice.

I think you're on the right track though- look for something with reasonable milage, that's in good running condition, and that has some sort of maintenance history (in other words, a stack of receipts for past repairs and maintenance).

Owning an old VW will certainly be a good learning experience for you. I learned a ton about cars from owning a couple VWs over the years (1973 bus, 1984 GTI, 1984 Cabriolet, 1989 GTI, 2010 TDI. Wow, I never realized how many Volkswagens I've owned, haha). You can read up on common problems and maybe even look for a car for sale on [the vortex] (http://forums.vwvortex.com/forumdisplay.php?152-Cabriolet). Its a pretty good resource. And, I said it before, and I'll say it again, get a [Bentley] (http://www.amazon.com/Volkswagen-Cabriolet-Scirocco-Service-Manual/dp/0837616360) to go with whichever VW you buy. Good luck!

I go back and forth between Pulkrabek and Stone for an intro ICE book. The next is always Blair's Design and Simulation of the Four Stroke Engine and then the overview books end with Heywood's Fundamentals of the ICE.

If you're really looking at doing this whole thing yourself, get yourself a Chilton/Haynes manual, as well as YouTube videos, it will give you all the #'s your need for torquing etc.

• Service Manual 2000 Chrysler Cirrus
  
• Chilton Online
  
• Chilton Physical
  
• Haynes Physical
  
  I recommend either of the physical ones, because you can have the book open with you down there - and hey, it's $30 ($10 for the Haynes), and you don't have to trust some kid on YouTube.
  
  When I'm doing work on my car I'll check the forums regarding my year of car, print out some relevant notes, but then I'll use the manual (Haynes in my case) for pictures & recommended numbers on the area I'm working on.
  
  I just leave it in the back of the seat pocket.

It's hard to fit all that into one book, or even ten books. There's a staggering amount of technology packed into cars. The amount of history is tremendous too, just check out the amount of American automobile manufacturers that no longer exist. So the best I can do is two books.

Car: The Definitive Visual History of the Automobile



Automotive Technology

You could try Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach by James Halderman. One book covers 90% of the material. I know you can get some editions in pdf format, not sure about ebooks. That was my main info source durine my block training.
And during your search, stay the hell away from anything by Thomas Birch. He's knowledgeable, but the text is painfully mind numbing.

Edit: found a link, the 5th edition is available in ebook format on amazon.
https://www.amazon.ca/Automotive-Technology-Principles-Diagnosis-Service-ebook/dp/B00XIH45HG

First off, buy this book.

Second, join Bimmerfest and read the fuck out of this forum.

Third, buy a decent tool kit (I've had good luck with Craftsman) and get wrenching!

Ive got a high mileage E34 540i, which if you dont know requires constant work to keep it tip top. I highly recommend you find/download/buy a copy of Bentley's e36 m3 service manual. They are fantastic and designed for a DIY at home mechanics like your self. My E34 manual is about 600 pages with pictures and diagrams and are easy to follow so I assume the E36 M3 manual should be no different.

For gods sake though, she owns an E36 M3 .. she needs to take care of it.. fuck, Ive been looking for a nice one for the last 6 months but havent.. shes lucky to have such a nice bmw.

link: http://www.amazon.com/BMW-E36-Service-Manual-1992-1998/dp/0837603269

do it dude, seriously.

It's a great car. The M42/44 four cylinder is a great engine, and the rest of it is still an e36, though it's missing the rear end bit :P

The only things you may need to look out for is, if MT, a wearing clutch (4th gear clutch test, can tell you that), fuel pumps/hoses on the e36 break a lot, radiators and cooling system needs to be check constantly on older models, and on that note check the heater core(!), and listen for timing chain slap (rattling on the valve cover on the front of the engine), though that shouldn't present itself for another 25k miles.

It is a great car for commuting, regardless of what others think about it. I always loved hatchbacks. You could do some minor upgrades, exhaust and intake, to eek a little more power but don't expect it to ever be a road rocket.

Also, get a repair manual for it and learn to do things, not just the 'small things'. This is the best repair manual you can find. Don't be afraid of getting in over your head, there is no such thing.

Good luck and have fun! Let us know if you have any more questions.

Also if you or anyone else is really looking into it the two most useful text book I found to be SMAD (Space Mission Analysis and Design): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mission-Analysis-Design-Technology-Library/dp/9401051925/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=space+mission+analysis+and+design&qid=1559028595&s=gateway&sr=8-1


Other good reads are Fundamentals of Astrodynamics (which is much more relevant for KSP) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fundamentals-Astrodynamics-Dover-Aeronautical-Engineering/dp/0486600610/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SWR1ICPOGQ7X&keywords=fundamentals+of+astrodynamics&qid=1559028689&s=gateway&sprefix=the+fundamentals+of+astro%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-1 And Ignition! to cover the history in a very entertaining manner https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ignition-Informal-Propellants-University-Classics/dp/0813595835/ref=pd_sbs_14_1/259-4345144-1867258?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0813595835&pd_rd_r=9e3755d8-811a-11e9-9b3b-b9bbd55e85d0&pd_rd_w=sq1G0&pd_rd_wg=m37dV&pf_rd_p=18edf98b-139a-41ee-bb40-d725dd59d1d3&pf_rd_r=WPHT2J5EFR2KZ1WYVJEX&psc=1&refRID=WPHT2J5EFR2KZ1WYVJEX .


You can probably find pdfs online for those if you look mind.

Yes, there is a manual called the Bentley Manual that shows you how to do EVERYTHING.

It costs $75 but will save you hundreds.

http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/083761645X


Besides that, there are forums that help out with everything. The best 986 forum is, well, 986forum.com.

This might sound trivial and silly, but really the best place to start when it comes to familiarizing yourself with all the systems that go into specifically an electric FSAE car is the rule book. Recruit a bunch of students with an EE/Mechatronics/Software/Computer Science background into your team, study the EV section of the rules, and brainstorm. As with the rest of the car, you as a team are completely free to choose how to implement your electronics so long as you are rule compliant. Other than that, this book, this book and/or this book might help (haven't read them myself).

John Hayes' book Electric Powertrain...

https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Powertrain-Systems-Electronics-Vehicles-ebook/dp/B077V73YJT

Pick up a mechanic's textbook. Or something like this: https://www.amazon.ca/Two-Stroke-Engine-Repair-Maintenance-Dempsey/dp/0071625399#customerReviews

And be careful - there are a lot of well intention people out there who pro's classify as 'knows enough to be dangerous'. Take advice / learn from the wrong person and things will go wrong very quickly.

Cheers & gl :)

S

oh shit my man, i might be able to actually help you out. first of all - older VW's are easy as shit to work on. secondly, get parts from www.germanautoparts.com thirdly, look here and here for DIY tips and other helpful things. If you have the money, buy one of these as it'll have info on how to fix pretty much everything on the car.

If you look, you should be able to find enough DIY info to replace your timing belt and water pump pretty easily.

Also - unless I'm looking at the wrong info, the water pump shouldn't be driven by the timing belt. It should be a small 'V' belt that is run off of the crank shaft pulley, which should also run the power steering pump (assuming you have power steering) - so your timing belt may not even be in jeopardy... I've had friends that were big into their VW's and worked on them regularly that confused the V or Serpentine belt with the timing belt.. actually, this looks to be a good DIY for replacing the water pump...

if the belt in question is one like these: http://www.germanautoparts.com/Volkswagen/Cabriolet/Engine/15/1 (notice the size and the slight V shape, smaller width on inside than outside) instead of one of these http://www.germanautoparts.com/Volkswagen/Cabriolet/Engine/223/1 then you're not dealing with the timing belt.. Note: click the images for a larger view.

Also, where are you located?

That odometer is fixable with a replacement gear from ipd or Ebay, some clown put copper grease in mine though so I had to replace the whole speedometer. :(

Also, I absolutely recommend the Bentley service manual for this car, it's not perfect but it's the best of the "home manuals" and great for common procedures and torque specs. You can find everything online but having the book is super handy.

The wiring diagrams aren't great (that's its weak point) so I recommend downloading the PDF(s) from here and using them for any wiring woes you may have, they're much more readable.

'92 is a great year that said, water pooling on the dash is really not good. The ECU for the fuel injection,the EZK for the ignition and the fuel pump relay are all located above the passenger side foot well. You need to address that pronto, probably a poorly installed windshield or rust under the seal allowing water ingress. Get a Bentley manual and check the fuses, fuel pump relay, see if it looks like water is getting into the ECU or EZK. Get the manual, these cars are easy to work on but even if you don't it'll give you a better understanding of your 28 year old car. Lastly have your mechanic check out the crank position sensor (CPS for short). Located on the back of the engine, subject to high heat so the wire insulation gets cracked. If it shorts out that'll cause the problem you're seeing. Oh yeah, find a Volvo shop in your area if you can't do the work. Where are you?

I replaced my cam shaft and lifters on my 05.5 brm at ~135k miles (now have 220k+) pretty much using this link and a service manual, if you're at all mechanical savvy. All-in I was about $800 in parts and accessories if I remember correctly. Definitely seek out a diesel guru from tdi club for a second opinion. I had a dealer tell me my car was totaled at the time.

To do the cam shaft you'll need some special tools. If you're looking at doing the work yourself, send me a PM. I have the tools and may be able to send them to you.

Edit this is the manual I referenced

http://www.amazon.com/BMW-E34-Service-Manual-1989-1995/dp/0837603196

I have that bad boy. Pretty useful, especially when combined with some internet research before hand (how hard is it, how long does it take, ect).

To what end? Got to ask why you're planning this work.

Are you looking to change the suspension pickup points? If that's the case, you'll need to do the math on suspension design to ensure that your suspension points will work. Carroll Smith wrote the definitive book on this subject (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0768011205/ref=pd_aw_sim_14_of_12?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2Z9CNKQKDTFVS2QX0DN8) If you're not going to change suspension points, a well built jig will allow you to replicate the pickup points and build a tubular subframe.

Regarding Roll cages, you'll want to follow the rule book of whatever racing you plan to do. A roll cage built without a rule book isnt a great idea. Different motorsports sanctioning bodies have different rules. If youre going to do different kinds of racing, you'll need to make sure you meet all of the requirements of all the rule books. This could require some creative thinking before you ever bend a tube. Even if you're not going to race (but then why the roll cage), it's best to follow a certain set of guidelines.

http://www.amazon.com/Modify-Management-Systems-Motorbooks-Workshop/dp/0760315825/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300143812&sr=1-3


this is another good book. it helped me figure out my boost leak issue and adjusting my apexi safc unit. get a boost guage and wide band reader to start. good luck!

This one is comprehensive and, importantly for me, well-illustrated. :-)

http://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Technology-Edition-James-Halderman/dp/0132542617

(Automotive Technology by James Halderman)

Oh, that's great! Thanks a lot! I was reading this, but that's just engine.

Haynes seems to have dropped the ball on Minis, but there is a good Bentley Publishing manual available for the full run. This is the one I have :

https://www.amazon.com/MINI-Cooper-R55-Service-Manual/dp/0837617308/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519153953&sr=8-1&keywords=9780837617305&dpID=51oyh90FgRL&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

I mean every book I've read on engine design or even fundamental theory behind combustion refers to ice when it comes to vehicles. A few stick with saying internal combustion engine but that's a mouthful

Edit: This book, originally published in the 90s, often uses the term ICE and is one of the most commonly used books for basics of engines. It certainly wasn't the first to use the term, nor will it be the last. The term internal combustion engine started when they were first being developed as a way to distinguish them from earlier heat engines which either used external combustion or some other heat source.