How Cars Work

by Tom Newton

How Cars Work is a completely illustrated primer describing the 250 most important car parts and how they work. This mini-textbook includes wonderfully simple line drawings and clear language to describe all the automotive systems as well as a glossary, index, and a test after each chapter. How Cars Work provides the basic vocabulary and mechanical knowledge to help a reader talk intelligently with mechanics, understand shop manuals, and diagnosis car problems. Tom Newton guides the reader with a one topic per page format that delivers information in bite size chunks—just right for teenage boys.

Author and illustrator Tom Newton is a school psychologist. How Cars Work was developed for teens, but is also used by automotive service managers and mechanics to help customers understand repairs. This book can be found in adult literacy programs, high schools, and middle schools. How Cars Work makes it fun and easy to learn how cars work!

Genres: Cars, Nonfiction, Engineering, Science, Education

96 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 1999

Reviews

[Yura Gavrilovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, everything fell into its own place after reading this book regarding car engines!
It's succinct, with a schematic picture on every page. Everything is explained pretty well, though having a minimal technical background before reading is definitely a plus.

[Krishna Chaitanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a pretty good book to start with if you are just beginning to learn about cars. The illustrations are understandable and the explanations are in a quite simple language. I would say that this book would be a beginner's guide.

[Vlad Dacau · Rating 5 out of 5]

E o carte mai veche si sunt unele elemente (gen carburator) care nu mai au sens asa mare, DAR: intelegi muult mai bine cum functioneaza o masina pe combustie datorita limbajului simplu si a diagramelor. Mi a placut mult ca la motoare era explicat si pentru americani si pentru restul lumii, cu exemple de V8 si 4 in linie in tandem. Sau la suspensie, cu exemple de suspensie normala sau pe foi in tandem.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reference - not an in-depth repair manual for any specific model, but a great overview of each system on the car.

I like this part of the intro:

"How Cars Work was the most stolen book at Kennedy High School in Richmond California! Teachers like our title and so do librarians. The History channel, Modern Marvels-2000, Actuality Productions, Inc is using How Cars Work to train staff for a documentary on automobiles."

[Ñukñu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very simple and barebones introduction to the systems in a car. There’s a glossary but no bibliography or further reading. There are diagrams on almost every page. After each
chapter there’s a test to identify parts and review concepts. In comparison to the ASE preparation book for electrical systems, this book seems more practical. From my experience working on cars for several years, the largest portion of your learning is hands-on. Having the tools, environment, time, and support from experienced people has been the determining factor for my learning and skill development. This book helped in putting in a simple order what I have learned so far in the event I would need to explain quickly how a car works.

[Vardaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent intro to the anatomy of a car engine. I am trying to see things more as systems that can be broken down, and it always bothers me that although I know what I need to do to keep my car running I never knew the WHY.

This book helped answer quite a lot of that and then some, very useful diagrams that show the entire car system while isolating key parts pertinent to the part being displayed. This is an ideal book for someone who has no idea what’s going on under the hood and wants to understand the basic relationships between the parts of a car. I found myself wanting to know more, but that’s exactly what a good introductory book does so highly recommend this.

[Liam Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Went and got a copy yesterday from Infinity Books in Asakusa cus I just wanted to know how a car works lmao

Amazing info and all super clear with diagrams. Favourite part was the deeeeep pathology of everything. Going all the way down to the very base, fundamental processes by which everything works was honestly like a bit of a lecture course and amazing for 1,000 yen and a few hours reading.

I FINALLY know what the clutch does now every time I use it wrong <3 lmao

[Thomas Bolen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for explaining the basics and showing pictures to explain the basics. The tests and quizzes are also a great way to retain knowledge. My understanding of the basics has grown exponentially thanks to this. I also understand how complex a car is and how many different things go into making a simple car go.

[Ben Gruber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good! Becoming slightly dated as we move into more advanced electronics / hybrid systems and beyond. Would benefit from a bit more detail on most topics. I wanted a high-level, and it still left me with questions to google on every page. Overall a great introduction to a lot of words you’ve probably heard before in passing.

[Noel Ardelean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative book and a good starting point to how cars work. It covers the most important concepts and tests you at the end of each chapter.

It could do with a bit more detail on how certain parts work to paint a better picture and to feature coloured diagrams instead of black and white.

Overall great and quick read.

[O LCB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty self explanatory, but a bit out of date with some car formats these days, though minimal really. It explains in detail each part of the car, perhaps it would have been worth a union of all this, but for that there are thousand videos on YT.

[Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book illustrating the basic mechanics of cars. Wish it had the answers for the questions at the end. Also wish it went into a little more detail about some of the topics.

[R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well done book that explains the basic mechanics of cars and the images supporting the text are quite helpful.

[Alex Faucher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent beginner's guide to car parts with succinct explanations and helpful diagrams. Reading this was a very good use of my time!

[Michael Bartellas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Succint. To the point. Brokedown intricate concepts into a base detail easily digestible.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers the very bare basics

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction with good illustrations.

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great diagrams!

[Erhabor Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's very nice

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I’m a man

[John D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid book for any who wants to learn about cars. I knew completely nothing before reading this book and now I can speak compitently with mechanics. I cannot recommend this book enough!

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great visual resource to learn about cars!

(I'm pleased to say that my Machine Design knowledge came in clutch!)

[Owen Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book to learn about the basics of a car and I've got exactly what I've paid for. This book covers every essential parts that is needed for a car to run but not in depth. That doesn't mean that this book is poor quality because this book is written for people that are new to cars to learn the basics about them. Quality illustration makes it very easy for the reader to understand the use of the part. It also helps to actually visualize the part working in a running car. At the end of each chapter, there is a short quiz that reminds you of everything you've learned in the chapter and tells you what you have to go back and review. This book was definitely excellent for me because now that I know the basics of the car, I can learn other technical things in depth and I can also refer back to this book when I'm not sure how certain parts in a car works.

[Slaim96 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book to give you an awareness if the overall general car construction.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple explanations for basic car systems. A good, quick read for someone who didn't grow up working on cars. How cars work, not how to work on cars.

[Prashant · Rating 5 out of 5]

its very good