MDE Evergreen Press Car Maintenance and Repair Bible: Master DIY Car Fixes to Avoid Breakdowns & Costly Bills, Diagnose Common Issues & Save Thousands on Mechanics | Insider’s Tips for At-Home Car Maintenance

A practical manual that actually earns a spot in the glove box

The first thing I did after cracking open the Car Maintenance Bible was walk out to the driveway with it. This isn’t a dense textbook you read once and shelve; it’s a 197-page, hands-on guide that invites you to pop the hood, look, listen, and do. The tone is encouraging without talking down, and the safety notes are thoughtful and timely. As someone who’s comfortable with basic tools but no master mechanic, I found it strikes a useful balance between explanation and action.

What it covers—and how it’s organized

The book starts with a clear overview of how a car’s major systems work—engine, cooling, fuel and air, charging, brakes, and suspension—then moves into tools and setup, routine maintenance, diagnostics, and several bread‑and‑butter repairs. It’s written to build confidence: understand what’s going on, get the right tools for the job, then follow well-structured steps. The structure helps you triage: is this a “check now,” “schedule soon,” or “stop driving and call a pro” situation?

I appreciated the way it frames each topic with:
- What symptoms you’ll notice
- What tools you need
- How to do the job, step by step
- Safety watch‑outs
- When to hand it off to a mechanic

It also takes time to cover the soft skills most manuals ignore—how to talk to a shop, compare estimates, and avoid paying for work you don’t need.

On the workbench: what I tried

I used the book for three real jobs over a couple of weekends.

1) Headlight bulb replacement
The steps were spot-on: identify the bulb type, access the housing from behind, avoid touching the glass, and confirm alignment before reassembling. The photos made it easy to find the right clips and covers. What stood out was how the book anticipates common snags—stuck connectors, tight spaces—and proposes simple workarounds. Ten minutes per side, done. The book’s emphasis on checking local disposal rules for old bulbs was a nice touch.

2) Battery testing and replacement
The diagnostics chapter walks through using a multimeter to check resting voltage and charging voltage, with clear ranges for what’s healthy and what isn’t. It also suggests loading the system (lights, blower) to see how voltage responds. When it came to replacement, the safety reminders (eye protection, terminal order, maintaining power memory if needed) were clear and saved me time. I did have to look up the exact battery group size and hold‑down specifics for my vehicle elsewhere, but the process was straightforward.

3) Oil and filter change
The book maps the whole job from tool prep to cleanup, including locating the filter, choosing the right oil viscosity, and removing the crush washer. It reminds you to verify torque on the drain plug—without pretending to know your vehicle’s spec. That honesty is important; it encourages you to use this manual alongside your car’s service info. It also reinforces correct disposal of used oil and filters, which too many guides gloss over.

Beyond those, I used it as a checklist to do a quick health sweep: tire pressures, tread wear patterns, wiper replacement, cabin and engine air filters, brake pad inspection, and coolant and brake fluid checks. It’s convenient for everyday upkeep.

Diagnostics that respect your time

The diagnostic guidance is one of the book’s strengths. Instead of tossing a long list of possible causes at you, it groups symptoms and leads you through sensible order-of-operations checks:
- Unusual noises (squeal vs. grind vs. thump)
- Steering pull and vibration
- Overheating behavior at idle vs. highway
- Hard starts and dim lights
- Check engine light basics with an OBD‑II reader

It doesn’t pretend to be a dealer‑level scan tool manual, but it shows you how to translate symptoms into likely systems and do no‑cost tests first. That alone can save money and prevent replacing parts blindly.

Safety and knowing when to stop

Plenty of DIY car guides pay lip service to safety. This one bakes it into every section. It covers proper jacking and stands, wheel chocks, eye protection, fuel and electrical precautions, and the “don’t rush” mindset. Crucially, it’s clear about boundaries: if a job touches high‑pressure fuel lines, airbag systems, or structural components, the book tells you to get professional help. I like a manual that knows its lane.

Tools: start small, buy once

The tools chapter lays out a sensible starter kit—socket set, combination wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, torque wrench, jack and stands, funnel, drain pan, test light or multimeter—plus a few nice‑to‑haves for more advanced work. The recommendations are pragmatic, not brand‑obsessed, and include tips on buying parts yourself without getting tripped up by fitment. I added a mid‑range torque wrench and a better pair of nitrile gloves based on its guidance and haven’t regretted either.

Usability and design

Readability matters. The Car Maintenance Bible uses plain language and relies on photos to orient you. The step lists are compact and easy to follow under the car with your phone propped nearby. Each section begins with a quick “before you start” box that highlights tools and time. The index is serviceable, and the chapter flow matches how people actually maintain a car.

I do have a couple of nits:
- Jargon sometimes appears early. The book explains key systems, but I still found myself pausing to look up a term or two (a simple, front‑loaded glossary would solve this).
- A few photos are small or shot at angles that assume you know what to look for. Most are great; a handful could be clearer.
- There are helpful reminders to look up torque specs and fluid capacities, but it offers no centralized spec tables—which is understandable given vehicle variation, yet occasionally inconvenient.

None of these are deal‑breakers, but they’re places a future edition could tighten up.

How it compares to other references

Compared to vehicle‑specific factory manuals or a Haynes/Chilton guide, this book is broader and more approachable, but less detailed on model‑specific procedures and specs. That’s by design. It’s a confidence builder, maintenance planner, and triage partner rather than a step‑by‑step teardown guide for your exact car. I found the best workflow was to use it to understand the task, follow its checklists, then consult my car’s documentation for exact capacities and torque numbers.

What it doesn’t cover

No single book covers everything, and this one sensibly avoids:
- Deep engine or transmission internal repairs
- Complex electronics and advanced driver‑assistance systems
- Hybrid/EV high‑voltage procedures
- Bodywork and paint

It also won’t decode manufacturer‑specific fault trees the way a service manual and scan tool would. If your goal is advanced diagnostics on late‑model vehicles, you’ll want additional resources.

Who will get the most from it

• New drivers and first‑time car owners who want to stop guessing and start maintaining
• Anyone trying to extend the life of a paid‑off vehicle without overspending
• Parents equipping teens with practical car knowledge
• Casual DIYers who like clear steps and safety guardrails
• Even experienced tinkerers who appreciate concise checklists for routine work

If you’re already comfortable rebuilding calipers, chasing parasitic draws, or coding modules, you’ll still find value in the maintenance planning and diagnostic scaffolding, but this isn’t meant to replace a model‑specific manual.

Recommendation

I recommend the Car Maintenance Bible for anyone who wants to take control of basic car care, spend less on routine shop visits, and make smarter decisions when something goes wrong. It’s approachable, safety‑first, and genuinely useful in the driveway. While I wish it had a front‑loaded glossary and the occasional larger photo, the guidance is clear, the steps are practical, and the emphasis on knowing your limits is refreshing. Paired with your vehicle’s specs and, when needed, professional help, this book is a worthy companion that pays for itself quickly.