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Book offers plenty of do-it-yourself details

Women's Car DIY, by Caroline Lake, Haynes Publishing, 119 pages, $31.95

Author Caroline Lake has directed this collection of useful information at her own gender but men will find just as much value in its pages.

Starting with a clearly laid out explanation of how a car's engine, transmission and braking system work, Lake covers them all with supporting photos and illustrations.

Once she goes under the hood the emphasis is strictly on how to do it yourself, and Lake covers how to check all the fluid levels accessible on most cars. She then goes over tire examinations and maintenance before moving on to lighting and fuse replacement.

There is some regular servicing that can be accomplished even by someone with limited experience and Lake shows the step-by-step process to change the oil and the air filter.

There is a section that addresses common problems and how to deal with them, warning lights and what they mean, noises you may hear and what can cause them, as well as how to look after a car's exterior.

The book was published in England and contains some British expressions, but that doesn't degrade the value of the information the author provides. For a solid introduction to looking after your vehicle, Lake does a great job at providing information to help make you feel confident and ready to get started.