# Help for a Student Project **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 18, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-for-a-student-project/56528 "2010-10-18T14:18:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![luigihenne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@luigihenne](https://community.cartalk.com/u/luigihenne)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-for-a-student-project/56528/1 "2010-10-18T14:18:26Z")
Hi everyone, I am a tenth grade student who, for a school project, wants to create a learning tool on basic car maintenance. When I interviewed potential users, they thought a manual would be the most useful type of tool. I would like know where I can find good examples of similar ?how-to? manuals focused on basic car maintenance that practically anyone can do. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-for-a-student-project/56528/2 "2010-10-18T16:21:42Z")
Start with you parents’ vehicles. They have an owner’s manual that will ensure the right maintenance is done. Since cars differ, you cannot create a universal manual that applies equally to all cars. Certain things, like oil changes, cooling sytem service are needed for all cars, but the frequency will vary. So, read the owners manuals of your parents’ cars first. Then come back to us with additional questions. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-for-a-student-project/56528/3 "2010-10-18T17:04:36Z")
Unfortunately, I don’t think there is a manual “focused on basic car maintenance that practically anyone can do” because, in my opinion, many drivers should not be trusted to do even the most basic maintenance. Even with something as simple as an oil change, if you mess up something small, the resulting damage can be catastrophic. Basic maintenance is a skill that must be learned, and the best way to learn it is from someone who knows, not a written manual. Rather than use a manual, someone who is interested in learning to do basic maintenance should find a knowledgeable friend or family member to show her/him the basics. If you don’t have a knowledgeable friend or family member, perhaps one of these books would have what you are looking for: [http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Repair-Illustrated-ebook/dp/B003T9V1C0/ref=sr\_1\_fkmr2\_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287421251&sr=8-1-fkmr2](http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Repair-Illustrated-ebook/dp/B003T9V1C0/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287421251&sr=8-1-fkmr2) > **[Dare To Repair Your Car: A Do-It-Herself Guide to Maintenance, Safety, Minor Fix-Its, and Talking Shop: Julie Sussman, Stephanie Glakas-Tenet: 9780060577001: Amazon.com: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Dare-Repair-Your-Car-Herself/dp/0060577002/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287421251&sr=8-1-fkmr0)** > > We're back! And this time we've got your back when it comes to you and your car. In Dare to Repair: A Do-It-Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the Home, we opened the door for you into the w ... > **[The Complete Idiot's Guide to Auto Repair: Vyvyan Lynn, Tony Molla: 9781592574957: Amazon.com: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Repair-Illustrated/dp/0028644328/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1287421251&sr=8-1)** > > Put the brakes on costly car bills. The Complete Idiot�s Guide to Auto Repair Illustrated covers everything readers need to know about their automobiles, from the tires up. Tailor-made for true novice ... [http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Trouble-ebook/dp/B001329QB8/ref=sr\_1\_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1287421251&sr=8-2](http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Trouble-ebook/dp/B001329QB8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1287421251&sr=8-2) If you want to find more, I found these on [amazon.com](http://amazon.com) searching for “idiot’s guide to car maintenance.” You might try searching [amazon.com](http://amazon.com) or [bn.com](http://bn.com) for similar books. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-for-a-student-project/56528/4 "2010-10-18T17:31:16Z")
> **[Car Bibles | Automotive Advice & Product Reviews](https://www.carbibles.com/)** > > CarBibles.com is the leading resource online for practical advice, product reviews and guidance for your car. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-for-a-student-project/56528/5 "2010-10-18T17:35:10Z")
Do your own homework. ---
**Author:** ![luigihenne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@luigihenne](https://community.cartalk.com/u/luigihenne)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 5:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-for-a-student-project/56528/6 "2010-10-19T05:37:44Z")
Thanks, your suggestions were very helpful. A major part of the project is to tap into the information that is already out there, analyze it and then take it to the next level ---
**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 10:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-for-a-student-project/56528/7 "2010-10-19T10:04:09Z")
How about Googling “basic car maintenance”? ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 11:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-for-a-student-project/56528/8 "2010-10-19T11:22:43Z")
The really hard, but most important part will be convincing your readers that they need to read the book and do (or even have someone do) the maintenance. Lack of maintenance is a very expensive thing to do to a car.