Lisa has written a book: Clueless About Cars.
  "The worst thing a customer can do is put the keys on the table and tell the mechanic, ‘Fix it.' It's like giving him a blank cheque."
-Lisa Christensen

The latest book in The Clueless Series TM, Clueless About Cars, focuses on something near and dear and unnerving for many of us: car repair and maintenance. For most of us, cars rank second only to houses in terms of major life expenses. A car is a statement of independence, a symbol of social status or financial success, a way to get from point A to B. First and foremost though, a car is a significant investment. So it only makes sense that car owners should want to protect their investments and make sure that they get the most mileage - figuratively and literally-out of their cars. In Clueless About Cars Lisa Christensen, licensed mechanic and diagnostic specialist, helps those new to the car game and seasoned pros alike become familiar with their vehicles and learn how to care for them.
In simple, informative and often hilarious language, Christensen acquaints readers with the fundamental systems of the car. She covers the basics of preventative maintenance and offers advice on how to make a preliminary diagnosis when something goes wrong (and it always does!). She also provides tips to help car owners talk to their mechanic, how to diagnose a car's tics, tocs, and knocks and how to perform basic do-it-yourself repairs.
For the novice driver who doesn't know a hubcap from a gas cup, to the seasoned driver looking for a better sense of control, Clueless About Cars is a glove-box must!

You can order this book at:

    * Indigo/Chapters
    * Independent
    * Amazon

BOOK REVIEWS:
"From the First Lady of Cars comes this informative, accessible guide to the care and feeding of your vehicle. Clueless About Cars is packed with information and tips. Whether you're a beginner or a car nut, Lisa Christensen tells you what you need to know."
George Iny, President, Automobile Protection Association.

EXCERPTS:
Chapter 1: Getting to Know Your Car

Most of us can tell a fan belt from a cinch belt or a spark plug from a hair plug. But would you know what to do if your timing chain suddenly snapped during a long drive in the middle of nowhere? Do you feel like you're being hosed when your mechanic talks to you about, well, hoses, ballast resistors, differentials and drive shafts? Consider this volume a self-help book for car owners. With it under your belt, you should be able to pull into your local garage sitting upright in the driver's seat, head held high, brimming with automotive confidence. You may even be able to avoid the garage altogether and try some basic repairs yourself. Who hasn't wanted to tinker under the hood at some point in their lives?This book will be a welcome companion for those times when you can't get to your local garage, or when you want to save a few bucks and get your hands dirty.

A Healthy Car Is a Happy Car

Even a new car will break down if it's not taken care of. Your car's got hundreds of moving parts that start to wear down as soon as you drive it off the lot. Did you know that as soon as you leave your car dealer the value of your new purchase decreases substantially, by approximately 25 percent? Even though proper maintenance and driving technique will extend the life of your car and its parts, wear-out and breakdown are only a matter of time. A car owner must be like a boy scout: be prepared, and make sure you've got the necessary tools. We'll talk about what that means in the next few chapters.

Poetry in perpetual motion

You may have heard the expression "poetry in motion." Indeed, car talk is peppered with metaphors. A car has a body. You take care of your own body by feeding it the right foods, and making sure it's clean and in good working order. You see a doctor when part of you breaks down, but if you eat right and take care of yourself, you avoid breakdown and only need to see the doctor once a year for a checkup.

Do unto your car as you do to yourself. Or to paraphrase the immortal Socrates, know thy car. If you've got a new car, read through the owner's manual. If you've got a used car(secondhand, pre-owned, whatever; if someone had it before you, it's used), there are several resources for information on the model, make, and year of your car.

Understanding the symptom before a part actually breaks down will not only save you money, it can also save your life. We'll get into safety tips in subsequent sections- this is important stuff. For now, let's get into the basic makeup of your car. Did you think of the vanity mirror when I said "makeup"? Well, that's not what I meant. I'm talking about your car's components.