How to Diagnose and Repair Automotive Electrical Systems

I found this book after searching for the book that got me started about 20 years ago in electrical diagnostics and after finding it figured I would give it a review it’s a amazing book for entry level technicians working on 12-24 volt dc systems found in anything from a car to heavy equipment. It really breaks down some tests and components in glossy easy to understand color photos. This was one of the books that led me to a career of electrical diagnostics that now has me working as an instructor for caterpillar. I would recommend this book to anyone interested or struggling with interpreting electrical fundamentals

I liked that the book is clear and straight to the important points quickly!

not a lot

Estoy estudiando un grado superior en Automoción en el que también se da la asignatura de electricidad de vehículos. Compré este libro porque me encanta esta materia y también me gusta leer en inglés. Explica muy bien las cosas y todo con un lenguaje sencillo. Compraré más libros de esta editorial.

I've always been interested in cars and have tried to do as much of my own repairs and maintenance as I can. One aspect of my knowledge I've always thought a bit lacking was auto electrics. So I decided to improve this. I know the basics and I watch stuff on Youtube, some of which is helpful, some not so, but I've always liked books. Perhaps this is a generational thing (I'm over 60). So I searched on Amazon for an appropriate one and came across Tracy Martin's. Not expensive and not overly complex. Not a stuffy academic treatment of the subject. Just a good guide to the common sense basics. The book itself? It's softback, 160 pages with colour photographic and diagrammatic illustrations throughout. In fact every page has atleast one. The diagrams especially are clear and in a visually attractive style. He starts out explaining basic electrical theory (D.C.), basic electrical circuits (series and parallel) and Ohm's law. Then in chapter 2 he explains what I think the most valuable electrical test one can know, the voltage drop test. Chapter 3 he covers basic electric testing equipment such as the digital Avometer, test light, battery testers and oscilloscopes. All explained clearly and succinctly. In chapter 4 he covers batteries. Chapter 5 covers charging systems (dynamos and alternators) including basic A.C. and starter motors. In chapter 6 he covers modern electronic ignition systems after going through the old type contact breaker system. Chapter 7 is devoted to modern electronic fuel injection systems. Chapter 8 covers wiring diagrams and finally chapter 9 goes over troubleshooting techniques. Throughout he assumes you know very little and then takes you from the absolute basics through to a deeper understanding. I have learned an awful lot from this little book and was even inspired to upgrade my old digital multimeter with a more modern clamp ammeter type. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone with little knowledge of basic auto electrics but who is motivated to know more and also to someone with more advanced knowledge who wants a succinct refresher and new look at the subject. If the latter then one can just delve into any chapter where one feels the need to improve one's knowledge without reading from the beginning. However, if one is a relative newcomer to the subject then reading from beginning to end will definitely help your knowledge and skills, helped in no small measure by the author's easygoing almost conversational style. My one slight criticism, and I am being niggly, is that it is an American book and the cars and manufacturers given as examples may not be familiar to a UK reader. But the principles of how their electrical systems and components work are identical. For the price of a couple of pints of beer a great buy!