Auto Repair and Maintenance: Keep Your Vehicle in Tip-Top Shape

Family Car features 10 of the most common car problems (e.g., what to do when your car doesn't start), and each issue is explained in great detail. Scroll down the busy, ad-filled homepage to find the section on major auto repairs (it's on the right side).

OBD-Codes.com disseminates information about on-board diagnostics, the messages that say things like "MAP Higher Than Expected." The easiest way to find these facts and figures is to click on "Trouble Codes" at the top of the screen and then choose the model of your car. The forums here help with any other questions you may have; browse through the recent forum topics to view recent discussions.

Auto MD is an online car doctor. Features such as "Drip ID" and Virtual Automotive Diagnostic (VAD) help you diagnose mysterious blue leaks and pesky engine problems, and if these features still can't figure out your car's illness, you can always ask your own questions at "Mechanic's Corner." You'll have to register to use this site, but membership is free, and the wealth of information makes the effort worthwhile.

Be Car Care Aware is a campaign initiated by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). The site is meant to assist consumers with general car issues, and it touches upon many aspects related to car repair and maintenance. On this site you can find information about collision repair , getting your vehicle ready for a road trip, essential tools for DIY types, finding parts, and more.

DIY Network has information on a variety of topics, including auto body repair and tire alignment. The most popular projects are listed on the Automotive homepage-see what other car owners are doing for preventative maintenance this winter, for example.

Jonko Online Auto Repair compiles a substantial number of facts and recommendations about auto repair. The tutorials are short passages about auto repair that cover issues like common leaks and overheating thermostats. There are also opinion and troubleshooting sections and message boards that connect you to a wide community of car owners with similar questions. Although the site's design is rudimentary, these links are clearly visible and easy to distinguish from the ads at the top of the page.

Carbibles.com was created by a car enthusiast seeking to share his knowledge with other drivers. The graphic design on the site is a bit distracting, but the content is helpful. Information is organized into various bibles: the "Engine Oil Bible," the "Suspension Bible," the "Transmission Bible," and so on. Each section is loaded with text, photographs, charts, and pictures that guide you through the process of car repair and maintenance.

Auto-Facts.org provides a list of illustrated DIY car-repair articles on the bottom of the page. A column on the left of the page offers links to common auto themes offers car-buying tips, information on detailing, automotive news, and much more.

Auto Zone 's list of repair guides for various makes and models is by no means complete, but it just might include your car. The guides are thorough, easy-to-follow, and organized by car feature, such as "Body and Trim" and "Suspension and Steering." 

Popular Mechanics has a huge archive of how-to guides on car repair and car maintenance. Although there's a wealth of information, the site is not organized by category or topic; if you're willing to spend some time looking for them, you'll find articles with great advice, such as "How to Repair Your Car Scratch."

Haynes Online supplies popular DIY car repair manuals. Each manual has step-by-step instructions accompanied by hundreds of photographs. The site is easy to navigate, and you can search for a manual by the specific make and model of your car. The drop-down menu helps narrow your search by brand, year, and model, which makes finding a specific vehicle easy.

eAutoRepair offers do-it-yourself guides and schematics, mechanical repair advice, and factory tips for vehicles made between 1983 and 2005; the site also sells a DVD of vintage repair manuals for cars manufactured between 1960-1982. It costs $9.99 to access the information for a week, $14.99 for a month, and $29.99 for a year. Before you purchase a subscription, though, be sure to read "What's Inside" and "What's Not Inside" so you're not stuck with useless information.

Books4cars.com boasts more than 40,000 automotive books and manuals for American, European and Japanese cars, as well as motorcycles and trucks. If you click on the link to a specific manual, you'll get lots of information on what to expect: page numbers, illustrations, and the models discussed within the manual. The Seattle-based store ships books and manuals anywhere in the world.

ChiltonDIY.com offers detailed instructions on repairing cars. A one-year online subscription costs $19.95. Click on the "Features and Samples" link on the left side of the page to see examples of the detailed information provided by this service.

2 Car Pros , created by a father-and-son team of mechanics, is a great place to go with car-repair questions. The site is primarily organized in a question-and-answer format; the creators of the site have tried to answer each one of the more than 118,000 questions archived there. The "Site Menu" on the left-hand side of the page makes browsing categories easy; for example, you can search by topic, manufacturer, or symptom.

WiseBread is a blog about personal finance and "frugal living tips." This particular post shares the blogger's advice for removing car dents. His two tactics for this type of auto repair, one involving dry ice, and the other, a hairdryer and air duster, are both available on video. You can also read his insightful blog entry on repairing scratches.