You decide to waste another perfectly good hour getting bogus car advice from the Car Talk guys when what should happen but some remark from the caller launches either Tom or Ray off topic and onto a story about The Sleek Black Beauty, their most recent wife, or their days at MIT.
Category Archives: Other
In the Driver’s Seat: A Girl’s Guide to Her First Car
Women make up more than half of the drivers on the road, but most girls still don’t know the difference between a lug nut and a dipstick. This engaging, comprehensive, and entertaining guide teaches girls to get intimate with their four-wheeled friends. Includes:
- Buying and insuring a Car
- Fixing minor problems
- Learning what’s under the hood
- Choosing a mechanic
- Surviving emergency situations
- Styling your ride
PLUS: Fun sidebars and statistics about women behind the wheel!
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How to Make Your Car Last Forever: Avoid Expensive Repairs, Improve Fuel Economy, Understand Your Warranty
For many people, a well-maintained automobile is a source of pride and peace of mind. But for others, the idea of routine maintenance is daunting. How to Make Your Car Last Forever will guide you through the minefield of preventative maintenance, repair, extended warranties, and magic elixirs that claim to cure everything from oil consumption to male-pattern baldness!
Author, car repair expert, and host of satellite radio show America’s Car Show with Tom Torbjornsen, Tom Torbjornsen has seen it all in his 40 years in the automobile industry. Let him show you how to extend the life of your car indefinitely. In How to Make Your Car Last Forever, he explains the what, when, and why’s of automotive maintenance and repairs in easy-to-understand terms. Simple how-to projects supplement the learning with step-by-step instructions that will save you time and money.
While you may not want your car to last forever, Torbjornsen’s advice will help you preserve it indefinitely while maximizing resale value down the road. Preventative maintenance is the key to the automotive fountain of youth. Let Tom Torbjornsen show you the way!
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Motorcycles: Fundamentals, Service, Repair (Workbook)
Motorcycles covers the important aspects of the operation, construction, design, testing, maintenance, and repair of motorcycle systems and components. This title also includes operation and service material relative to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and small scooters/mopeds. Content is written in non-technical language with step-by-step procedures to assist learning. This edition is up-to-date with today’s theory and service procedures.
The Workbook is organized to follow the textbook on a chapter-by-chapter basis, providing questions to help the student review the material presented in the chapter. This supplement is a consumable resource, designed with perforated pages so that a given chapter can be removed and turned in for grading or checking.
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How to Build Cobra Kit Cars + Buying Used (Project Series)
The original Shelby Cobra left an indelible imprint on the automotive landscape. This nimble English roadster, powered by a raucous Ford V-8, set new performance standards, won countless races, and became an iconic supercar. The Shelby Cobra was only in production for six short years and only 1,000 cars were ever made, but Cobra aficionados yearned for and revered these cars. Then, beginning in the late 1970s, companies manufactured and sold Cobra replicas as a kit car, so enthusiasts could build one in the garage, and other companies eventually offered complete rolling chassis as well as complete new cars.
Author D. Brian Smith, former editor-in-chief of Kit Car magazine, shows you each crucial step in assembling a modern Cobra replica, and in particular, he profiles assembling the most popular Cobra kit car, the Factory Five Cobra Mk4. He guides you through selecting the right Cobra kit car for a particular budget and performance goals, and then shows how to plan, budget, and use the necessary tools. Detailed step-by-step captions and photos show you how to assemble each major component group of the car so you assemble a strong running, reliable, and safe Cobra replica.
Also included in this informative guide is how to buy a pre-owned Cobra replica. It shows you how to inspect, evaluate, and test drive used Cobra kit cars for those who prefer to purchase an already assembled one.
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Motorcycle 201
Dave Preston has been fascinated by motorcycles since he was given a ride at the age of 15, 48 years ago. After a first career as an English teacher, he moved on to a position he created involving motorcycle dealership media, events management, advertising, customer relationships, rides, and trips, events announcing, and the creation of newsletters, e-mails, and technical papers.
Along the way he published Motorcycle 101, a common sense guide to motorcycling. Motorcycle 201 is an updated and improved version. He has hosted a call-in radio show known as The Motorsports Show, with Dave Preston, done announcing at several venues for both car and motorcycle races, and has emceed countless motorsports events and charity auctions.
He is currently the Media and Events Manager for Ride West BMW in Seattle. To date he has notes on 430 different motorcycles he has ridden, and his garage holds a Triumph Speed Triple and BMW sport tourer.
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The Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills, Knowledge, and Strategies for Riding Right (2nd Edition)
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Actron CP9550 OBD-II PocketScan Plus Diagnostic Code Reader
The Actron CP9550 OBD-II PocketScan Plus is the most advanced, powerful and compact automotive diagnostic trouble code (DTCs) reader available, but DTC’s and descriptions are just a start of the tasks it can handle. The CP9550 PocketScan is CAN (controller area network) compliant and provides freeze frame data, VIN info and performs the important task of (I/M) Inspection Maintenance-readiness testing by displaying the I/M readiness monitor status. Great for use before and after repairs are made, its small size makes it perfect for easy storage and use.

Advanced and Compact OBD-II Diagnostics
Since the 1980’s standardized Onboard Diagnostic systems first OBD-I and currently OBD-II mandated for virtually all cars and light trucks have provided automotive technicians with insight into the increasingly complex inner workings of modern passenger vehicles. On the other hand, most consumers are totally unaware of these systems, with the only indication that there may be a problem with their vehicle coming to their attention when “check engine”/malfunction indicator light (MIL) is illuminated on the dashboard. Professional technicians utilize large, expensive diagnostic tools to translate the diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) generated by the internal computer networks of in your vehicle in these events. The cost for this is passed on to you by your mechanic whether you understand the reason/mechanism or not, but entry-level do-it-yourselfers (DIY) do not have to be left in the dark.

With Actron’s CP9550 OBD-II PocketScan Plus DIYers can instantly and inexpensively gain access to the generic OBD-II codes generated by their vehicles that indicate a vast amount of valuable diagnostic information. These generic codes can be read easily with the patented one-touch read and erase buttons both during normal use parameters of their vehicle and in the event of an MIL event, with their definitions available on-screen. Designed for ease of use, the CP9550 is CAN compliant (an important OBD-II computer protocol), utilizes a standard 16-pin OBD-II connector and features a cable permanently connected to the unit. CAN functionality allows the CP9550 to interact with the different diagnostic subsystems within your vehicle. The standard pin layout and permanent orientation of the cable ensures that you will always be able connect to your vehicle’s data link connector (DLC), the OBD-II input port usually located underneath your dashboard, and the unit’s rugged construction and small size mean that it can be stored and taken anywhere. In addition to code reading the Actron CP9550 also provides access to more advanced vehicle information. These include the reading and display of “freeze frame” data, which is a snapshot of the overall sensor readings from your vehicle’s central computer at the time of a MIL event; access to the VIN (vehicle ID number); and the status of your vehicle’s inspection and maintenance (I/M) monitors, whose proper working is pivotal to a vehicle passing state mandated emissions tests.
Standard Features:
- Compatible with ALL 1996 and newer vehicles (OBD-II & CAN).
- Automatically reads DTCs when connected for fast diagnostics.
- Displays OBD-II generic code definitions.
- Reads, displays and erases DTCs.
- Reads and displays MIL (malfunction indicator light) status.
- Reads and displays I/M monitors.
- Reads and displays pending codes.
- Reads and displays freeze frame data.
- Reads and displays VIN (easy way to check vehicle ID number).
- Easy to read backlit display.
- Effortlessly powered by car battery through the 16-pin OBD-II connector.
What’s in the Box?
Actron CP9550 OBD-II PocketScan Plus compact code reader tool, users manual.
Automotive Analysis Tools to Suit Every Need
With over 40 years of experience manufacturing affordable automotive diagnostic tools Actron features a product line that has something for everyone, regardless of your level of experience. Check out the table below for current models of Actron scan tools available and their available features. Click the model number at the top of the table for further details.

About Actron, an SPX Brand
A business unit of SPX Service Solutions, Actron has a 40-year tradition as a leading manufacturer of cost-effective, high-performance automotive diagnostic and test equipment. SPX Service Solutions designs, manufactures and markets a fully integrated family of global brands providing specialty service tools, advanced diagnostic and shop equipment, inspection and gauging systems, training and technical information for vehicle servicing and maintenance.