Word to the wise-Read the Manual. With every appliance, gadget, machine, electronic, and yes, vehicle that is purchased, there is an accompanying manual. The cold, hard fact is-you do not want to read the manual. Nobody does. However, if you will take the time to sit down and at least thumb though and scan the manual you will force familiarity with what you sit in and drive most everyday. And, believe it or not, reading the manual can save you bundles on car repair. Most manuals and warranty booklets even come with a maintenance log that will help you keep track of all maintenance schedules and car repairs.

You might be surprised with what you find. Besides teaching you simple procedures like how to start your car, opening the hood, and changing a flat tire, it will give you instrument and control info-which will come in handy when a downpour comes out of nowhere, pre-driving checks and adjustments, tips for optimal heater and air conditioning controls, emergency procedures, wheel and tire care, and a diagram of the dashboard indicating what every light and switch means.

Most manuals will also give you car part(s) information and important model numbers that you might need, especially if you are doing the car repair or maintenance yourself. This is valuable information when making purchases an at auto parts store.

For those of you who enjoy getting under the hood or just refuse to pay high car repair prices, a Do-It-Yourself section not only educates you on maintenance precautions, but literally teaches you-sometimes with illustrations- how to do minor repairs and maintenance, which can save loads on car repair. And for those who have a used car or are in the process of restoring one, some of the car parts and their proper placement are explained in detail, often with diagrams.

A little preventive maintenance goes a long way when it comes to maintaining a low budget for car repair(s). You will find simple info like jump-starting your own car or even changing a headlight bulb.

The included maintenance schedule can help give you a heads-up on when you might expect to make minor or major car repairs.

If you happen to purchase a used car that does not have a manual. Go on-line and find one. It is actually pretty easy to do and will help you in the long run. Locate the website of the auto maker and you should be able to maneuver yourself to a place where you can find the manual. If all else fails call the dealer.

Just remember that the more that you know about your car the easier it will be for you to understand car repair and it may aide you in finding car parts for simple, at-home repair jobs. Your manual is the quickest way to find what you need to know about your particular make and model.