Car Mechanics

Car Mechanics is the UK's only car magazine with essential advice on maintaining and repairing popular makes and models. It’s an invaluable motoring resource that appeals to both the DIY car enthusiast and the more experienced motor trade professional. Car Mechanics has helped save money for our readers every month since 1958. Each issue includes a wide range of in-depth features written in a clear, straightforward manner: • Readers’ motoring-related problems answered for FREE • Real-life motoring dilemmas from our man in the garage trade • Electronic diagnostics delves inside a different modern vehicle each month to explain its management system • Survival Guide looks at new and used component prices for a particular vehicle • Used Car Focus is an in-depth buying guide on a specific make and model • Service Bay covers a full service with close-up images and comprehensive descriptions • Project cars are a major part of the structure of the magazine as we buy, fix and sell different vehicles over a period of months So if you're into saving money and being a home technician, Car Mechanics will help you out - guaranteed!

Motoring jaunt

The Peter Simpson COLUMN • Somewhat surprisingly, Peter’s 1992 Rover 827 Coupe has cooler climate control than either his 2011 Ford Mondeo or his 2010 Kia Sorento...

Maximising your BRAKES • Many DIYers tackle braking tasks using workshop manuals, Internet videos and this magazine, leading Rob Marshall to liaise with major suppliers to tease out the latest best practice tips that may not be shared elsewhere.

Venturing behind the scenes with TMD Friction • It can be easy for home mechanics to consider just fitting implications and not appreciate the development, testing and manufacturing expertise that lie behind the braking parts they buy. To redress the balance, TMD Friction provides a sneak peek.

Tales from the workshop

Wheels in motion • PART TWO: Rob Hawkins delivers our project vehicle to his local wheel refurbisher to have the alloys overhauled, followed by a trip to the bodyshop to begin fixing its dents and scrapes.

Paint & reassembly • PART FIVE: Andrew Everett continues with the SLK’s bodywork repairs – finishing, repairing the splits in the front bumper, painting and reassembly. We also needed another go at fixing the handbrake.

INSPECTION CAMERAS • Also known as endoscopes and borescopes, Rob looks into cylinder bores and fuel tanks with a selection of 10 inspection cameras and tests all of their features to discover which ones are the best.

DIAGNOSTICS

CM Insider • Ben Hackney-Williams brings you another month of news and reviews from the automotive industry

Take a Brake • TMD Friction answer your braking system queries. Send in your braking questions to the editor at cm.ed@kelsey.co.uk

Ford Mondeo • Temptingly low prices and great reliability make the family-friendly last Mondeo an attractive used buy.

Dealer’s Diary • Peter Simpson provides us with an insight into the automotive sales trading world – and beyond.

Original off-roader • Rob Hawkins services a 16-year-old Land Rover Defender that’s powered by the well-known fivecylinder 2495cc TD5 diesel engine and discovers a mixture of straightforward and complicated tasks.

SHOCK/CONTACT ALARM

Help! • Your non-diagnostic vehicle-related problems solved by Steve Rothwell

Diagnostics Doctor

SUMMER FUN • Once again, the joys of summer are with us, so how about forgetting the cares of the world and driving off into the country to enjoy a picnic with some possible ideas that greeted motorists in the late 1950s – if the adverts in motoring magazines back then were anything to judge by. John Ward reports. For those who wanted to possibly

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