Which study materials help with ASE certification preparation?

ASE Study Material Engine Repair (A1) – ASE Test Prep Study Guide by Delmar Cengage

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10 Best Automotive Mechanic Books (2026 Guide)

The article titled "10 Best Automotive Mechanic Books (2026 Guide)" by Benjamin Johnson, published on April 23, 2025, provides a curated list of top automotive mechanic books aimed at industry professionals and enthusiasts, offering insights and resources to enhance mechanical skills and knowledge.

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See how Metro Motor grew their average repair order to $800 across 19 shops with Tekmetric

Under the Lift: Stories from the Automotive Frontier (New Episode)

Thought Leadership

10 Best Automotive Mechanic Books (2026 Guide)

Benjamin Johnson

April 23, 2025

Read time: 6 min

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Top 5 Mechanic Books for Beginners

1. Auto Repair For Dummies by Deanna Sclar

Deanna Sclar, a trusted name in car books, breaks down automotive repair in a clear, engaging way. Topics include basics like changing oil, identifying car parts, and performing simple diagnostics. Updated editions also include guidance on hybrid and electric vehicles.

This book is great for high school students, DIY car owners, and anyone who wants to enhance their car repair knowledge. It teaches vehicle maintenance fundamentals and gives you the confidence to handle everyday car repair tasks.

This book is available in paperback and audiobook format on Amazon and Goodreads.

2. How Cars Work by Tom Newton

“How Cars Work” is an illustrated mechanics book designed to make complex automotive technology digestible. It covers everything from internal combustion engines to carburetors using simple diagrams and descriptions.

Ideal for visual learners and those completely new to auto mechanics. This is a great first book for beginners, high school students, and anyone wanting a strong visual foundation. This book is available at Amazon, Goodreads, and Walmart.

3. Service Repair Manuals

Service repair manuals offer detailed, step-by-step instructions specific to various makes and models. Whether you're working on a Chevy or a lawn mower, there's likely a repair manual for it.

These manuals walk you through every procedure—from basic maintenance to full rebuilds—making them excellent for DIY mechanics. The manuals are great for car owners who want to perform their own maintenance and repairs, especially oil changes and part replacements.

4. Auto Repair and maintenance for Beginners by Dave Stribling

This is a more recent release that blends practical guidance with a conversational tone. It’s designed for car owners who want to understand what’s under the hood without going back to school.

It breaks down diagnostics, basic electrical systems, and essential car repair projects with clarity and confidence. DIYers, automotive technology students, and anyone just entering the field will benefit from this resource. This book is available on Amazon and Target.

5. ASE Study Material

While not a traditional repair resource, these ASE guides cover specific topics you may be interested in. In addition, these resources can also help you study for your ASE exams/certification. These study guides cover everything from refrigerant to engine diagnostics.

These resources are great for beginners looking to become ASE certified or just want to deepen their technical knowledge of car repair. You can find these ASE resources on the ASE website.

Top 5 Mechanic Books for Professionals

1. Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach by Jack Erjavec & Rob Thompson

Used in technical schools and ASE training programs, this comprehensive study guide covers every vehicle system in detail. From brakes to diagnostics and internal combustion engines, it’s a powerhouse of professional knowledge.

Excellent for instructors, professional auto mechanics, and shop technicians. It’s also used as a curriculum base in many accredited auto mechanic programs. This book can be found on Amazon and Goodreads.

2. Engine Repair (A1) – ASE Test Prep Study Guide by Delmar Cengage

If you’re serious about becoming ASE certified, this study guide is one of the best tools to prep with. It’s focused on the A1 Engine Repair certification exam and is updated with the latest questions and procedures.

It contains practice questions, answer keys, and step-by-step breakdowns of engine troubleshooting and repairs. Mechanics pursuing ASE certification and current techs looking to refresh their credentials will benefit from this book.

3. Bosch Automotive Handbook

This is not your average repair manual. The Bosch Automotive Handbook is a dense, technical reference filled with precise definitions, formulas, and design principles behind modern vehicle systems, including electrical systems and diagnostics.

A must-have for those working on diagnostics or developing automotive systems. Not ideal for beginners, but invaluable for seasoned pros. This book is available on Amazon.

4. Advanced Automotive Fault Diagnosis by Tom Denton

Tom Denton is a trusted author in the world of automotive technology. This book focuses on advanced diagnostics using real-world case studies and troubleshooting processes.

It covers OBD systems, scan tools, sensor data interpretation, and diagnostics strategies used in modern repair shops. ASE certified professionals, diagnostic techs, and repair shop leads will appreciate this book. This book is available at Walmart and Amazon.

5. Motorcycle Basics Techbook by Matthew Coombs (Haynes)

Auto mechanics often expand into motorcycles. This Haynes book explores motorcycle maintenance and repair with the same detail they bring to their car repair manuals.

Great for mechanics who want to branch into motorcycle repair or work at specialized repair shops. This book is available on Amazon and Thriftbooks.

Other Mechanic Resources

While books are still relevant, many mechanics have transitioned to other resources like YouTube videos and podcasts. Here are some of our favorites.

YouTube

‍ YouTube is a gold mine for car repair veterans and DIYers alike. Some of our favorite channels include:

Enright Auto - for new tools and repair techniques
Brilliant Auto Care - for maintenance tips and guides
Tuner World - for DIY and performance videos
Royalty Auto Service - for repair videos and industry updates
Super Mario Diagnostics - for troubleshooting videos
Rainman Ray’s Repairs - for repair and diagnostic videos

‍ Reddit can be another powerful resource for new techniques plus an online community to answer questions you may have. Some of the best subreddits include:

r/mechanic - for repair advice
r/Justrolledintotheshop - for a good laugh
r/MechanicAdvice- for general repair advice and discussion

Podcasts

‍ Podcasts can be entertaining and an easy way to learn while working or driving. Some of our favorites include:

Automotive Diagnostic - for a balanced diet of everything related to auto repair
Confessions of a Shop Owner - for brutally honest industry insights and a better way forward
The Jaded Mechanic - for industry reflections and insights
Changing The Industry - explore common problems in the automotive industry and how to address them
Remarkable Results - for automotive business strategies
Gain Traction - for tire news

Final Thoughts

Investing in a good book isn’t just about reading—it’s about building your skills, your confidence, and your future in the automotive industry. Whether you’re just learning how cars work or studying classical mechanics principles, there’s a resource here that can guide you. The best mechanics know that their education never stops.

👉 Ready to grow your automotive business? [Book a personalized Tekmetric Demo Here]

FAQ

HOUSTON– October 18, 2023 – Tekmetric, the leading automotive repair software company, has announced the appointment of Clare Corriveau as the company's new Vice President of Marketing. With an extensive background in the software industry, Corriveau brings a wealth of experience and strategic vision to the Tekmetric team.

“Clare's depth of experience and strategic acumen in the technology sector will be instrumental in driving our marketing efforts and advancing our position in the market,” said Sunil Patel, CEO of Tekmetric. “With her leadership, we look forward to reaching new milestones in our top-tier customer service and innovative solutions.”

Corriveau's professional journey spans 17 years across a variety of brands and products in B2B technology. Her proven track record in demand generation, marketing strategy, product positioning and brand development underscores her significant role in Tekmetric’s continued growth. In her new position, Clare will be instrumental in guiding Tekmetric’s marketing initiatives and brand development. Her responsibilities encompass enhancing brand visibility, devising and implementing marketing strategies and bolstering the company's foothold in the automotive repair software market.

Before joining Tekmetric, Corriveau was the Senior Director, Growth Marketing at cybersecurity startup Cobalt, where she led the demand generation team to drive revenue growth along every stage of the buyer and customer journeys. Prior to Cobalt, Corriveau served in several director- and manager-level roles with OneTouchPoint, Gotransverse, Blackbaud and more.

“I am thrilled to join Tekmetric, a pioneering force in automotive shop management solutions. Their commitment to revolutionizing the industry and empowering automotive professionals aligns perfectly with my own passion for innovation and customer-centricity,” said Corriveau. “I look forward to contributing to Tekmetric’s journey of empowering auto repair shop owners to increase efficiency in their operations and ultimately grow their business.”

About Tekmetric

Tekmetric, a Houston-based auto repair technology company, offers a cloud-based platform that enables auto repair shop owners to enhance productivity and increase profitability through its streamlined workflow management processes.

Designed by a former shop owner, Tekmetric’s platform drives shop efficiency through real-time data, a customizable user interface and customer-centric communication tools. Since its launch in 2016, Tekmetric has disrupted the industry with its robust fully-integrated system, developed with an emphasis on customer transparency and user collaboration. For more information, visit www.tekmetric.com.

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Tekmetric Welcomes New Vice President of Marketing

October 20, 2023

Read time: 2 min

Tekmetric is a huge improvement over a traditional paper process for sure. Estimates are easy to draft, orders are easy to create, and work flows easily through the platform as cars move through your shop.

That's because there’s always a better way! Canned jobs in Tekmetric are particularly powerful, saving service writers time by simplifying the process of building job estimates. Less clicks means more time to focus on the customer and offer amazing service while selling even more amazing BG Products.

When you have the right tool that helps simplify your work, why not use them? You wouldn’t use an open-ended wrench when a ratcheting socket wrench cuts the time in half and saves your knuckles.

In our effort to keep growing Tekmetric so running your shop is even easier, our latest update to canned jobs now includes even more canned jobs for BG Products and services right in Tekmetric. Just enable the canned jobs you want to use, and start selling even more BG services right away!

What are canned jobs?

Canned jobs are pre-saved job templates in Tekmetric that include labor and parts associated with common repair work done.

Instead of recreating jobs you perform on a regular basis, shops can create as many canned-jobs as they like to build estimates in just seconds. Just apply the right canned job and you're ready to send for approval.

In fact, shops find canned jobs so helpful, one shop running on Tekmetric has created over 2,000 customer canned jobs, and even uses at least one canned job per RO.

The value of canned jobs is clear: making it easier for repair teams to provide customers with the best of the best.

Simple, efficient, and reliable processes lead to more completed work and happier customers. And as we know, happier customers leads to even more customer retention, and better customer retention increases shop profitability.

In essence, canned jobs can even help you pay for Tekmetric. The profit generated from saving time, closing more repair orders and selling better service can cover the cost of the platform, and then some.

Just why are canned jobs so powerful for your shop? That's easy:

Make your jobs easier by simplifying your workflows for common repair orders into just a few clicks
Shorten the time it takes to operate, get estimates built and approved sooner and move cars faster.
BG Canned Jobs, using BG products in particular, enable your shop to offer more specialized service options for improved vehicle performance

Product Updates

Sell More BG Products and Simplify Workflows With New Canned Jobs

Read time: 3 min

Today’s vehicle owners look for shops that prioritize their evolving needs, and many gravitate towards shops that take care of their entire vehicle in the most efficient manner, from the engine to the tires. As vehicle owners look for a one-stop auto repair shop, shop owners have the unique opportunity to expand their business by also selling tires. This is where Tekmetric’s Tire Suite comes in — a solution that simplifies tire management, letting you save time while leveraging the opportunity to expand your service offerings.

Tire Suite is a feature that your shop can add onto your existing Tekmetric plan. With this add-on, you have access to tire-specific features that allow you to view data specific to your tires and in turn make informed decisions to support that area of your business. By maximizing the information in Tire Suite appropriately, you can open the door to this new business stream – without losing efficiency in your shop. Here are three ways you maximize tire management in your shop:

1. Time is money – streamline processes to maintain efficiency

Effective shop management saves you time and money – and there are several simple ways you can apply this strategy to the tire portion of your business. For instance, with Tire Suite, you can reduce the amount of time it takes to register Department of Transportation (DOT) numbers when you sell a tire. DOT registration with Tire Suite registers DOT identification numbers electronically with the appropriate tire manufacturer via the Tiremetrix integration. In addition, you get real-time feedback when entering a DOT number in the system to ensure the validity and recall status of the tire.

Instead of having to worry about compliance or losing hours of time to DOT# entry, your service advisors can gain time back with Tire Suite’s automated registration process. Typically, DOT number registration is a manual task, and the time it takes to enter each number can add up to hours of labor time depending on your shop’s sales. Tekmetric’s Tire Suite allows your service advisors to spend less time entering information and more time with the customer. By streamlining manual processes like DOT registration, your shop can handle more work in less time and maximize profitability – all while offering a more convenient and comfortable process for vehicle owners.

2. Leverage accurate data to maximize tire shelf life

In addition to tire compliance, it is also important to set up a system where the tires are used in a timely fashion. Tire Suite allows your team to track inventory and maximize the use of available tires while also making sure tires do not sit too long on the shelf. This requires a bit of finesse, and that’s where Tire Suite comes in. Now, service writers can quickly look up all tires for preferred brands that will fit a vehicle and source them directly from inventory or add as a needed job part.

In addition, tire fitment data allows you to access detailed tire specifications in the RO sidebar for a specific vehicle. For example, if you have a vehicle that needs staggered tires, the data will ensure you get two tires of each type rather than four of the same size. That attention to detail is made possible by leveraging tire-related data – and it can make a significant impact on growing that portion of your business.

3. Build and retain customer loyalty

Once a dealership warranty ends, 70% of customers will seek a repair shop they know they can trust and remain loyal to. Customers value convenience and comfort. When those needs are met, they are more likely to trust your shop and return to do business with you time and time again.

Shops with the highest retention rates often make tires a part of their business because customers are looking to kill two birds with one stone. Conversely, by not selling tires, you can even hurt your retention rate. When you choose to offer tire management services and provide them in an efficient manner, you are more likely to maintain your customer retention rate because vehicle owners will have everything they need in the hands of their favorite shop.

Adding tire services to your auto repair offerings may seem daunting – but the opportunities far outweigh the challenges. When you leverage the appropriate tools for tire management, such as Tekmetric’s Tire Suite, you can maintain your shop’s efficiency and meet vehicle owners’ needs without missing a beat. The result? Happy, returning customers – and growth in your bottom line over time.

‍