Auto advice on repairs, hybrids and other earth-friendly vehicles

Who doesn't need a little automotive advice? Here's how to get it.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Auto Repair ($19.95) was just released, offering everything from the tires up, for teens to seasoned drivers. "Ideal resource for making basic repairs" the publicity material says. Routine maintenance, troubleshooting and system overviews are included in the 50-page self-diagnosis guide, penned by a knowledgeable female mechanic, Vyvyan Lynn.

Also released in August, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hybrid and Alternative Fuel Vehicles ($14.95). Besides being chic and hip, the author says there are many incentives to switching to hybrid and outlines the growing lineup of green vehicles. It's written by Kelley Blue Book Executive Editor Jack Nerad in what he calls "clear, jargon-free and nonpolitical language."

If you prefer online resources, check out http://www.earthcars.com/. The new Web site launched by http://www.dealer.com/, a Burlington, Vt.-based company that helps auto dealers with online marketing, gives all kinds of info about envrionmentally friendly vehicles. You can also search inventories of dealerships around the nation to find the car you're looking for.