William Ribbens
Published by Newnes

Electronics has taken over the modern motorcar, so much so that it is difficult to tinker with the car as we used to do in the old days. Now, a computer does it all. All the key functions are, or can be, controlled with electronicsÑa great benefit to drivers.

The book has 11 chapters and over 450 pages illustrated with diagrams, circuits and performance graphs, but sadly few photographs of the electronics. The chapters guide the reader through the fundamentals of combustion, controls, engine and motion control and diagnostics. After each chapter is a multiple-choice quiz. You have to read the text in detail to answer the questions, not just skim.

This is an interesting textbook, ideal for education on the topic. The book was easy to read and informative, explaining how electronics works to improve the safety and performance of the automobile. There is little coverage of the componentry, wiring or reliability of different forms of assembly, so it would only of interest to manufacturing engineers if you want to understand the reasons behind the circuits we build.