Fundamentals of Automotive Technology 3rd Edition

Fundamentals of Automotive Technology: Principles and Practice, Third Edition by Kirk VanGelder — Published by CDX Learning Systems

Automotive technicians must learn how to safely and effectively maintain, diagnose, and repair every system on the automobile, and this comprehensive resource provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills to successfully master these tasks. With a focus on clarity and accuracy, the Third Edition serves as a single source of unparalleled information, covering fundamentals and advanced topics for all automotive systems — from engines, braking, steering, and suspension to HVAC, electronics, and hybrid systems.

Fully updated to the 2022 ASE Foundation standards and reorganized based on feedback from current users and a broad base of automotive instructors, the revised format enhances student comprehension, encourages critical thinking, and fully immerses learners into the constantly evolving automotive field. Rather than relying on memorization, the book is designed to help students analyze faults and develop real troubleshooting ability — skills that directly support ASE certification pathways and long-term career readiness.

Author Kirk T. VanGelder is an ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician and a certified instructor at Cascadia Technical Academy in Vancouver, Washington, with over 30 years of teaching experience at both the high school and college level. His passion for helping students understand the science behind automotive technology — so they can confidently embrace emerging systems throughout their careers — is woven into every page of this essential training resource.