The Coffee Shop Mechanic

A weird thought crept into my mind just a while ago as I took a cab to work because I have yet to fix my 2008 Ford Taurus, and it has to do with this particular scene you see often, whether in real life or in fiction (films, TV series, sitcoms, even books and short stories). A lone writer is sitting inside a coffee shop (Starbucks, or some other) and he is writing on a notebook or working on his laptop (or netbook, or what have you) while a Venti-sized cup of caramel macchiato lies to his right. Cliché, right?

Well, here’s something that might not be so cliché. Picture the same scene, but this time, it’s not a writer that’s sitting there with his favorite caffeine source. What we have now is an auto mechanic, chilling as he browses through his online repair manuals to see what he has to do to fix a certain issue or to install a replacement component in place of a failed one.

See, that’s the wonder of technology—anyone with the will to learn can use it to make life better or easier. With our easy access to online auto repair manuals, anything is possible. You can even go to the can and take a dump with your laptop in tow. No time wasted!

Not that I’m saying you should troop down to the local coffee shop and leech off their broadband connection over Wi-Fi every time something goes wrong with your car; all I’m saying is that having 24-7 access to online repair manuals, online service manuals and other stuff afforded by your subscription is definitely something you can enjoy practically anywhere there’s an Internet connection.

Plus, the image of the DIY mechanic brushing up on his tech skills in a cozy couch sipping coffee is really quite nice, especially if you’re a mechanic like me who doesn’t really have a comfortable chair in his garage (not even a stool—which reminds me, I should get one when I have extra cash).

Tell Us Your Online Repair Manuals Story!

It’s not everyday you get to hear about how online auto repair manuals have saved a person’s life (whether it’s in the literal or figurative sense). That is why we’re asking you for your stories that revolve around online car repair manuals!

It can be a loose anecdote that summarizes your experience dealing with car problems using your trusted online repair manual, a funny experience, some tips and tricks you might want to share regarding an online auto repair manual service, the works—there’s no holding back here.

If you want to share something, don’t hesitate to drop us a line by using the comments section. Commenting on any post will do, although preferably you will comment on this one.

So start typing those online auto repair manual stories now and get ready for the whole world to know your story!

Cars Need Checkups, Too

I almost forgot that it was our company’s APE today. APE means Annual Physical Examination, which is the company’s way of ensuring it employs people who are well and healthy.

As I was getting all sorts of examinations done—blood chemistry, eye or vision tests, X-rays, the whole gamut—I realized that we are quite similar to cars in this way. People are just like cars, and vice versa. Once in a while, we need to be checked up on—much like the routine periodic maintenance of cars. Every so often, we need to be “fixed,” and so do cars.

While going through the entire APE process, I also thought that there are still many who don’t go out and do the necessary preventive maintenance on their cars. It’s like a physical exam; you check to see if everything’s in great shape, so you can also detect if there’s anything wrong. This way, you can do something about it before it becomes a pain in the butt.

So go check your online repair manuals now and see when your ride is due for its next “checkup.” Your precious ride needs that kind of care and attention so that you can always ensure that it is at its best condition. You’ll enjoy it more if you take care of it properly.

Online Auto Repair Manuals Save the Day

Here's a story: My friend was having some problems with his '03 Nissan Pathfinder. See, the air conditioning system on his old (well, relatively old) SUV was usually acting up. The AC was turning on and the blower was also on, so we suspected something was up with the fans.

I asked him if he still had his ride's user manual so that we can check the layout and possible troubleshooting info. The bad thing is, he had misplaced or lost the darned manual when he moved to our town a couple of years back.

So I took my laptop and got my browser open, and we proceeded to search for some information on his car's air conditioning system. We Googled and Googled until we came across this site with a lot of vehicle-specific manuals in PDF document form. Some even addressed specific issues or had particular system information.

Right there, smack on the first page, was information on the fan control amplifier of a 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. While we still didn't know if the fan control amplifier was at fault, it was a start. We can start performing some diagnostic tests on the system to find out what was causing the AC trouble.

Since we passed the first check concerning the blower motor, we knew we had the proper manual. So we started checking the fan control amplifier's power supply, proceeded to check the body ground circuit, then checked if there was proper voltage going to the amplifier itself. Turns out there were some busted harnesses, and we just swapped them out right after to restore proper AC function.

The Internet is really an excellent source of information if you just know where to look. If you search hard enough, there are online repair manuals that you can find for your specific vehicle make and model.