Manuals Wanted: Mechanics Want Access to Dealer Info

In Massachusetts, there are thousands of independent repair shops that are currently having a hard time simply because they don’t have the kind of information that dealerships are privy to. These auto shops are waiting for the passing of a state bill that will give them access to that information.

"These independent garages are investing in manuals and they are really getting the Cliff Notes version," said Art Kinsman, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition. "They can go buy manufacturer scanning tools, but without dealer codes or satellite links to the manufacturers, the tools are only partially valuable to them."

Without access to such information, Kinsman says that the auto repair shops are forced to send their potential customers to the various dealerships simply because their garage doesn’t have the capacity to access the computer codes for diagnosing different vehicle problems. The codes are displayed by scanning tools bought from the manufacturer. The sad thing is that only the dealerships know which issue some codes are associated with. Not even access to premium online repair manuals can remedy certain situations.

The bill is the answer to many of these issues that plague the shops. "The bill requires manufacturers to sell for a fair price - and make available for purchase - repair codes, information, and diagnostic tools for fixing cars,” says Kinsman. "There are a lot of good dealers out there, but if you bought the car, you ought to get it fixed where you want."

Last year, the bill was already passed in Senate. The House, however, never came to a vote on the bill. This is so even when there are already 64 co-sponsors for the bill.

Among the co-sponsors is State Representative David Linsky. "I believe that independent auto repair shops should have all the access codes and information that is necessary to fix cars," Linsky said. "People shouldn't be forced to go to a dealer and pay expensive prices to have their cars repaired. Owning and operating a car is expensive enough as it is.

If you want more info about the Right to Repair Coalition, you can go to righttorepair.org.

Mercedes Puts Up Online Manual for SLK Class

If you're one of the few fortunate individuals to own a Mercedes-Benz SLK, then you'd be glad to know that you won't have to flip through the contents of your precious vehicle's online repair manual just to find some info about your car. That's because Mercedes-Benz already put up an interactive online owner's manual on its web site for your convenience.

Of course, even if you don't really own an SLK, it's still going to be pretty neat browsing through an owner's manual for a dream car such as this one. This is probably the closest most of us can be to actually owning a high-end Mercedes-Benz vehicle.

Take note, however, that the specs included in the online manual is for the German edition of the car and will refer to regulations in Germany. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz makes it clear that the online version of the manual isn't a direct replacement of the printed owner's manual you'll get when you actually do purchase an SLK from the dealership. SLK owners are advised to contact their dealer to get a printed copy of your ride's manual.

To check out the online manual for SLK vehicles, just point your browsers to this link and browse away.

Manuals Definitions from Motor Era

One of my favorite web sites related to auto repair and cars in general is Motor Era (www.motorera.com). Aside from providing a history of certain automakers (Cadillac, GM) and car models (Firebird, Trans-Am, Corvette) and even Honda motorcycles, you can find one of the most comprehensive online glossaries that deal with auto parts.

I recently looked up the meanings of the various manuals as stated in Motor Era. Let’s have a rundown, shall we?


Owner’s Manual
http://motorera.com/dictionary/OW.HTM#Owners_Manual

Every new vehicle is supplied with a handbook which gives the basic\ instructions for operating the controls. It includes a maintenance schedule and Specifications such as the type and quantity of fluids. For instruction on repair work, you will need a Service manual which may be ordered from the dealership which sold you your vehicle.

Repair Manual
http://motorera.com/dictionary/RE.HTM#Repair_Manual

A book which details the procedure for repairing one or more components of a vehicle. Compare Service manual.

Service Manual
http://motorera.com/dictionary/SE.HTM#Service_Manual

A handbook published by a vehicle manufacturer or a specialized publishing company that contains instructions and Specifications for the maintenance and repair of a specific car. It may include Wiring diagrams and Troubleshooting guides. Most service manuals deal with only one make, model, or year, and nearly all are intended for professionals or the very experienced amateur.

Maintenance Manual
http://motorera.com/dictionary/MA.HTM#Maintenance_Manual

A book of instructions detailing routine maintenance.

Those are pretty much in line with our own definitions of these respective online repair manuals. Well, if you want to learn more and find out which part is which, you can head on over to the Motor Era dictionary of automotive terms by clicking here.

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 Repair Manual Reviews: Autodata Online

We’re going on a roll early this 2011, and now we’re bringing you another online car repair manual review. Taking center stage today is Autodata Online (http://www.autodata.ltd.uk/online.asp)

These are the minimum system requirements you’ll need to have on your laptop or personal computer: a broadband internet connection, a Firefox 3 or Internet Explorer 7/8 web browser, and a 1024x768 minimum screen resolution. Bare minimum, in this day and age, so most people will be able to use it.

Just how thorough is the information on Autodata Online? Thorough enough that pirated copies are being sold, and Autodata itself is cracking down on these unauthorized sellers. The service provides a wide range of manuals for a variety of applications, and users can easily select their car from the list. Autodata also has specialized manuals that deal specifically with timing belts, chains and even wheel alignment, aside from motorcycle data, diagnostic trouble codes and technical data.

The technical information you can find in each manual is sourced directly from the manufacturers. Autodata uses over 30 years of experience as well as its close relationship with automakers to come up with the most accurate collections of data possible. Subscribers don’t have to worry about updates as well, because Autodata updates its manuals twice a year.

Aside from the comprehensive data available, Autodata Online’s information is presented in a concise and easy to understand manner. There are also supplementary information such as illustrations and diagrams, which definitely help in making the information more accessible and understandable.

Here’s one more added benefit, although it is only applicable to subscribers from the United Kingdom: Vehicle Registration Look Up. It’s something that UK subscribers can look forward to in the coming months.

If you’re in the market for an online repair manual, you won’t be disappointed with Autodata Online—especially if you live in the UK.

Types of Online Repair Manuals part 7

Part 1: Generic Manuals | Part 2: Generic Manuals | Part 3: Vehicle-specific Manuals | Part 4: Vehicle-specific Manuals | Part 5: Diagnostic Manuals | Part 6: Diagnostic Manuals

We're down to the homestretch for this series of posts about the types online auto repair manuals you'll find on the Web. We've tackled three types so far: generic online repair manuals, vehicle-specific online car repair manuals, and diagnostic and troubleshooting guides. The last leg of our series is all about maintenance manuals.

Maintenance and servicing manuals are perhaps as important as standard vehicle-specific resources because they help vehicle owners keep in step of the various maintenance schedules and procedures. Remember what they say—an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. When dealing with cars, of course, this is indeed true.

Nothing is more satisfying than driving a well-maintained ride. Regular servicing and maintenance will lead to smooth drives, and you'll really know the difference once you're behind the wheel of a car with all its systems in excellent condition. To be able to do so, you'll need to enlist the help of a reliable maintenance manual.

Even though getting a maintenance manual that focuses on your ride's make and model, you'll do just fine with one that has a more generic approach. Most vehicle systems and even a lot of automotive parts and components operate on the same principle, so there will be a lot of information that you can use even if they don't refer to a specific car model or manufacturer from a particular production year. If you want a more detailed or specific result, though, you'll again need to resort to filtering your search.

That's about all the time we have for today. We'll continue talking about online auto repair manuals in tomorrow's entry. In our next post, we'll be giving our last words on maintenance and servicing manuals, and after that we'll also be wrapping up the entire types of online repair manuals series just for your convenience. Wait for it!

Types of Online Repair Manuals part 5

Part 1: Generic Manuals | Part 2: Generic Manuals | Part 3: Vehicle-specific Manuals | Part 4: Vehicle-specific Manuals

Two down, a couple more to go. Welcome back to our Online Auto Repair Manual types series here at Repair Manuals Online! We're going strong now at part 5, and we've got an exciting topic coming right up. On this post, we'll be tackling another type of online car repair manual: the diagnostic manual.

You may be wondering what's so special about online diagnostic manuals. After all, some of the more thorough online auto repair manuals already come with their own diagnostic tools and troubleshooting guidelines.

Well, specializations exist for a reason. Diagnostic manuals cater to the needs of many a DIY auto mechanic. As vehicle components and systems become more and more complex, so does finding out what's wrong with them. You'll need to know exactly what part on your vehicle is affected based on the symptoms that you observe. If you've watched those old G.I. Joe cartoons from a decade or two ago, you'll see that knowing really is half the battle.

When you have the information needed to know what's really bothering your car, then you can fix the source of the problem. If you're unsure of the cause, you can end up causing bigger damage, and you'll have wasted a considerable amount of time, money and effort on a wild goose chase. That's where diagnostic manuals come in.

These online auto repair manuals that are specifically geared for diagnosis will ensure that you have the right troubleshooting methods and that you can get the proper results when it comes to identifying the root of your vehicle's problems.

We've got another post on diagnostic manuals tomorrow, then we'll move to the next online vehicle repair manual type on our list. Make sure you get back to us for more information regarding the types of online auto repair manuals available to DIY mechanics.

Types of Online Repair Manuals part 2

So, we've already discussed one type of online auto repair manual in the previous post. However, before we move on to the other stuff, let's keep discussing about the first one we've already tackled. After all, general online repair manuals are like the DIY mechanic's ABCs. These manuals cover the big fundamentals and the basic principles and the common issues that one needs to know before tweaking or replacing anything in a vehicle.

I've already given my first experience with repair manuals, with a generic book called the Popular Mechanics Complete Car Care Guide. Such generic repair manuals may not be as in-depth or as thorough as many experts would prefer, but then again people do have to start somewhere. You can't just read up about something in Wikipedia and expect to be able to grasp the fundamental concepts needed to take the next step.

It's not a bad thing if you want to go the generic route first before going to vehicle-specific manuals, and these generic car care manuals do offer a lot of advantages. For example, the language is plainer than more advanced books, as these generic variants are really intended for beginners or novices. It's all about using layman's terms.

Another advantage is that such generic online repair manuals can be cheaper, as those vehicle-specific manuals took more time and effort in terms of research and study to know the ins and outs of a single vehicle year, make and model. If you want physical manuals, they are also more accessible compared to those that are geared for certain makes and models.

If you're already well-versed in the basics, you can most certainly use a vehicle-specific online auto repair manual. But we'll be discussing that at in a future post. Wait for it!

Online Repair Manual Reviews: RepairManual.com

Let’s get down to business as we start this new year. Back in December, we promised to bring you more news, information and reviews about the various online repair manuals available to the vehicle enthusiast and DIY mechanic. Our first review of the year is of repairmanual.com, a site that aggregates a bunch of online repair manuals that you can order.


It’s actually more of a searchable database rather than a single online repair manual service. For example, if you go to the menus, you can select the automobiles link and you’ll be directed to an alphabetical list of vehicle makes. Clicking a car manufacturer link will then lead you to a list of that manufacturer’s models. Clicking a model finally gets you to a list of different online repair manuals that you can purchase for that particular model.


It’s a pretty good listing, actually. Most vehicle makes and models are covered, and there are options from a number of online car repair manual service providers. Some model years even go as far back as the 60s, so you can find even some rare stuff and books that are hard to find. You can clearly see that there is an effort to make the collection as comprehensive as it can be.


What the site could use is a bit more description about the manuals on the results page, so viewers won’t have to make another click just to access the summaries. Another thing is that the website doesn’t really do anything to look like a modern e-commerce website. It looks like one of those sites built during the Geocities days of the Internet. Even then, the entire effort is solid and you get what you need out of the site. After all, it’s the content that counts.

If you want a no-frills and hassle-free way to order a online repair manual for your ride, check out RepairManual.com and see if they list what you need. Whether you’re looking for manuals about cars, vans, ATVs, bikes and even snowmobiles, this is one of the best places to check first.

Contributions are Welcome!

The Internet is a very large place, so it would be impossible to know every nook and cranny of it (unless, perhaps, you’re a Google spider or something like that). That said, we’d like to let you all know that Repair Manuals Online is accepting contributions to be posted on our blog. This is your chance to give your own insights as well as share information you think others might find useful.

Perhaps you’ve seen an excellent web site or even an online message board that deals with online auto repair manuals. Or you could have found a treasure trove of online car repair manuals that are hosted on some file server or another site. Maybe you know of a friend of yours that’s about to upload scans of his or her repair manual or car care manual. Or you could even be wanting to start your own blog that showcases particular online repair manuals. If so, do let us know and we’ll make sure that the majority of people looking for online automotive repair manuals will be able to find the one that suits their needs and requirements.

Standard rules apply; make sure you send us an active link and a brief description. Just leave it in the comments section so we can note it down, after which we’ll check out the link before we post it on our blog. We’ll take care of the writing needed for the blog post, so don’t worry about doing some pro-bono writing work. Haha. Just kidding.

Thanks in advance to the helpful people who want to contribute to our effort in bringing the best and brightest online auto repair manuals to the forefront. There’s nothing like getting information straight from the people who really use these online car repair manuals and resources.

Some Quick Safety Tips for Christmas Eve

Since we’re in the topic of general car care, and we’re feeling really cold this Christmas Eve, we thought we’d share some quick safety guidelines for each time you work on your ride. These are compiled from some of our favorite online repair manuals.

- Simply avoid smoking every time you need to perform a task on your ride. You don’t want anything catching fire or blowing up now, do you?

- Avoid getting chemicals into your eyes. These include cleaners and antifreeze. Make sure you wash your hands after using such stuff and store them in places where your kids or your pets will be able to access them.

- Make sure that your garage or workshop has adequate ventilation at all times. This won’t be a problem if you work outside your place; otherwise, try to keep those doors and windows open to provide proper ventilation.

- Jewelry doesn’t belong in the garage. Sure, you look all bad-ass with all that bling, but if your necklace or rings get caught in some car part, you can get in serious trouble or you might even get into an accident.

- If you have long hair, tie it at the back so that it doesn’t get in the way. This will also keep your hair from getting ruined or caught in certain openings in your ride’s parts.

- We can’t stress this enough: make sure that your ride’s parking brake is engaged when you work on the vehicle. You must also ensure that the engine is shut off and that the car’s gear shifter is in the Park position.

- Use some wheel blocks to prevent rolling. If you don’t have proper blocks, you can use makeshift wooden blocks or even some decent-sized rocks.

- Have a fire extinguisher nearby in case of emergencies.

Anyone in DIY auto repair should keep those things in mind to prevent injuries and accidents. Remember: safety in the shop is the number one priority.

Advanced Merry Christmas, guys!

Things You’ll Find in a Generic Auto Repair Manual

Previously, we’ve already started discussing online auto repair manuals that have a generic approach. They help us get a good feel about the fundamentals of car repair and car maintenance, thanks to a complete selection of information about car parts and systems along with step by step guides on performing particular repair or maintenance tasks. But what exactly will you find in such types of car repair manuals?

First off, you get a dumbed-down approach to instructing about auto repair. That’s not a bad thing, and we shouldn’t be insulted. That approach will only help us better understand the contents. This serves as the primer to bigger and better things, the easy route to bridging the gap between understanding your vehicle and actually performing repairs and service on your ride.

In many ways, these generic auto repair manuals help establish the common sense behind how seemingly-complicated components work. You’ll know what it takes to get started, what you should know before you even pick up that wrench, setting up a toolbox, quick preventive maintenance tips, and other useful material for preparation.

Some car care manuals provide a per-system overview of general car maintenance and repair, plus some tips and tricks all about troubleshooting. You’ll also get some information about popular car care myths along with the secrets of your vehicle. Others offer glossaries that will aid in the understanding of the text itself. You get all of that in one practical package.

If you think that DIY car care and auto repair is very complicated and not very fun, then these generic auto repair manuals will be able to dispel those misgivings by letting you understand the inner workings of your vehicle using a language that most people will understand. Everyone has to start somewhere, and for most of us, we start with these kinds of manuals if we want to get a foot in the world of DIY auto repair.

Preventive Maintenance through Online Repair Manuals

If your vehicle has ever broken down on you while you sped through the highway, then you know how much hassle that entails. Basically, there’s only one proven way to prevent that from happening to you—the key is preventive maintenance, and you can accomplish this with any reliable online auto repair manual.

You’ll be able to find a wide selection of online car repair manuals that will give you the necessary information that you’ll need to carry out monthly inspections on your car. Spending a small amount of time under your ride’s hood each month is guaranteed to reduce the chances that your vehicle will break down on you some time or another. In fact, some repair manuals even say that as much as 70 percent of highway breakdown causes can be prevented by simply taking a mere 15 minutes to check up under the hood of your vehicle.

You have to check components that lose vital fluid, lose air, come loose or get damaged after some time in use. When the level of fluids like oil, coolant, brake fluid and others start to get dangerously low, you should refill the fluid back to their operational levels.

Make sure to inspect such components as your car’s radiator, the drive belts, the accessory belts, the air filter and even the car battery. Inspect the different hoses that you find under the hood as well. All of the electrical wiring should also be checked every month to guarantee proper function out of your ride’s various electrically-powered components. Lastly, make sure your ride’s tires are in good condition.

Once you’re done with your monthly vehicle inspection, you’ll be able to have peace of mind knowing that there is little chance your car will break down on you when you go out for a drive. You’ll also effectively prolong the service life of your vehicle’s parts and spare yourself the hassle of fixing your vehicle in the middle of the highway.

Haynes: Our Online Auto Repair Manual of the Year

Since 2010 is coming to a close, I guess it is high time to give credit where credit is due. Thus, we present our 2010 Online Auto Repair Manual of the Year award to none other than Haynes Online. Although yes, you could make the case that Haynes is more like online ordering for actual auto repair manuals, it’s still an online service and we treat it as such.


We’re really impressed with the reach and the system implemented by Haynes. The company offers not just repair manuals for cars but also techbooks, ATV and motorcycle manuals as well as manuals in Spanish. Of course, what we really like the most is the process of actually producing the manual. Haynes tears down an entire vehicle (!!!) before rebuilding it.

This system allows for a thorough understanding of every system and component in the vehicle, as well as 100-percent accuracy when it comes to diagrams, layouts, positions and other particular pieces of information relating to a certain car model. These also help give users photos and illustrations of the actual car they need to work on. Of course, the drawback is that there has to be sufficient demand in order to make the manual you need available, but the Haynes coverage is pretty extensive anyway.

Of course, there were other strong contenders in 2010, as online repair manual services shored up their catalogs and even slashed prices on subscriptions. But then, you know what they say: there can be only one. This time, it’s Haynes. Who knows, next year maybe we’ll be able to see a different online auto repair manual service wearing the crown. There’s a lot of promise coming from some services, and maybe they’ll be able to break through in 2011.

Additionally, if you want more information about Haynes, you can go visit our review article on Haynes Online by clicking on this link.

Generic Online Auto Repair Manuals

Sometimes, people don't really need information that is too detailed for their own good. This holds true for automotive repair as well, particularly when getting a new online auto repair manual. There are instances where you simply need a repair manual that offers an overview or a general approach.

When would such a type of online repair manual be useful? One situation I can think if is when you’re just starting out in the world of DIY automotive repair and maintenance. After all, you’ll need some time to learn the ropes and know all of the basics when it comes to cars and what makes them work. Having a good grasp of the fundamentals is an important part of any endeavor, so that’s where the general online repair manual comes in.

When I was just dipping my toes into the pool of DIY auto repair, there were books that helped me get on the right track. Things like Auto Repair for Dummies and even the Complete Car Care Manual from Popular Mechanics may not be as in-depth as many would like, but they do offer a complete overview that can help you understand the basics.

For me, the best thing about such manuals is that they are really intended to be read by beginners or those with low levels of automotive repair skill. That means the information is organized very well, the language is quite plain, and the step by step procedures are easy to understand overall. This way, they can provide an adequate stepping stone before you move up to the more detailed online auto repair manuals that are specific to the cars you work on.

Detailed, model-specific information is very useful, especially for unique models that don’t really match the systems or configurations of common vehicles. Still, if you want to first know all about the basics, it won’t hurt to go the general auto repair manual route.

Looking Forward to More Online Repair Manual Goodness in 2011

So it’s December 11 today. I just realized that in only a couple or so more weeks to go, we’ll be moving on to the year 2011. We’re inching closer to what many call the 2012 phenomenon—you know, last year of the Mayan Calendar, end of the world stuff. I’m not really a fan of that kind of talk. I’m a fan of, obviously, online auto repair manuals.

The Smart fortwo electric drive

This is why I expect a lot more goodies from the online repair manuals front next year. This means people uploading more free scans and information, and paid premium online car repair manuals shoring up their services and updating their vehicle-specific catalog to include newer vehicle makes and models.

Here’s a good example: more and more hybrid and electric vehicles are seeing use nowadays. You’ve got the most visible Toyota Prius and there are others coming or that have already arrived, like those amazing BlueEfficiency cars from the folks at Mercedes-Benz and the Smart fortwo electric drive, along with the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the Peugeot iOn that go on sale in January 2011. The market will definitely grab hold of more of these models, and there are already efforts to create more pieces of infrastructure to support such vehicles. I think we’ll see the need for more online auto repair manuals that can cover these vehicles and their green power plants.

Of course, automobile manufacturers are gearing for another year of release in 2011, as they try to build on solid growth in 2010 in terms of sales and revenue. The market looks to be recovering, but one thing remains: the public is aware that costs can be cut by performing DIY repair or maintenance tasks. That’s why online repair manuals will still be big in the upcoming year—if not bigger.

We Love Online Repair Manuals

As you can probably tell from the very name of this blog, we here all love online auto repair manuals. What can best explain this profound, unapologetic affection for online car repair manuals?

Well, it’s not really one thing or another, but rather something that has gradually crept up into my consciousness as a DIY enthusiast and a fanboy of cars and customization (and yeah, having done quite the number of repair tasks as well over the years also has a lot to do with it).

See, most people know things thanks to experience. It’s the same way with mechanics and enthusiasts. Having worked on vehicles for years, you get to have a certain idea or maybe even a feel for your car, so you’ll have some kind of instinct when something goes wrong. But what if you’re just starting out? Or even if you’re experienced, but you’re performing a repair job on a new car or some model that you’ve never had the chance to work on before?

This is where online repair manuals come in. They offer something like the ABCs of vehicle repair. They give us instructions to follow, tell us the probable reason why something is not working, and there are even some nifty pictures that make it easier for many of us.

What’s better than online repair manuals? Well, that can be none other than FREE online auto repair manuals. If you’re only going to use something once or twice, why pay for it? So long as you have some decent research skills using Google, Bing or whichever search engine you prefer, you’ll be able to find one in no time. And you don’t have to spend a single cent.

So those are just some of the reasons why we love online repair manuals. There are plenty more, but we don’t want this to be a tl;dr post or anything. Besides, a lot of us still have some early Christmas shopping to do, right?

Sharing and Giving, Online Repair Manuals Edition

Well, it’s only a couple more weeks until Christmas. Here at Repair Manuals Online, we’re in such a festive Christmas-y mood that we just want to doze off and take advantage of the comfort given by the cold weather. Then again, we still have a lot of things to write about and share with you guys.


Since it’s the season of giving and sharing, we’ll share with you one way to get your hands on premium online auto repair manuals without having to shell out the full cost of a particular manual. This is contingent on you finding other people who own the same car as you do. This is especially beneficial to forum members that have a shared interest or that all own the same car models.


What you can do is to divide the cost of the online repair manual, whether it’s a one-time ordering price or a year-long subscription. Sharing the cost of a paid online car repair manual is an excellent way to get detailed information without spending so much. Plus, more people can benefit from the purchase because the whole group can access the information, guides, tips and other stuff.


Another way you can go about it is to just gift access or subscription to your friends. If you’ve got a close club of make X model Y owners, isn’t it an excellent idea to purchase one for the greater good? It’s something that can be appreciated by all sorts of car enthusiasts and auto repair DIY mechanics.


There are many ways to spread the love this Christmas, and as seen in the ideas above, you can even include online repair manuals on your list of gift ideas. Not only do you make someone smile this yuletide season, you also make auto repair much easier for your pals (and maybe for yourself as well)!

The Best Things in Life aren’t Free

We know; the saying actually goes “the best things in life are free.” The fact is, that’s not true a lot of times. When you consider the context of online auto repair manuals, it can hold true for some, and not for others.

Sometimes, it depends on how diligent and crafty you can get when it comes to your Google search terms. Sometimes, it depends on how lucky you are that someone somewhere decided to scan his or her copy of an automotive manual or a car repair guide and uploaded it to the Internet. Sometimes, you won’t even have to go through all that trouble because your good ol’ local library has auto repair manuals (whether it’s a book or a CD-ROM) in their catalog. Sometimes, your trusted mechanic will have all the answers and—if you’re really lucky and friendly—he might give you the info and advice for free.

Still, there are times when you just won’t be able to find free online repair manuals for your particular vehicle, or the one you find just doesn’t explain your current troubles and issues. In such cases, the best recourse is to just buy the repair or service manuals off licensed retailers or from online repair manual providers.

Subscriptions to or orders for online car repair manuals are worth the investment, though—especially if you see your vehicle as more than just a vehicle. The price you’ll pay for a book or an annual subscription to an online repair manual is definitely small compared to the hefty repair and maintenance fees you might have to pay if you don’t want to do such tasks on your own.

So, yeah, sometimes the best things in life simply aren’t free. That doesn’t mean they’re not worth spending on, however. If you’ve got enough left on your car budget and you really want to save on mechanic fees, try checking out your online repair manual options now and hopefully come to a decision on which one to subscribe to.

Online Auto Repair Manual Reviews: Mitchell 1 DIY

One of the newer online auto repair manuals available is Mitchell 1 DIY. The service is running on its sixth year now, and it has built up quite a sizeable database of online repair manuals over that short span of time.

Here are some of the pros: Mitchell 1 DIY contains a wide range of information, and the database covers nearly all domestic and import cars with model years from 1983 to 2009. You get general repair information such as basic troubleshooting and resetting procedures, along with more detailed instructions for electrical, engine or transmission work. Maintenance information such as lubrication, inspection and servicing schedules are also part of the service.

Mitchell 1 DIY also has a lot of credentials to back its claims up. It was given the Blue Seal of Excellence award by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (otherwise known as the ASE), which also provides certifications for auto repair and service professionals. In addition, the editorial staff for the Mitchell 1 auto repair manuals includes Master Technicians and Quadruple Master Technicians also certified by the ASE. Now that’s what people mean when they look for credentials.

Subscriptions start at $10.49 for a week-long subscription. Now, that can be a bit pricey especially if you can get access to other vehicle-specific manuals at $14.95 for a whole month’s access. Mitchell 1 costs $16.99 for one month, and its annual subscription will cost you $29.99 (compared to Chilton’s $24.95 annual fee). Of course, for the excess cash, you’ll be getting material backed by certified professionals. Paypal and major credit cards are accepted forms of payment.

With an extensive coverage in terms of vehicle year, make and model as well as comprehensive information, Mitchell 1 DIY is an excellent option for auto enthusiasts that are willing to shell out some money for a reliable and certified resource. If you have the money, do try it out.