ALLDATA Online Repair Manuals Reach 80,000-Subscriber Plateau

When it comes to mechanical auto repair information, few companies can lay claim to the kind of success that ALLDATA has reached. The California-based company announced recently that it has just reached the 80,000-subcriber mark.

ALLDATA is still increasing its market share, backed by its recent releases of the ALLDATA Collision S3500 and the ALLDATA Repair S3000 manuals just this fall. The company continues to bank on strong and innovative products and services as it maintains its position as one of the leading providers of manufacturer repair information.

ALLDATA pioneered the online auto repair manuals scene, as it introduced the first electronic auto repair manual in North America shortly after its founding back in 1986. Many subscribers have flocked to the service thanks to its reliability—since the company sources its information directly from the manufacturers without any editing or without summarizing the material, subscribers get access to accurate and usually exclusive data.

At the moment, the ALLDATA repair and service database includes an extensive line of some 22,000 units of engine-specific vehicle models covering the model years 1982 to the present. The company’s products cater to the collision repair industry as well as the mechanical industry and of course the automotive repair and maintenance industry. Even some DIY mechanics are subscribing to the service.

"We have had rapid adoption to our latest product releases because we are committed to building products that drive the market forward and more important, are critical to our customers' businesses," said Jeff Lagges, president of ALLDATA. "We are constantly researching market trends and anticipating the next generation of products to assist our customers. We have been a leader in this field since the day we sold our first unit, and we intend to remain out front. Our goal is simply to help automotive repair shops deliver excellent service with factory-correct OE information and to thrive as a result."

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.

Practical Ecommerce Features Motor Book Store Founder

Luis Hernandez, Jr., the owner and CEO of auto repair manual provider The Motor Bookstore, was recently interviewed by Practical eCommerce as part of their “Lessons Learned” series.

Hernandez first put up The Motor Bookstore back in 1995 and the initial service was basically an electronic counterpart of a motor bike repair and restoration magazine. Using this medium, he was able to sell some motorcycle books and then this retailing aspect just grew from that starting point. Hernandez managed to break into the e-commerce part of his business in 1997.

Hernandez fondly looks back on his first sale using the then-new e-commerce platform (which was still named MotorcycleBooks.com): “I still remember setting up the site, which was fairly easy through Viaweb,”Hernandez says. “The first order came in that same day, in the evening. I sold a Ducati book — MotorcycleBooks.com was a real business.”

The DeBary, FL-Based company grew enough to accommodate automotive-related material and books as well by 2002. That was when it became TheMotorBookstore.com. An estimated gross revenue of $2.2M was hauled in by the company in 2007, at its peak. Last year, the site grossed some $1.5 million in revenue.

“When we first started the magazine online, it was me, my ex-wife and one part-time employee. It was a little challenging of course financially, but since I am the kind of person who escrows for pretty much everything, I always had enough to cover all expenses and even save some money for future projects. That's how I was able to purchase my first office.

“We kept growing and at one point we had six employees. We’re now reduced down to four. As far as management, I subscribe to the theory of hiring tough and firing easy. We are like a family, where everyone is respected and allowed to do their job. Our people contribute to our goals because they know what we're about. The golden rule I've always had is to hire nice people. We can teach anyone how to sell technical automotive books, but we cannot teach them to be nice. That's something you learn at home.”

For the full article, you can visit this link and learn more about the site. We’ll be reviewing it shortly for your convenience.

[Video] Mitchell 1 DIY CM

Here's an online video for Mitchell 1 DIY (eAutorepair.net) if you want a more visual (albeit brief) guide on how that particular online auto repair manual looks like and feels like to use. It's more of a commercial, really, but hey, perhaps you would like to watch it after reading our own review of the Mitchell 1 DIY service.

Don't hesitate to hit up the link, watch the video, visit the site after you consider our review. It's really a solid service, although you might also want to check out our other takes on the different online repair manual services available out there.

DIY is easier with Online Auto Repair Manuals

One point we’ve been trying to completely drive home is that you’ll be able to perform a wide variety of DIY automotive tasks with the help of online auto repair manuals. We’ll constantly keep “reminding” you of this as we go along, no matter how many times we need to repeat and repeat and repeat it. As long as it works, right?

There’s no need to be afraid of DIY Auto repair as long as you have the tools you’ll need to do the job (and as long as it is within the capacity of the DIY mechanic to pull off; after all, there are certain tasks that simply call for the help of an auto repair shop that has the kind of heavy duty equipment that most DIY mechanics simply don’t have and can’t afford).

Knowledge is one of the most important things here. You may start out with zero skill, but if you take the time to read up and gain the knowledge you need to perform your own repairs and maintenance tasks, you’ll be able to learn the ropes eventually. Just make sure you put in the work; there’s no use subscribing to an online auto repair manual service if you’re not even going to try and read it or understand the text.

Additionally, simply getting an online auto repair manual isn’t enough. You need to make sure that what you have contains quality and accurate information. Otherwise, you’ll just be stumbling like a blind man. If you go for the free online repair manuals, make sure you check them for quality and accuracy. For paid subscriptions, make sure you carefully pick a service that has all the stuff you’ll need and require.

Once you have the tools, the rest should follow—and you’ll be well on your way to a happy DIY mechanic experience.

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.

Going DIY vs. Hiring a Mechanic

There’s this age-old debate (well, is there really?) that pits the DIY route against simply getting your trusted mechanic to do a job for you when you need your car fixed. Well, both really do have advantages and they all mostly have to do with your situation.

The main advantage of DIY is the cheaper cost. Naturally, if you do whatever task has to be done by yourself, you won’t have to pay anyone any labor fees. Anyone who has had his car repaired can attest to the experience—nay, the shock—of finding a huge amount billed under labor after getting the receipt from the shop. That is eliminated when you do things the DIY way. Of course, that means you’ll still be spending on tools, equipment and replacement or upgrade components. Maybe you’ll also be shelling out a few bucks for subscriptions to reliable online auto repair manuals. Depending on how much you tune or modify or repair, you could end up either saving money or blowing more on parts.

If you only need to work on your car when something goes wrong, or if you don’t have time to study DIY auto repair, then it might be more practical to just go to the mechanic on the occasion that a component breaks down or something. DIY car care is no laughing matter, and you can’t just expect to wing it (unless you’re one of those geniuses with an inborn aptitude for mechanical work or affinity for vehicle systems).

The best thing to do is to weigh your options. Check out some general car care books or online repair manuals and see if the stuff discussed in their pages is the sort of stuff you’d be able to understand and eventually do by yourself. The choice is yours, and the power is in your hands.

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 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!

Types of Online Repair Manuals

In order to get the kind of information you need, you'll also need to know the types of available online car repair manuals. Everything will depend on the problem—whether you'll be looking for a generic manual, a vehicle-specific manual, a diagnostic guide, or a maintenance or service manual.

The first thing we'll be discussing is the initial type on our list: the generic manual, or the general online auto repair manual. These are fairly common types, and you might not even need to buy anything. General repair manuals can also be bought off the shelves of leading bookstores in your area. Still, our focus here is on those car repair manuals found online, which offer not only convenience but a paperless resource that is accessible anytime you have your computer on (with matching Internet connection, of course).

You'll be able to find generic repair manuals online that are basically sorted by the make or by automaker. That's because car manufacturers often have typical things to look out for across a range of vehicle models. In the same vein, certain manufacturing peculiarities or trademarks will have matching issues on multiple models within their product line.

Additionally, there are some online repair manual publishers who really make it a point to focus on certain automakers (depending on demand, most probably) so there really would be a wealth of information on a particular manufacturer (say, Toyota) than others, and this info would be better suited for your vehicle should you own one from the aforementioned automaker.

That's about it for now. We'll discuss the other types of online auto repair manuals as we go along, so watch out for those. Once we've completed the rundown of online repair manual types, we'll round it all up so you can access the articles on one convenient post.

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.

Diagram Illustrations: How Important are they?

In our previous entries about looking for the right kind of online auto repair manuals, we stated that there has to be some illustrations included to help the DIY mechanic do his or her task. When you talk about the bottom line, however, are illustrations really all that important for people?

This argument comes up because there are already detailed step by step instructions that come with practically all online car repair manuals. These texts are quite easy to understand, so people will be able to follow them without much of a hitch. Then again, sometimes even the most carefully stated thoughts can be a bit confusing to other people. That’s when illustrations are needed.

Sometimes, it’s just hard to know if you’re handling the correct part in a particular system. A clear picture provided in the manual will dispel any doubts you have, and you can approach the task with more confidence since you know you’re not removing the wrong part.

Besides, thanks to an influx of computer software, rendering high-quality illustrations is now a cinch for many publishers. Readers now get very accurate diagrams as well as clearly-illustrated depictions of systems and processes. Pictures now are more detailed, more graphic and easily more eye-catching. Some even provide 3D images or animated gif files that really show how something works. These come in handy when you find yourself uncertain about something.

Illustrations are found in our everyday lives. From the newspaper to the television, we are barraged with a wide variety of visual stimuli. That’s because the human brain can understand and internalize things easier with the use. The same goes for online car repair manuals. All of that exclusive jargon, complicated processes and the concepts that are seemingly hard to understand simply become clearer thanks to visual aids included in the manuals.

Things to Look for in Online Auto Repair Manuals Part 2

In a previous post a couple of days back, we’ve already provided some aspects that we think should be major factors in your decision to go for one online auto repair manual service over the others. Of course, three aspects don’t make a full online car repair manual, right? So we’ve decided to add to the list of things and features you should consider when you finally get your own paid subscription to an online vehicle repair manual. Here they are:

Ease of Use

Make sure you check if there are any available reviews about your prospective online auto repair manuals. This way, you can find out if that particular service or program or site is easy enough to use. It’s not so much the system requirements as it is the way the user interface is designed. If the online repair manual is easy to navigate, you’ll be able to get your desired information much faster.


Clarity of Information

Without a doubt, all paid online repair manuals aim to provide as comprehensive a coverage as possible. Sometimes, though, the language they use to present that information just isn’t understandable enough for common folk and for DIY beginners. That can be a roadblock for some, since they won’t be able to use something they can’t understand.


Cost

This is a major factor that we didn’t include in the previous list, but it is definitely a major, major aspect of purchasing an online car repair manual. All of the other aspects figure into this consideration, because the more features the manual program or site has, the better value you’ll get for the cost. One online repair manual may be more expensive than another, but if the additional features and coverage you’ll get is extensive, then it might be worth shelling out a few more bucks.

The Age-Old Debate: Free versus Paid

Online automotive repair manuals can be distinguished from one another depending on whether they are freely available and accessible or if you need to pay in order to have a subscription or to access the full version. Many are debating that the Internet contains a vast amount of information, enough to allow users to find whatever data they need to be able to do anything—and this includes automotive repair and maintenance.

Still, there’s the argument that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, even in auto repair. After all, if you really want the best, the most reliable and the most comprehensive information available, then you’ll have to pay up. Some paid online repair manual services have good claims about accuracy, since some of them do complete dismantling of particular vehicle makes and models in order to understand how the vehicle’s parts go together.

In the end, you’ll have to consider this: The bottom line is always your needs, and that’s where your decision will depend on. Do a quick search of the information that you require. If you can get answers for your question without having to pay a cent, would you still be in need of a premium online repair manual?

As we’ve said before, those who have some dough to spare should go ahead and subscribe to an online repair manual for their vehicle’s particular make and model anyway. After all, it’s not a question of “if” your car will break down or some of its components start to fail, only “when.” But since not everyone can afford to subscribe to good online car repair manuals, free online repair manuals and sometimes even those message boards are really useful and offer good alternatives for those who can’t or won’t shell out the money for the paid versions.

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?

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.