Online Auto Repair Manuals Review: Factory Automanuals

Website: http://www.factoryautomanuals.com/

Sometimes, you can tell how serious a business is based on its online presence. In that regard, Factory Automanuals really gave us a great first impression. The service impressed us right away with its web design, which deviated from the common e-commerce mold of other online auto repair manuals in that theirs actually had some visual appeal and had an aesthetic going on. There is some effort at typography and keeping with a unified design overall.

Of course, visuals don't make an online auto repair manual service There has to be substance beyond the style. Fortunately, Factory Automanuals has that. First off, let's get it out there that this site isn't really a true online repair manuals site. It contains a large selection of physical repair manuals that you can order. There are also vehicle-specific books that are more like reference materials instead of actual manuals. A good example of this is the book “The Ford Century” by Russ Hanham, which was made in celebration of the company's 100^th year anniversary.

Finding one for your needs is relatively easy, aided by the site's Quick Search function. Ordering is also a breeze, and prospective buyers have two options when purchasing: Add to Cart, which is pretty much self-explanatory, and Add to Wishlist. Shipping and tax are both calculated upon checkout, and there's really no other way to determine the total cost unless the customer already selected his or her delivery options. Of course, at least a partial total would have sufficed in the Cart section. It would help customers estimate the costs and the amount they need to shell out for the repair manuals.

Cadillac, Chevy, Ford, Isuzu, Toyota, Volkswagen, import cars, domestic cars, motorcycles, trucks, farm equipment—you name it, Factory Automanuals probably has it. It's this large selection of resources and manuals that gives the online service a big nod in our books. If you prefer the kind of manuals that you can flip through and store in bookshelves, you can do way worse than Factory Automanuals. It's a good site that has a solid collection, and it has a layout that's very pleasing to the eye.

The Basics of Auto Repair and Maintenance

If you’ve been watching the NBA anytime within the last decade, I’m sure you would’ve heard of someone named Tim Duncan. “Timmy,” as he is fondly called by fans of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, is also known as “The Big Fundamental.” This is because his game is so old-school, so basic, that he is more of an exception in this day and age of flashy dunks and passes that go behind players’ backs. Still, he’s won four championships with this style of play. What’s my point with this NBA analogy?

Fundamentals are important.

You can think up all of the left-field modifications you want to do on your precious vehicle, but it remains important that you have a thorough understanding of what makes your car tick. You can accomplish this by reading through your online repair manual (or if you’re rich and have surplus cash, perhaps you have many online auto repair manuals under your name).

These fundamentals involve a pool of knowledge that you can fall back on when things get nasty, or when your tasks become too complicated. It’s essential that you have a firm grasp on the basic functions and inner workings of your ride’s core systems so that you’ll have an idea what to do and where to start when something goes wrong.

Online car repair manuals contain the sort of basic information you need to handle practically any task related to auto repair, maintenance, and modification. Vehicle-specific variants are still the preferable options, but even generic ones will do. Once you understand your ride in theory, you can apply that knowledge into practice. Over time, you won’t even have to keep consulting the online repair manual just to confirm if what you think is correct. That’s how the fundamentals can help you on your everyday DIY tasks.

I'm sure "Timmy" and his four NBA championship rings will agree.

Online Auto Repair Manuals and the Issue of Comprehension

One potential roadblock to the widespread use of online car repair manuals is comprehension. Depending on the manual that you download, or the language used by the online repair manual service provider, you might encounter steps, concepts, knowledge, ideas, and other pieces of information that can be hard to understand.

The fact that you decided to undertake DIY auto repair and maintenance with the aid of an online auto repair manual, I guess, already speaks volumes about your commitment and desire to learn. If that’s the case, then there shouldn’t be a problem even if there’s a steep learning curve provided or necessitated by the kind of online repair manual service you have subscribed yourself to.

Willingness to work through it and try to really wrap your head around some issues that may seem difficult to understand is, for me, a necessary step towards improving yourself. Let’s face it—DIY auto repair and working with vehicles in general is a highly technical task. There’s really a lot of info, jargon, concepts, and processes to deal with. It’s important that you acknowledge that before you even try to dip into the pool that is DIY.

At this point, it’s all about your judgment and, in many cases, your budget. When you encounter an online repair manual that is plainly difficult to understand, you are most likely left with little to no choice on the matter—you need to consider that you had made a bad investment (in the case of a paid online subscription) on a terrible online auto repair manual service. It’s either you stay with that service that’s hard to comprehend, or you get a new one with better reviews in terms of its comprehensibility. If you pick the latter option, though, it will entail another expense and additional expenses.

Top Traits of a Bad Online Auto Repair Manual

We've always been discussing the positive side of online car repair manuals, so we here thought it was time for a change. All things have B-sides, and even these auto repair manuals can also have some negatives. Let's get right on to some of them now.

Internet Connection Required

Although the internet (especially high-speed Broadband connections) have seen widespread use in the past years, there are still some who refuse to rely on this technology to speed up processes or avail of some valuable resources and materials. Some DIY mechanics are among this group, and even some auto repair shops don't really prioritize an internet connection as an essential business tool.

Other car repair manuals may be unreliable over slower connections because of the sheer amount of data they have to fetch. Still, most are geared to be optimized even for slow connections, so make sure you check what kind of connection is required to access your online manual.

Too Technical?

Let's face it—auto repair involves a lot of technical stuff. This can be a very big obstacle for many who don't really have time to go into the nitty-gritty of automotive repair concepts. Jargon isn't a very good thing especially for people who are challenged when it comes to comprehension, so they might feel like they're not cut out for the task if they can't understand an auto repair manual.

Then again, some auto repair manuals are too technical in and of themselves. The level of detail varies from manual to manual, from provider to provider. This is a detail people need to look out for, especially when it involves a paid subscription. You wouldn't want to shell out money for something you won't be able to understand.


These are just two of the negative things one may experience when dealing with online car repair manuals, so don't hesitate to read up on reviews and look at detailed descriptions of the one you're looking to subscribe to before you enter your credit card details and commit valuable finances and other resources.

Online Auto Repair Manuals Reviews the The AutoMD App

We've already mentioned the Automd Apple device app on this blog a couple of weeks ago, when we posted about alternatives to Online Auto Repair Manuals. And we think it's now time to provide you with a full review—even though we said we wouldn't do so until the app's creators come up with a new version.

Okay, so here are the details of the app:

Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/automd-mobile/id369361977?mt=8

Description: Get “how to” repair guides, cost estimates for repairs and local shops info all from your iPhone with AutoMD Mobile – the mobile version of AutoMD.com.

• Free
• Category: Utilities
• Updated: Mar 01, 2011
• Current Version: 1.4.1
• 1.4.1
• Size: 2.6 MB
• Language: English
• Seller: US Auto Parts Network, Inc
• © AutoMD, Inc
  

Rated 4+

At first glance, the app really does offer a wide array of functions, as well as a fairly large collection of information that you can access online through the app. The estimate feature is particularly helpful, as you'll find the prices to be quite consistent. Plus, you can check if the auto repair shop you're at is overcharging for the repairs on your car.

The issue, however, starts with accuracy. If you visit the AutoMD web site, you'll find fairly accurate information on their how-to guides and their step-by-step articles. That doesn't seem to be the case with the site's app, though. Still, there are a lot articles and pieces of information that you can use when you're in need of instant help on the road.

If you want mobile access to auto repair information, the AutoMD app is an excellent start. If you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, just hook it up to a data connection or over Wi-Fi and you can find easy answers to your questions. It's free, as we said, so it's no problem if you don't like the app once you try it out.

Online Auto Repair Manuals Review: RepairSurge

I saw this site just a few days ago. I was so kept up with other stuff in the past that I never got around to seeing another online auto repair manual aside from the ones we've already tackled here. Anyway, we continue our reviews of online auto repair manuals today, and next in our lineup is RepairSurge (www.repairsurge.com).

“Never buy another repair manual.” That's the RepairSurge slogan, and you have to admit, it's a pretty lofty one. Good thing the company can back that claim to a fault.

Requirements to run the program or software aren't too demanding: a decent operating system on the computer, mostly Windows (Win 98, 2000, XP, NT, Millennium Edition, and Windows Vista); a fairly fast Internet connection, and either Paypal or a major credit card in order to pay for your purchased online repair manual.

While the coverage list seems bare, RepairSurge actually has a pretty extensive line of online repair manual information on a wide range of automakers, whether we're talking about domestic applications or import models. Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, Jeep—you name it, RepairSurge lists it.

The online auto repair manual itself functions much like other window-based programs; you have a sidebar, a menu bar, and the main content area. The items are pretty straightforward, and the UI is very intuitive—if not quite attractive or even pleasing to the eye. But hey—at the end of the day, content is still king. You can't use a pretty menu to fix that car of yours, now, can you?

Pricing is at $14.99 for the online manuals, a good $5 off CD-ROM prices and in par (if not cheaper) than most other online auto repair manuals on the Web. That pricing should help RepairSurge position itself as one of the better alternatives available on the market.

Online Auto Repair Manuals from Resellers

Getting online auto repair manuals is pretty easy. You just Google for “online repair manuals” and you'll get pages upon pages of results, each linking to some online service or another. Of course, not all of these are the online car repair manuals themselves. Instead of providers, you get resellers.

These resellers, and in many other cases the affiliates, offer online auto repair manuals indirectly—that is, they are merely middle men getting you to try or buy a new online car repair manual.

For example, if you go to 10w40.com, you'll see not one, not two, but three online auto repair manuals that are up for sale: Haynes, Alldata DIY, and Mitchell 1 DIY. (If you want reviews, we've covered all of these three services in our review section. Do check them out if you have the time. Thanks!)

What's good about these affiliates or resellers is that you can get substantial discounts off the coupons that the resellers offer. That's a big help, especially if you're still unsure that you're getting your money's worth. Additionally, you're also helping the affiliates earn money by purchasing the online auto repair manual from them. It's a win win situation for everybody.

Another example, also from 10w40.com, is how they sell RepairSurge universal repair manuals at just $13.99, a full dollar off the regular price (which is also in turn slashed from the standard $19.95 fee). The site also sells ALLDATA manuals at $24.25, from an SRP Of $26.95. This price slash is accomplished by using a coupon.

So don't be taken aback if you see another site selling another online auto repair manual service. Not all of these are spam or scams. Make sure you stay critical of everything just to avoid becoming a victim. Many of the resellers are legit, so you shouldn't have much trouble finding one.

The Best Online Auto Repair Manual Ever

Michael Jordan is the best NBA player ever. The Beatles are the best band. But what about the best online car repair manual? Well, since we've been discussing our ideal repair manual traits ever since I could remember, and we've already reviewed a wide variety of online car repair manual service providers, perhaps we've already found the best one there is. Guess what?

There is NO best online auto repair manual.

As we've said before, different people have varied needs and requirements. You know what they say, “Different strokes for different strokes.” The important thing here is to identify what your needs are and then find the best online car repair manual service that will fit that need. You have to make sure that the one you choose is always custom-fit for the stuff you have in mind. It's as much about you as it is what's included in the online repair manual's package.

If you don't have the dough to shell out for a paid subscription to the different online auto repair manuals out there, then that defines your needs and requirements. You'll have to get the best free online repair manual for your DIY tasks, and that then becomes the best one for you. The paid ones are all out of the question. You know there are a lot of free ones out there that can provide for your needs just fine.

So, to close this article, we'll leave you by saying that there may never be a Michael Jordan of online automotive repair manuals. Sure, Haynes, Alldata, and Mitchell 1 DIY, and all the rest all have their strengths, and some are more preferred compared to others, but what you need defines what's best for you. And if you find that online auto repair manual, even if it's not among the big-name brands, then good for you! 

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."

Online Repair Manuals are Here to Stay

Everything comes and goes. Even what's popular or famous today (The Los Angeles Lakers, Google, the iPhone, Rebecca Black) can be gone tomorrow. Still, we here at Repair Manuals Online firmly believe that our favorite web-based automotive resources, these online auto repair manuals, are certainly here to stay.

Fact is, a great many people really do own cars. And another fact is, most people would really want to save money by at least being knowledgeable enough to know what's wrong with their cars and maybe even be empowered enough to do something or other about the problem (this is, in essence, the DIY spirit). And online auto repair manuals are excellent tools for that job.

Very few things can compare to the convenience of having a readily accessible resource off the Internet, especially now that fast broadband connections are becoming the norm instead of the exception. This way, it's pretty easy to access online car repair manuals anytime and anywhere (or at least anywhere with a decent Wi-Fi connection that you can connect to).

Wikipedia is popular for a reason. It has loads of information available within a click or two. The same goes for online car repair manuals. They offer specialized info for DIY mechanics, and there really aren't a lot of resources that can compare in terms of depth and coverage. It's just a matter of finding the perfect one for your vehicle.

So there you have it. We believe that our beloved online auto repair manuals are here to stay. As long as there's a person who needs to have automotive information available at his fingertips, these web-based resources will have demand. And as long as service providers are willing to serve up this demand, then we'll always have high-quality and reliable online vehicle repair manuals at our beck and call. Count on it.

Share Your Online Repair Manuals Story

We've received a couple of e-mails telling how people experienced some problems with their cars and found the solution in online auto repair manuals. We'll be bringing them out to the forefront when we post them and discuss them on a future date, but now we'd just like to tell everybody that we welcome any and all e-mails as long as you tell us about your own story involving online car repair manuals.

It can be any story—from a repair job that you've had where you consulted your trusty online car repair manual or when you opted to go for a subscription so that you can really get into the DIY mechanic mode properly. Regardless, we'll be taking a close look at it and then we'll showcase it in a post all its own just so the rest of the world will know your story.

Questions and suggestions are also welcome, so don't be shy and just fire away. We'll answer anything you want to know with everything that we have, and we'll try to give you solutions and consider any suggestions you want to give us. It's a free world, after all, and all we want to do is serve you guys better and provide you with the best possible resource when it comes to online auto repair manuals.

So don't hesitate to hit the e-mail! Or you can simply drop us a line using the comment forms on any of our posts. Don't worry—we'll make sure to reply as soon as possible so that your story gets published and your queries get answered. Here's to more online auto repair manual stories in the future!

Online Auto Repair Manuals FTW

Never take things for granted, guys. If you have a subscription to any of the premium online auto repair manuals out there, then make sure you maximize each and every kilobyte of data. Learn the ropes in and out. Study what needs to be studied. Get to know your vehicle by using the manual, so that you won't have much of a problem when a, uh, problem arises.

Mastering DIY can be a pretty challenging and not to mention daunting task. But it is certainly doable, and you can manage it easily with the help of a reliable online auto repair manual at your disposal. When something happens to your car, the online car repair manual is the one you can turn to for help. Of course, you can also consult your trusted mechanic, but it will definitely save you loads of money if you can do tasks yourself.

It doesn't even have to be a big, complicated task. You can just learn basic things like servicing and keeping your car in top condition. Preventing setbacks can be a pretty good way to maintain the good performance of your vehicle while saving some dough in the process. If you can keep your car in excellent shape, then you won't have to pay bloated fees from independent repair shops or from your dealership.

You'll be able to see the difference when you set out on a repair or maintenance task and you don't have a trusty online auto repair manual available for use. The task will definitely be much easier to perform, and you'll be more confident doing it since you know you are backed by the kind of information that even dealership mechanics sometimes don't have. It's a win-win situation for you, since you have a perfectly working vehicle while still maximizing your savings since you did the job all on your own.

Alternatives to Online Auto Repair Manuals: Mobile Apps

the AutoMD iPhone app

So you don't want to bother with online auto repair manuals, huh? We understand—sometimes the sheer unfamiliarity and the inaccessibility of the content found in these beloved resources can hinder certain DIY mechanics in terms of growth and training.

Well, the good news is that there are plenty of alternative options that you can turn to should you find auto repair manuals (especially those of the online variety) unsatisfactory or not to your liking. For example you can always turn to applications or apps that can be installed in mobile phone operating systems.

One good example of a reliable mobile app is the AutoMD app for iPhone, iPad tablet, and the iPod Touch media device. You can find the app at this link. It's a good all-around tool; there are still many quirks in the app's current version, but most of it is pretty serviceable. The app offers repair estimates, a shop finder, how-to guides that are linked to the AutoMD website, TSB and recall information, and some other stuff that you can access. It's a free app, anyway, so do give it a try if you like. We'll come up with our own review sometime. Maybe when the next version is released, to be fair.

Additionally, some automakers do provide customers with mobile apps that are focused on particular vehicle models, so you get the power of a manual in the comfort of your own mobile device. Plus, most of these are optimized to be written in a language that many will find relatively easy to understand.

If you own a vehicle, you can look up your ride's manufacturer's web site and check if they offer manual information online (like Mercedes-Benz does). You can also check your respective app store to see if the manufacturer also provides mobile apps. We'll tackle more alternative options in the future, so do stay tuned!

Online Auto Repair Manuals of the Future

Okay, please be warned: This will be a crazy, left-field, out-of-this-world post.

Still reading? Okay, here goes. I just re-watched Minority Report for the nth time today, so I'm still reeling from all the future stuff that I'm imagining or thinking about. One thing I'm always wondering about is how online auto repair manuals will be like 10 or maybe even 20 years from now.

Will we have some of them downloaded directly into our brains a la The Matrix? Or will they come in the form of robotic mechanics that actually help or assist us in doing our repair, maintenance, or servicing jobs? Maybe it'll be like having your own C3PO or R2-D2 aiding you as you tune up that engine or replace your ride's old and clogged air filters. It may be the stuff of science fiction now, but eventually, these will all be reality.

I believe mobile phones will have a big role to play in the evolution of online car repair manuals. After all, apps are getting more popular these days, aren't they? Pretty soon, we'll have every piece of info we need available at the touch of a finger. It's all a matter of technology, and we've seen it evolve exponentially over this past decade. Pretty soon, I'm sure we'll be seeing some very awesome stuff—and that includes some pretty awesome online auto repair manuals for sure.

Okay, now I guess it's time to stop daydreaming. I remember I still have to fix that busted catalytic converter on my pickup truck.

Finding Repair Manuals Never Used to be So Easy

The Google culture has made it possible to find practically anything on God’s green earth. From your old grade school classmates to the details on how you can survive an impending zombie apocalypse, everything is searchable using our beloved and preferred search engines. Even finding a specific online auto repair manual for your vehicle can be relatively easy nowadays.

Back then, when the Internet was never so omnipresent and indispensable, you’d really have to go out and order a printed manual for your vehicle. Getting a manual the manual way (no pun intended) is a bit tough, as you’re dependent on the suppliers and publishers as well as the available stock that they have.

With online auto repair manuals, there’s no wait needed most of the time. Just sign up, pay with your card or bank account or PayPal, and fire up the program after downloading. Voila! You have your information at the ready.

Of course, if you have a newer vehicle, you might have to wait until your vehicle’s year is covered by the manual service. Some, especially those who rely on complete teardowns and rebuild jobs to get accurate info, will really take a lot of time to get your ride’s info done. But hey—the tradeoff is a super-accurate online auto repair manual that you can really depend on for nearly any task.

So yeah, it’s almost too easy nowadays to find an online auto repair manual for your needs. Let’s not take this for granted and enjoy the convenience that comes with it, alright? Anyway, it's time to go. That's all for now. Look forward for more tips and tricks in the upcoming weeks.

Online Car Repair Manuals for Everyone

We’ve seen Mercedes-Benz do it with their cars—you know, all those fancy browser-based online interactive owner’s manuals. I don’t see how manufacturers can still not provide owners and mechanics with online car repair manuals that are specific to each vehicle. They’re even holding out important error code information that can help DIY mechanics or even professional auto shop mechanics diagnose problems accurately.

In this aspect, I think it’s high time that vehicle manufacturers make online car repair manuals available to everyone. Or at least provide them for vehicle owners so that they get an added advantage and so that they will be able to perform some of the tasks themselves to save money.

How can people master DIY car care and auto repair if the automakers won’t help them? Sure, they could always subscribe to paid manual providers that offer info from build-from-scratch methods, but I believe it would still be better if the manufacturers themselves provided this kind of information right from the get-go. Shouldn’t vehicle owners be entitled to information they’ll need to keep their car working properly?

Well, they do provide owner’s manuals, but a dedicated repair or maintenance resource could also be given to the millions of car owners out there. Then again, perhaps people won’t be investing in paid online auto repair manual subscriptions if they had this information available in the first place. But I can’t help but think that people still have to pay for things they should be given for free.

What do you think? Should automakers provide detailed online car repair manuals for their customers? Or should customers only opt to subscribe to paid third-party providers so they only need to decide when they actually need the subscription or the product? Anyway, we’ll leave you with that thought to ponder for tonight.

Updated Online Auto Repair Manuals

Even casual observers can see that automotive technology is evolving at unprecedented speeds. New features and tech come out each year. Just take that nifty new Magic Sky Control on the upcoming 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK (it’s basically a sunroof that allows the driver to switch between transparent and opaque moods to suit his or her whim or mood).

That said, it is definitely important to have online auto repair manuals that are always updated (or at least periodically updated) so that pros and DIY mechanics alike can have access to the latest information. With all these advances in technology, it can be pretty easy to lose sight of all the developments and get lost in the midst of trying to troubleshoot ever-complex car components.

Keeping in step with the latest in automotive tech will empower DIY mechanics when it comes to performing repairs on even the most advanced of vehicle systems. When you’re confident that your online auto repair manual provider has you covered, you won’t have to worry too much even if there’s a complex part that you encounter a problem with.

Most vehicle model-specific online car repair manuals deal with particular problems encountered on those cars, and you shouldn’t have any problems when it comes to content since they do cover the stock systems that came with your car. This means that, unless you modified components or add some complex parts, you’ll find what you need in your manual.

Online repair manuals offer a wide range of information. Some of them are updated with new info when it’s available, so if you want to stay on top of things, better choose a repair manual online that has the option of being updated with current info. This way, you won’t lose track of the developments particularly when your vehicle is concerned.

Online Repair Manuals Out of Focus: Dealerships vs. Independent Shops 2

We’ve discussed the debate about which would be better to get your car serviced or repaired if your DIY skills simply can’t get the job done. There wasn’t really any conclusion, especially since we’re mostly concerned about online auto repair manuals in this blog.

We’ve mentioned that it is way cheaper to go to independent repair shops for periodic maintenance, servicing and repair. Why? That’s because the mechanics at independent shops charge much less when it comes to labor costs. The rates, according to an AutoMD.com study, are around 20 percent lower at independents on average.

What you get with the higher cost of labor at dealerships is expertise. The mechanics and staff at dealerships know their $#!+. Aside from intensive brand-specific training, they also have access to the complete range of OEM info for the manufacturer’s vehicles. Plus, dealerships are currently privy to some exclusive error codes that will be essential in the diagnosis and troubleshooting of certain problems.

Of course, many people prefer the personal contact they get when dealing with their mechanic of choice. It’s true that you only get to talk to receptionists at dealerships in most cases, so you might want to get the personal reassurance from your mechanic when something goes wrong in your vehicle.

The thing here is that both independent repair shops and high-priced dealerships have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. It’s really up to you to choose where you want to get your car serviced or repaired when you can’t do the task yourself. We still prefer DIY, of course, but sometimes you really have to go get some professional help. When that happens, we hope you consider all your options carefully so you can decide on the best route to take.

Online Repair Manuals Out of Focus: Dealerships vs. Independent Shops?

DIY efforts are all good—you have your garage, your tools, your shiny new aftermarket auto parts and accessories, and your trusty ol’ online auto repair manual. Still, there will come one task that eventually stumps you and leaves you unable to solve the problem. When that happens, you will have to have your ride fixed by someone else.

When do you decide, and which one should you pick? Do you really go all the way to the dealership where you got your ride or do you leave it in the hands of a (hopefully trusted) mechanic. Did you know that 7 out of 10 vehicle owners prefer to go to independent repair or service professionals instead of to their dealer even if their cars are still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

Of course, there’s a law that ensures that dealers will still honor the warranty in most cases even if you opted to have your car serviced and repaired at places other than the dealership. Just keep in mind that you stick to repairs and maintenance that won’t really cause a voided warranty. You’ll need to know the specific warranty terms on your car so you’ll know what to avoid. That’s where the owner’s manual comes in. After all, the manual—online or printed—is the one thing that can show you every detail about your car, including important warranty coverage information.

Dealers do have something going for them: they sometimes have access to exclusive info and you are sure that your car will be serviced by trained professionals. This training is specific to your dealer, so the dealer’s technicians and mechanics have more insider info and knowledge about your particular vehicle. This should make up for a steeper labor charge.

So, deciding between independent shops and your designated dealer should be done with care. Know all the facts, and don’t hesitate to consult your manuals.

Seek Quality Info from Paid Online Repair Manuals

Like all references and source material, online auto repair manuals aren’t made equal in terms of the amount of content and the quality of that content. Some are more detailed and thorough, while others take a step back and look at the bigger picture with a more generic take on the subject matter as compared to their competitors. See, that’s the deal when it comes to paying for an online auto repair manual subscription—you have to make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth in when it comes to content quality and coverage.

There’s nothing like shelling out a big chunk of money every month for a substandard product. It just makes you want to punch somebody in the face. That’s exactly what you’ll feel when you subscribe to an online car repair manual provider and you find that its contents are not what you’re looking for or that the content doesn’t really provide what you need to perform even some common DIY tasks on your vehicle. You have to be more vigilant when you look at these online manuals and their sites. Don’t be taken in by marketing pitches alone. That’s why there are reviews, so you can make an informed decision after considering a lot of major and minor factors.

Content is still king—at least when it comes to online car repair manuals. That’s what you have to keep in mind the next time you Google for an online repair manual service and even think about entering your credit card information and hitting the checkout button on that online vehicle repair manual subscription. Be an informed consumer, even if you have to spend hours deciding on which service to patronize. It’s your money, after all—and you’ll be the one regretting if you don’t get the content your money is worth.