Looking for Car Repair Manuals Online

Most people usually just go to the mechanic to get their cars fix when problems start to arise. Well, not everyone can afford costly repair jobs all the time, and there is a lot of money that you can save by simply getting a reliable auto repair manual and performing repair and maintenance tasks on your own.

You don't even have to go out and actually buy your own personal car repair manual. There is always the Internet, which you can use to gain access to free online car repair manuals. All it takes are a few well-placed searches and some well-defined keywords and you can find the solution to your automotive problems.

There are many download routes you can choose to find your online car repair manuals. For example, some forums use file-sharing sites like MegaUpload, 4Shared or Rapidshare to share Pdfs or scanned manuals to other owners and enthusiasts. This is a great way to get free information, since all you have to do is download the files.

You can also search blogs that share that kind of information about auto repair. Some of them also offer download links to car repair manuals and how-to books. There are even some that provide sections of actual vehicle technical manuals.In some cases, you can also find a few auto repair manuals shared via peer-to-peer applications and even in torrent form.

The key is to know what you are looking for. After all, if you don't know the search terms or how to limit your search to get the best results, you could end up in a wild goose chase for that elusive auto repair manual. We will cover tips and tricks in searching for online auto repair manuals in a future post, so make sure you watch out for that.

Online Auto Repair Manuals Save the Day

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

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

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

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

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

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

Online Auto Repair Manual Reviews: Haynes

Welcome to another installment of our reviews on online auto repair manuals. This time, we’ll be putting Haynes Manuals under the microscope. Technically, Haynes isn’t an online car repair manual service, but it’s an auto repair manual service that you can access online. The manuals are actual published books rather than digital ones.

Haynes already has a massive collection of vehicle-specific manuals, and you can simply search for one using the Haynes site [http://www.haynes.com/]. On the top bar, you just input the year, make and model of your ride to see what your options are. You can also browse through the catalog on their site and see the lists and cross-references to check if your ride is covered.

If, however, you want a manual for a vehicle that isn’t in their database yet, you will have to wait 5 months to get your manual. That’s because the company has a “complete teardown and rebuild” system. They actually get a car (or a few cars) of a particular make and model and tear it down piece by piece to better understand the systems and components.

It’s a really cool system, because you know that you’re getting as accurate bits of information as possible. That’s also an excellent source for all of the detailed photos, diagrams and repair/service procedures that you’ll find in each manual.

Aside from automotive repair manuals, Haynes also publishes techbooks and guides for bikes and ATVs. You can also avail of Spanish repair manuals.

If you’re the type who prefers something tangible that you can actually see and flip through, Haynes Manuals are excellent for your car repair needs. Plus, you don’t have to pay annual subscription costs because your purchase is a one-time deal. You don’t get the instant access and searchable topics of online car repair manuals, but you get something that you can consult even when you don’t have access to a computer and the Internet.

Online Auto Repair Manual Reviews: Chilton

“Where smart enthusiasts click for service information”—that’s the tag line that Chilton DIY Online Auto Repair Manuals. In this post, we’ll be taking a quick look to see if it stays true to that promise.

Chilton DIY screenshot

Chilton DIY is made by Cengage Learning, a Singapore-based provider of modern learning solutions for both traditional and virtual learning environments. On the whole, Chilton DIY offers a healthy mix of features. You get detailed spec sheets that also contain corresponding maintenance schedules, illustrated step-by-step procedures for servicing and repairing your ride, troubleshooting vacuum and wiring diagrams, and access to certified mechanics that can answer questions (at a small price, of course). There are also videos and animations that can make it easier to learn and understand certain procedures.

All you need to access the manual is to make sure your computer complies with the minimum requirements, though you most probably will be able to use it as long as you have a decent computer or laptop by current standards. System requirements are Adobe Flash and Shockwave players, Windows XP or Vista operating system, Internet Explorer 6 or higher or Mozilla Firefox 2 or higher, and a high-speed connection.

Now let’s go to another important factor: cost. A Chilton DIY subscription will cost you $24.95 annually, with a 30-day option for $14.95. If you’re getting one, might as well take the 12 months because you get better value that way. That’s good for registering one vehicle. The price is right about the cost of an actual vehicle-specific manual from other sites like Haynes, with the difference being this is all online. If you’re not too keen on paying monthly or annually, you can opt for more generic Chilton DIY Total Car Care CD-Roms, which fetch for $19.95 each.

Overall, Chilton DIY is a good online repair manual alternative. If you’re willing to pay the yearly fee, the complete set of information in a manual for a particular vehicle make and model should be well worth the price.

Auto Repair is Made Easy Thanks to Online Auto Repair Manuals

Perhaps you’ve encountered a problem with your car and didn’t know how to fix it, or you might not even know what caused the problem in the first place. So you go to your nearest mechanic and pay a fine sum to get your car fixed. If you want to do repair jobs on your own, don’t worry—there are always online auto repair manuals that you can use to give you the lowdown on what to do and how to do it.

With online car repair manuals, fixing your car’s problems and performing maintenance jobs become much easier. Plus, you get your ride back in excellent working condition without having to spend more money to get professional mechanics to work on the vehicle. The first thing you’ll need to have, of course, is the willingness to learn and to be able to do these tasks on your own.

These online repair manuals cover practically all aspects of auto repair, from maintenance to diagnosis and troubleshooting to the actual process of fixing particular issues. What makes it easier even for DIY beginners is that there are step-by-step instructions that are quite easy to understand. Never mind if you only have a basic or shallow grasp of automotive components and systems; manuals also provide explanations on what a certain part does and what its role is in the overall operation of your vehicle.

So, what are you waiting for? Get started working on your car by yourself. After all, with online repair manuals, auto repair becomes easier. All you need is to arm yourself with the information you’ll need to understand and solve the problem at hand. As a mid-80s cartoon used to say, “Knowing is half the battle.” When it comes to fixing your car, online auto repair manuals can provide that knowledge that will get you through any battle.

Online Auto Repair Manuals versus Paper Manuals: And the Winner is…

We’ve said that there is a shift in the preferences of both manufacturers and consumers towards digital manuals. In this post, we’ll see which type is actually better: online auto repair manuals or printed paper car repair manuals. Let’s start the slugfest right now!

Digital versus Paper

We need to conserve natural resources and care for our environment. Among the green initiative manufacturers are employing is to use less paper so that trees can be spared. We can advocate that as well, and we can do this by using paperless means to help us in auto repair. This involves using digital manuals. Printed manuals, naturally, make use of paper. Go figure. Winner: online auto repair manuals

Accessibility

A vast majority of people can access the Internet in this day and age. That makes online repair manuals very easy to consult; just turn your computer or laptop on, connect to the web, and search for whatever it is you need to do. While that is generally the case, what happens when there’s a power outage or your Internet provider is having problems involving your connection? You won’t be able to get to your online car repair manual. For printed versions, you can just get it from your bookshelf and thumb through the pages anytime you want. Winner: Tie

Content

When it comes to printed car repair manuals, the depth of the information you’ll be getting varies depending on which one you purchased. You can even get specialized ones meant for particular vehicle makes and models. With online auto repair manuals, however, you get all the content you’ll need in just a single site or database. Winner: online auto repair manuals

Cost

There are free auto repair manuals. Enough said. Winner: online auto repair manuals

Well, that’s it for our head-to-head comparison—for now. It looks like online car repair manuals have the decided advantage. Make sure you try one if you haven’t already, just so you can see for yourself if online manuals are perfect for you.

Some Benefits of Using Online Auto Repair Manuals

Did you know that many manufacturers from different industries are switching to digital manuals? Even those fancy and glossy PlayStation 3 game manuals are disappearing into the void in favor of manuals that you can access online and in the game itself. Even manuals for auto repair are becoming quite obsolete, and we have the internet to thank. Online auto repair manuals are the “in” thing right now, mainly because of the ease and speed of access they offer.

Using online manuals provides mechanics and DIY enthusiasts like you with a wide range of information that you can access within a few clicks of the mouse. You won't need to flip through page upon page or filter through a load of text just to find what you need to know. After all, you can just browse through various sites that offer a boatload of auto repair information and even manuals in different document formats.

Aside from online content, there are online auto repair manuals in program form that you can download. These programs contain a treasure trove of auto repair information, including databases of problems, diagnostics and actual procedures. With a collection of content and a user-friendly interface, even the most un-tech-savvy will be able to maneuver through the menus and dialog boxes to find their desired how-to advice. Of course, make sure you do download one with a manageable interface.

Auto repair can be difficult for many people, especially those who are only starting out doing their own repairs or maintenance tasks. With the help of online auto repair manuals, however, things will definitely get easy enough that you can perform any task on your ride without having to go to your mechanic. You save on repair costs this way, and you also won’t need to spend on expensive auto repair books.