Things to Look for in Online Auto Repair Manuals

So you’ve finally decided to subscribe to or buy a paid online car repair manual. Yet, there are a lot of choices out on the World Wide Web, and it is very important that you know absolutely what you’re getting before you go and hit that Buy button. That’s why we’ve come up with a few things that you might want to look into first before you spend your cash. Here are some of the things you should look for in your online auto repair manual:

Vehicle-Specific Manual

Unless all you’re after are generic auto repair tips and tricks, you’ll probably want an online repair manual that tackles issues, problems and repair tasks specific to your vehicle’s make and model. This way, you can make sure that you won’t encounter any troubleshooting or repair problems simply because your ride has a different setup or has different components compared to what the manual is talking about.

Manual Contains an Illustrated Guide

Illustrations are always helpful, and full-blown videos are even more helpful. It would be nice if the manual you got had these features, as these will make your task much easier. It’ll be like you have a teacher or a coach actually showing you what to do. Furthermore, illustrations can help prevent confusion on your part because you can see exactly what the directions are referring to.

Accessible

Certain online auto repair manuals have minimum system requirements. These are the minimum specs your computer or laptop must have in order for the manual to be viewed. Just make sure your computer has these specs or better. After all, it would be pointless to spend cash on a manual if you won’t be able to even view it, right?


So that about covers it. Now that you know what to look for in your online auto repair manual, you can pick the one that best suits your needs and preferences. Good luck!

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?

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 Repair Manuals: Bikes and ATVs

Cars, SUVs and trucks aren’t the only ones that have online repair manuals. If you own a bike or an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or a utility terrain vehicle (UTV), you can also avail of many online vehicle repair manuals for your specific machine.

While online repair manuals for motorcycles and ATVs may not seem as common as those of their more illustrious counterparts, but the truth is that there are many sites out there that you can use to gain information on various topics relating to the repair and servicing of your bike or quad.

Just like with automobiles, you can also find free online repair manuals for your motorcycle. These bike repair manuals and ATV repair manuals offer a good resource for your DIY and repair efforts, and the best part is you don’t have to pay a single cent to access the manuals via subscription or to download PDF files of actual manuals. An example here again is a web site that we’ve discussed before: FixYa, which has a motorcycle category.

While bikes and quads may have systems that are less complicated compared to cars, some issues can still be tricky to figure out and solve. That’s where online manuals come in. Just grab your laptop or turn on your PC, then log on to the Internet and you’ll have ready access to troubleshooting procedures and suggested fixes.

Whether you’re driving a top-of-the-line Harley or going off-road on your ATV, getting an online repair manual is a great way to ensure that any future repair or maintenance tasks can be accomplished easier, faster and with less hassle. With reliable workshop manuals and repair manuals to guide you and help you in tough situations, going the DIY route can prove to be much more fun and fulfilling. Plus, you get to shave off all those expensive repair costs by doing tasks yourself.

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.