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.

Generic Online Auto Repair Manuals

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Looking Forward to More Online Repair Manual Goodness in 2011

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

The Smart fortwo electric drive

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

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

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

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.