2008 Tesla Roadster Owner’s Manual

I was browsing random stuff and documents over at Scribd when I chanced upon an interesting find: an online owner’s manual for the BEV (battery electric vehicle) supercar, the Tesla Roadster. To be specific, it’s an online manual for the 2008 model of the car, produced by California-based Tesla Motors.

Of course, only a single model has been in production since 2008, so I guess it shouldn’t be much of a problem that I failed to find a 2009 or a 2010 edition of the owner’s manual anywhere online.

Who would’ve guessed that the Tesla Roadster was just like a normal sports car? I kid. You’ll find the usual owner’s manual stuff inside the one for the spankin’ hot electric vehicle, including intros, basic overviews of components and systems, driving basics and maintenance guidelines. There’s also a thorough section on technical specifications near the end. The whole thing is in there.

Just like your standard online auto repair manuals, here are also sections on how to clean the vehicle, how to replace certain parts, and make sure that your environmentally-friendly and emissions-free ride is always in tip-top shape. Of course, owning a Tesla Roadster, which is a fully electric vehicle that requires no constant oil changes, has no exhaust systems to speak of, and need no spark plug, hose or belt replacments, allows for easier maintenance because there are less systems and components compared to conventional cars.

The Tesla Roadster took the automotive world by storm with its epic performance numbers while running on battery power. As of early December of last year, there had already been 1,400 Roadsters delivered to customers in many countries.

Ready to take the plunge? Head on over to this link to view the 2008 Tesla Roadster owner’s manual at Scribd.

Mercedes Puts Up Online Manual for SLK Class

If you're one of the few fortunate individuals to own a Mercedes-Benz SLK, then you'd be glad to know that you won't have to flip through the contents of your precious vehicle's online repair manual just to find some info about your car. That's because Mercedes-Benz already put up an interactive online owner's manual on its web site for your convenience.

Of course, even if you don't really own an SLK, it's still going to be pretty neat browsing through an owner's manual for a dream car such as this one. This is probably the closest most of us can be to actually owning a high-end Mercedes-Benz vehicle.

Take note, however, that the specs included in the online manual is for the German edition of the car and will refer to regulations in Germany. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz makes it clear that the online version of the manual isn't a direct replacement of the printed owner's manual you'll get when you actually do purchase an SLK from the dealership. SLK owners are advised to contact their dealer to get a printed copy of your ride's manual.

To check out the online manual for SLK vehicles, just point your browsers to this link and browse away.

Haynes Star Trek Manual

Do check out this nifty little video about a special edition Haynes Manual, from one of the most prominent providers of online auto repair manuals. It's an Owner's Workshop Manual for the U.S.S. Enterprise, or that space ship in the Star Trek universe if you're not familiar with it.

It's not exactly an online auto repair manual, really, but I think it's fun that Haynes is recognized enough that it gets to produce an official licensed product like this one because of course it is a widely known publisher of manuals and similar reference materials.

The official info states that it took two years to make the manual, so there really was a lot of work put into this to make it look like a legit manual. The manual was released last November 2, 2010, and it is available in both e-Book and hardcover print formats. The manual contains detailed technical information about the different fictional spacefaring vessels that bore the name Enterprise, along with cutaway internal views, interior focus, and key system information. The book has been authorized in full by CBS as well as Michael Okuda, the technical consultant that had been part of the team that worked on the TV series Star Trek for 13 years.

You can find out more information about the manual in this link: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Ben-Robinson/78112754?mcd=vd_youtube

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.

[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.

More Online Repair Manuals

Competition is always a good thing. While we already have a wide array of online auto repair manuals and vehicle maintenance manuals, I think there is still a need for more service providers to come into the fray.

Take, for instance, the notion that most people already have Haynes in mind when you talk about or even mention automotive manuals. Well, that somehow tells us that Haynes barely gets any challenge from many of its competitors. This includes even those that are close to it in terms of renown, such as Alldata and Mitchell 1 DIY.

Or maybe we don’t even need a totally new online auto repair manual service provider now. Maybe we just have to see some of the mid-major type providers evolve and grow into a serious contender for the title. This means stepping up in a wide variety of ways in order to maximize the potential of the service and make it as palatable for consumers as possible.

We’ll see what happens as the market develops. There’s always the demand. It’s how the providers supply the products that will meet these demands that will dictate the direction that online auto repair manuals will take in general.

Better Comprehension of Online Repair Manuals

You don’t have to be a genius or a rocket scientist or even a highly experienced DIY mechanic just to understand online auto repair manuals. After all, these are tools that are intended to aid even those who are just now venturing into DIY auto repair and maintenance, a proper tool that will help inform and guide newbies and experts alike.

If you feel like you’re having a hard time grasping some concepts or remembering some of those very specific terms, you might just be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information that you have to absorb and everything isn’t really sinking in. The best thing to do in this instance would be to take a break and just move on to other things in the meantime. Then, when your mind is freshly rested, you can proceed from where you left off. Without a doubt, you’ll be able to comprehend things faster and easier now.

Consuming the info inside each and every online auto repair manual will definitely take some serious time away from doing anything else, so you’d better be prepared to make the investment. Add some more time to your estimates if you think you’ll be having a difficult time understanding the manual that you have. Anyway, the key here is to set a pace that’s just right for you—it shouldn’t be too fast that you don’t let anything sink in, nor should it be too slow that you won’t be getting any actual DIY repair or maintenance done within a reasonable time frame.

Better comprehension of the various online auto repair manuals requires a balance of your time so that you get enough work done. Don’t hesitate to adapt your schedule to suit your comprehension. In the long run, getting the right dose will prove instrumental in your growth as a DIY auto mechanic.