Automotive Repair Manuals - Auto Mechanic Tips and Information

With today's cars auto repair manuals are crucial for diagnosing and repairing vehicles in a timely manner. Some auto mechanics prefer paper books, others prefer to have a software program loaded onto their computer or to access information via the internet. However you prefer to access automotive repair information, this article includes some of the most popular companies that specialize in automotive repair information.

Mitchell 1 On Demand is owned by the Snap On corporation and has been a popular choice for automotive repair information for years. Many auto repair shops use Mitchel's information including repair procedures, torque specifications, TSB's (Technical Service Bulletins) and auto repair tips. Mitchell offers the DIY information available online, branded as eAutoRepair. The online repair information company, eAutoRepair offers an abbreviated subscription for the DIY at a much lower cost than automotive repair shops pay. Each subscription covers only one vehicle, but this works out great for the DIY'er that needs to access automotive repair information and would like to get it with the convenience of the internet.

ALLData is another very popular choice for automotive professionals. As with Mitchell, repair information that was provided by the car manufacturers are made available to the auto technician or car owner. Diagrams, timing belt marks, trouble code information etc. And ALLData has now made their products available online for the DIYer as well at ALLData DIY.

There are many other good automotive repair manuals available from other companies as well, but these two are the ones that I've used the most over the years. The tips and information that these two companies provide are likely to make any DIY project a success.

Automotive Repair Marketing - The Key to a Successful Shop

If you are a business owner and you would like to increase your revenue, it is important for you to understand automotive repair marketing and how this is a key to a successful shop. The automotive industry is said to be one of the most lucrative and stable industries in the business world. Because people from all over the world use autos in their daily life, auto repair businesses are steady and secure.

Automotive repair marketing is as easy as changing the oil in your car. Every few months, you are to check your progress, do some maintenance, and give some added boost and fresh ideas to your automotive repair marketing campaign. The public loves fresh ideas.

Automotive repair marketing is all about taking action. Therefore, you as the business owner should make sure you use the right automotive repair marketing tools. Here are some of the most effective marketing tools for your auto repair business.

1. Direct mail marketing method 

One of the most preferred automotive repair marketing tools remains to be the direct mail method. Most auto repair businesses make use of this method by mailing postcards to homeowners in zip codes surrounding their shops. This is an easy way to promote your services to potential clients. However, you will need to mail sufficient quantities to generate a worthwhile response.

2. Start a blog or a website 

The internet is probably one of the greatest automotive repair marketing tools you can use. Create a blog and spend 10 minutes each day writing interesting anecdotes, maintenance information, tips, advice, or even car reviews. The more you write, the sooner you will be crawled by search engines, and the sooner you will reach a bigger audience which will essentially result in more business.

3. Social media marketing 

One of the best automotive repair marketing tools revolves around social media. Websites with Facebook and Twitter integration are becoming increasingly popular and more repair shop owners are making use of this tool in order to promote their shops and acquire new clients. If you use social media for your automotive repair marketing, you should know that you are instantly exposed to millions of people. So, guess what happens when Jason needs a new transmission and he sees your business profile on Facebook? Voila! You have a new customer. Even though this may sound a little impossible, but social media could be well worth thousands of dollars to your repair shop.

4. The good old word of mouth 

This method of automotive marketing is known to be one of the oldest methods of marketing in the business world. However, this is also proven to be one of the most reliable forms of marketing. For example, you started your automotive repair marketing campaign with the direct mail marketing method. Now, because of this, you have just acquired two new clients. If you do a good job, guess what happens? These clients will tell their friends about it, and their friends will tell their friends, eventually forming the perfect marketing campaign you can ask for.

5. Press releases 

Most business owners tend to give press releases a complete miss, thinking that there is no possible way that a press release could be of any advantage to their automotive repair marketing campaign. Wrong! In fact, press releases are very effective and can be done either online or off-line. With the off-line method, simply write, or have someone put together a press release on a timely topic and send it to your local newspaper. With the online method, do the same and publish it to a press release service. Press releases are usually ranked higher than normal web pages and blog posts. This can never be a bad thing.

There are several other automotive repair marketing tools available to you. If you are serious about taking your auto repair shop to the next level and getting more vehicles into your shop, then make sure you give these aforementioned methods of automotive repair marketing a try today.

Foundations of Auto Repair

A basic understanding of automotive repair should be undertaken by every car owner. Not everyone can afford to bring their cars to a professional mechanic each time their vehicles develop problems. What if they find themselves in the middle of the road with a non-working automobile? When this happens, it’s a nightmare scenario for every driver.

Fixing your own vehicle is an ideal way to cut back on costs. You can perform preventive maintenance, so that you can avoid catastrophic problems in the future. Having a basic know-how on how your vehicle works will allow you to describe to a professional mechanic all car problems you’re experiencing. This saves both time and money. Also, your mechanic won’t be able to trick you into replacing older, but still working, components.

You should get to know each automotive part in your vehicle. Ask how does each part contributes to the smooth performance of your vehicle. Consulting a mechanic or automotive books is one way to increase your car parts knowledge. Pinpointing a car problem is easier because you have a basic background on automobiles and their inner workings. You now know what specific part to repair or replace.
When you’re doing the repair yourself, you will only need to spend for the replacement parts. If you’re going to spend a few days on the repair, you won’t incur additional fees that a mechanic charges. With a variety of resources available online, there’s no reason why you can’t be your own automotive repair expert. Of course, practice makes perfect–try working on the smaller problems first before you work your way up to more complex repairs. Do remember that while you may become a seasoned DIY mechanic, you should know that other repairs, such as engine rebuilds, are best left with the pros.

Taking The Guesswork From DIY Auto Repair

With help from online auto repair manuals, you can now perform a wide variety of DIY auto repair and maintenance tasks with ease. As long as you have the right tools and online manual with you, you’ll be able to pull these jobs. Of course, these repair jobs must fall within the capacity of a DIY mechanic, such as you.

There are repair tasks that will be too complex, even for a seasoned DIY mechanic. These complex jobs usually require heavy-duty and expensive equipment that most car owners won’t be able to afford. When you encounter these types of tasks, it’s best to enlist the help of a professional mechanic. Even if you start with absolutely zero skill when it comes to mechanics, you will eventually gain the basic knowledge to do your own repairs and maintenance tasks. Do this one small step at a time; you can be discouraged at first, but you must persevere. Repeatedly reading the online manual would help you eventually grasp the technical aspects of automotive repair. A thorough understanding of what’s going under the hood is required for all car owners.

Simply purchasing an online repair manual isn’t enough. You need to make sure that the manual you’re going to get has accurate and updated information. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself having problems along the way. If you’re going to consider a free online repair manual, just double-check the contents for accuracy. You wouldn’t want to jeopardize a simple repair just because of wrong information. If you opt for a paid subscription, then make sure you select a service that has everything you need. One advantage an online manual has over a paper manual is it can be updated with the latest technical information and service bulletins. Regular updates assure you have the latest repair data. A solid customer support is also preferable.

Interface Design: Key Component in Online Repair Manuals

Online repair manuals, regardless of how accurate their information is, require a functional and easy-to-use user interface design. The first impression you’ll have on a particular online repair manual will fall on how well is your user experience with it. Having a pleasant user interface will definitely make reading the manual easier and allows you to maximize its contents.

Usability is the main focus when you use the online repair manual. When using a manual, does it have the buttons or links where you can easily see them? Do they have a clear label? Are all the menus easy to navigate? Does the overall layout of the online repair manual work? Does the online service offer additional support in case you’re having trouble accessing the manual? These are some factors that influence the usability of the manual.

Unless you can download a few sample pages of the online repair manual or can view sample screenshots from the publisher’s website, then you won’t be able to know whether the manual you’re going to purchase is user-friendly or not. Do note that screenshots are not enough to give an accurate gauge on the online repair manual’s user interface. Fancy-looking screenshots doesn’t guarantee you’ll receive the best technical information. Still, you now know what to expect when you choose a particular online service.

The use interface and overall usability of an online repair manual are the biggest considerations you have to make before you subscribe to a service. You wouldn’t want to use an online manual that’s clumsy and inconvenient to use! After all, you want to get maximum value for your money. The next time you need to purchase an online car repair manual for your DIY needs, make sure you do your research and sample what the different online services offer.

Providing Auto Repair Knowledge to DIY Enthusiasts

When you have a bunch of online car repair manuals safely stored in your computer, it makes your DIY car repair easier and more convenient. Instead of buying expensive, paper-based repair manuals that don’t get updated, online car repair manuals are cheaper. There are even some that are offered for free! For the beginner DIY car owner, these online manuals should be your tool of choice.

These online car repair manuals are similar to an encyclopedia set for the DIY car owner. These manuals teach you about the basics of automotive repair by presenting key concepts. While this may sound easy, not all car owners can grasp the various concepts from the get-go. Some technically-inclined ones can feel right at home with all the technical mumbo-jumbo that you’ll encounter when you dive into automotive repair. The basic maintenance and servicing tasks can make a lot of beginners struggle. That’s why online auto repair manuals help these beginners by providing the necessary knowledge and instructions to successfully perform these tasks.

A few may point out that these online auto repair manuals are still too technical for most first-time car owners. While this holds true for a number of manuals, there are some that offer a more beginner-friendly approach. Because there are a lot of manuals by different publishing companies, you should take into account your preferences when choosing the right one for your needs. Before you select one, you should try the features and services offered by each. You can also rely on other car owner’s testimonials and reviews. Online car repair manuals, whether they’re free or not, give you the information you need to finish your DIY repair. If you’re just getting your feet wet in the world of automotive repair, then having the right online car repair manual for your needs is the perfect first step.

Helpful Diagrams Make DIY Auto Repair Easier

Like it or not, diagrams help you accomplish your DIY repair task. It’s faster and more convenient for you if you have a clear picture of the correct part you’re handling. Any doubts you’ll have will disappear when you’re confident that you’re not removing the wrong part! Unlike repair manuals of the past with basic illustrations, today’s diagrams are more accurate and feature more detail than before. Computer-generated illustrations add that extra depth of realism and allow you to be familiar with every aspect of your vehicle.

Thanks to the introduction of computer-aided illustration, car owners can get detailed diagrams which provide eye-catching detail and easy-to-understand illustrations of the different automotive systems and processes. Exploded view diagrams of the different parts show the inner workings of each and their relationship to the various automotive components surrounding them. By using three-dimensional drawings, you can easily each component suspended in space, with each part separated in an equal distance from their original locations. These types of diagrams usually include the part’s identification number and a label specifying the component’s position in the diagram. The parts on the outside of the exploded diagram are usually the ones that are removed first.

Diagrams are not only found in automotive manuals, but also in other facets of our daily lives. Whether we’re reading the daily newspaper or tuning in to the latest stock market news, diagrams help deliver information in the most visually-appealing form. With visual stimuli, the human brain can process and internalize raw information easier. This holds true in car repair manuals–complex theories and processes which seem difficult to understand just by reading are now easier to grasp when presented through visual aids. For the DIY car owner, diagrams will help you understand each of your vehicle’s different aspects on a more detailed level.