Auto repair is moving online and it brings us one step closer toward affordable access for regular people looking to repair their own automobiles.
If you’re interested in fixing cars at home then review the new release of online repair manuals from Auto-Facts.org. This is a vehicle specific program for cars and light trucks with a DIY twist.
I added a screen capture video below so you can see it in action. After years of providing professional car mechanics with downloadable PDF repair manuals Tradebit launched their version of online auto repair instructions for the do-it-yourself mechanic.
At the time of this writing there was no demo available for the program, but they do have sample pages from each selection of the service manual offered. I decided to purchase a subscription for my own vehicle and shoot a 4 minute screen capture video highlighting a few pages for my 2004 Chevrolet Blazer ZR2.
Tradebit marketplace for car manuals offers a few unique options that made this program very interesting to me. First of all, they have the lowest entry price point for online reference materials I’ve seen.
You buy the whole manual instead of a monthly subscription like the other company’s offering access to diagrams and service instructions.
This allows unlimited access to any single year, make and model for around 20 bucks. This is a perfect opportunity for the DIY type person to go in and print out the step-by-step instructions needed for a single repair or multiple repairs for that matter.
Auto Repair Online Features
Another nice feature is you can drag you downloaded manual onto a portable device like a phone or tablet. Should you decide to sell the vehicle, let’s say six months down the road, you can just drag the files onto a thumb drive or external storage device.
Now the new owner gets a professional set of service manuals for his new used car. This is a fantastic bonus to the buyer and can help close the deal. You control costs as related to your needs for the repair diagrams or troubleshooting guides.
If you like using the PDF repair guides and plan on keeping this car for a while, you’ll enjoy flexibility as far as access to the information. Keep in mind that owning instead of a subscription to the resources is the better the value. It’s for this reason I recommend these for people that intend on keeping their automobile in the family.
Download Car Repair Manuals
The Tradebit repair manuals program is a web-based system. This means you can get all of the repair instructions and pictures from an easy to use point and click type interface.
It’s like browsing a giant website that’s only about specific automobiles. This is a good feature for all types of users, including someone who has a slow internet connection.
Keep in mind that you can’t download the entire auto repair guide in a subscription based product. With that said, you can however select multiple documents and print them out all at the same time. Of course with a PDF version you take the whole document right to the car or truck you’re working on.
This feature is demonstrated in the video below. One of the most common problems the do it yourself auto repair mechanic will run into is finding quality auto repair instructions that will help them repair the vehicle without wasting money on unneeded parts.
Service manuals purchased through Auto-Facts.org include troubleshooting guides, diagnostic tree charts and online repair diagrams for just about any given problem. Sometimes these diagnostic ladder diagrams have hot links to additional information. The short cuts provide information about specific diagnostic tests required to solve car problems.
Modern Car Service Manuals are Online Now
This is one of the biggest advances to come down the pike for the people who like to do it themselves. A PDF service manual offers a lot more information than you will find in one of the small books that you can purchase at the local parts store.
In fact, it’s the factory service manual in an easy to use electronic format. Another feature of this online program is they often contain bonus information. The download I highlight in the video below came with the complete owner’s handbook.
This can help by identifying and providing detailed information on certain automobiles. Things like fluid capacities and maintenance guidelines are always included in the owners manual. You will not find these bonuses in any Chilton book or even a pricey Haynes guide.
How to Use the PDF Repair Guides
When I first purchased my PDF I was having a little trouble understanding the layout. Then I noticed that the subjects are in alphabetical order in a standard file system. This provided me with a quick lesson on how to use the program. You can use the explorer file search feature in windows to go directly to the information you’re looking for.
Also note the PDF manual for cars is laid out like a standard service manual. I’m sure you’re familiar with these. Once I visualized the layout it was much easier to find the exact repair instructions I was seeking.
Another secret to making the best use of the material is to click on the Print tab. This is in the upper left corner in the file menu. Printing individual wiring diagrams makes a lot of sense.
The graphics can be helpful in understanding how the circuit operates. You’ll have the freedom to make notes about component location and other doodles on the printed copy. The pristine original document remains clean and ready to use the next time. Here is my how to video for this popular repair manuals program. I think it’s helpful to see what it looks like before you buy it.
If your looking for more information on fixing cars this next link takes you to my main page with articles about Do it yourself auto repairs. Give this page a Bookmark or share. Then come back to watch the how to video again in case you get stuck.