For the do-it-yourselfer, repairing your own vehicle can save you $100. But don’t shell out $20 or $30 for a repair manual that you may only use once. You might be surprised to learn there are several sources where you can get free auto repair manuals.
Repair manuals online:
o One of the first places to try is AutoZone’s website. The site has a very comprehensive free auto repair guides covering most makes and models of vehicles from 1950 to the present.
o Napa auto parts website provides tutorials on basic auto maintenance such as oil changes, checking fluid levels and replacing air filters.
o Automoting.com has tons of information, is very user friendly and as a bonus, even has guides for repairing small engines and household repairs.
Message boards and forums:
Another useful resource is the 2carpros.com website. Here you can post questions and get answers from real mechanics. You can also search through lots of topics on auto repair, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
Edmunds web site also has a pretty good forum called car talk. It is peer based and has quite a few very knowledgeable members on board.
There are quite a few other forums and message boards available online, as well as peer based ones. Just type in auto repair forums or message boards in any search engine and you will see quite a few. Just watch out for ones that say they are free but try to sell you something, or say you can post questions, but must pay a fee to receive an answer. You will most likely find free auto repair guides and all the information that you need, so there is no need to pay for help.
Libraries:
Another often overlooked option for free auto repair manuals is your local library.
Most libraries have repair manuals in their reference sections, and although you can’t check them out and take them with you, you are welcome to make photo copies of any pages you need from the manuals.
A lot of local libraries also subscribe to online auto repair manuals such as Chilton’s or Haynes and offer free access if you have a library card.
Contact your local library and ask if this service is available.
If you really prefer to have a paper manual, check half.com, an eBay company that sells used books for a fraction of the price of new. Some of the manuals as low as $1.99. There are several other used book websites like Alibris books and Bookfinder.com to name a couple.
You can also check local used book stores.
And don’t forget to ask friends and family, who knows, someone may have just the manual you need collecting dust in the garage!
