Automotive Service Information

Perhaps the most important tools you will use are ser vice manuals. There is no way a technician can remember all of the procedures and specifications needed to repair an automobile correctly. Thus, a good technician relies on service manuals and other sources for this information. Good information plus knowledge allows a technician to fix a problem with the least amount of frustration and at the lowest cost to the customer.

Auto Manufacturers' Service Manuals

The primary source of repair and specification information for any car, van, or truck is the manufacturer.

The manufacturer publishes service manuals each year, for every vehicle built. These manuals are writ ten for professional technicians.

Because of the enormous amount of information, some manufacturers publish more than one manual per year per car model. They may be separated into sections such as chassis, suspension, steering, emission control, fuel systems, brakes, basic maintenance, engine, transmission, body, and so on.

When complete information with step-by-step testing, repair, and assembly procedures is desired, nothing can match auto manufacturers' repair manuals. They cover all repairs, adjustments, specifications, detailed diagnostic procedures, and special tools required. They can be purchased directly from the automobile manufacturer.

To help you learn how to effectively use service manuals, you will find service manual references and tips throughout this discussion.

Since many technical changes occur on specific vehicles each year, manufacturers' service manuals need to be constantly updated. Updates are published as service bulletins (often referred to as technical service bulletins or TSBs) that show the changes in specifications and repair procedures during the model year. These changes don’t appear in the service manual until the next year. The car manufacturer provides these bulletins to dealers and repair facilities on a regular basis.

Automotive manufacturers also publish a series of technician reference books. The publications provide general instructions about the service and repair of the manufacturers' vehicles and also indicate their recommended techniques.

General and Specialty Repair Manuals

Service manuals are also published by independent companies rather than the manufacturers. However, they pay for and get most of their information from the car makers. The manuals contain component information, diagnostic steps, repair procedures, and specifications for several makes of automobiles in one book. Information is usually condensed and is more general than the manufacturers' manuals. The condensed format allows for more coverage in less space and, therefore, is not always specific. They may also contain several years of models as well as several makes in one book.

Finding Information in Service Manuals

Although the manuals from different publishers vary in presentation and arrangement of topics, all service manuals are easy to use after you become familiar with their organization. Most shop manuals are divided into a number of sections, each covering different aspects of the vehicle. The beginning sections commonly provide vehicle identification and basic maintenance information. The remaining sections deal with each different vehicle system in detail, including diagnostic, service, and overhaul procedures. Each section has an index indicating more specific areas of information.

To obtain the correct system specifications and other information, you must first identify the exact system you are working on. The best source for vehicle identification is the VIN. The code can be interpreted through information given in the service manual. The manual may also help you identify the system through identification of key components or other identification numbers and/or markings.

To use a service manual:

1. Select the appropriate manual for the vehicle being serviced.

2. Use the table of contents to locate the section that applies to the work being done.

3. Use the index at the front of that section to locate the required information.

4. Carefully read the information and study the applicable illustrations and diagrams.

5. Follow all of the required steps and procedures given for that service operation.

6. Adhere to all of the given specifications and per form all measurement and adjustment procedures with accuracy and precision.

Aftermarket Suppliers' Guides and Catalogs

Many of the larger parts manufacturers have excel lent guides on the various parts they manufacture or supply. They also provide updated service bulletins on their products. Other sources for up-to-date technical information are trade magazines and trade associations.

Lubrication Guides

These specially designed service manuals contain information on lubrication, maintenance, capacities, and underhood service. The lubrication guide includes lube and maintenance instructions, lubrication diagrams and specifications, vehicle lift points, and preventive maintenance mileage/time intervals.

The capacities listed include cooling system, air conditioning, cooling system air bleed locations, wheel and tire specifications, and wheel lug torque specifications. The underhood information includes specifications for tune-up; mechanical, electrical, and fuel systems; diagrams; and belt tension.

Owner's Manuals

An owner's manual comes with the vehicle when it’s new. It contains operating instructions for the vehicle and its accessories. It also contains valuable information about checking and adding fluids, safety precautions, a complete list of capacities, and the specifications for the various fluids and lubricants for the vehicle.

Flat-Rate Manuals

Flat-rate manuals contain standards for the length of time a specific repair is supposed to require. Normally, they also contain a parts list with approximate or exact prices of parts. They are excellent for making cost estimates and are published by the manufacturers and independents.

Computer-Based Information

Most technicians no longer rely on printed copies of service manuals. They access the same information, as well as service bulletins, electronically on compact disk-read-only memory (CD-ROMs), digital video disks (DVDs), and the Internet. Computer-based information eliminates the need for a huge library of printed manuals. Using electronics to find information is also easier and quicker. The disks are normally updated monthly and not only contain the most recent service bulletins but also engineering and field service fixes. DVDs hold more information than CDs; therefore, there are fewer disks with systems that use DVDs.

A technician enters vehicle information and then selects the appropriate part or system. The appropriate information then appears on the computer's screen. Online data can be updated instantly and requires no space for physical storage.

These systems are easy to use and the information is quickly accessed and displayed. Once the information is retrieved, a tech can read it off the screen or print it out and take it to the service bay.

Hotline Services

Hotline services provide answers to service concerns by telephone. Manufacturers provide help by telephone for technicians in their dealerships. There are subscription services for independents to be able to get repair information by phone. Some manufacturers also have a modem system that can transmit computer information from the car to another location. The vehicle's diagnostic link is connected to the modem. The technician in the service bay runs a test sequence on the vehicle. The system downloads the latest updated repair information on that particular model of car. If that does not repair the problem, a technical specialist at the manufacturer's location will review the data and propose a repair.

--- The use of web sites, CD-ROMs or memory cards, via a computer, makes accessing information quick and easy.

--- A computer screen, even a SmartPhone, or Tablet PC screen (or eBook reader), can display everything that traditionally have only been in a printed (service manual) format, but computer systems are quicker and using them makes finding information easier.

iATN

The International Automotive Technician's Network (iATN) is comprised of a group of thousands of professional automotive technicians from around the world. The technicians in this group exchange technical knowledge and information with other members. The Web address for this group is http://www.iatn.net.

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