Car Maintenance | DontKnowCars.com

It’s good to have a backup mechanic in case things go wrong or tasks are beyond your comfort zone, but you probably can tackle most maintenance and repair procedures by the book. The book is your car’s service manual.

Professional service manuals line the wall at most auto repair shops, offering specific instructions on all cars made in the past 20 years or more. These are the Professional Technician’s Editions and include information well beyond what most consumers need or want. For example, it may have a diagram and procedures for securing the rear balancer shaft on a specific engine. You probably don’t need this level of detail, but it’s good to know that it’s available. The cost for a new edition is about $75.00. Used copies for older cars are less than half that amount.

For most car owners who want to do their own maintenance and repairs, there are consumer repair manuals. Yes, some pro mechanics use them, too. But they are really published for the non-professional. They include basic information on tools, safety, and routine maintenance for a few model years of a specific make and model. An example is the Honda Accord 2003-2005 Repair Manual published by Chilton and others (DontKnowBooks.com). It has many more photographs, charts, and diagrams than the pro-level version. It also includes more cautions and safety information than the pro version. The cost for a new edition is about $25.00; less for used editions.

There’s one other book you may want to look at. However, the cost is high and you won’t refer to it often so try to find one in a library or ask your mechanic or parts supplier to see it. It’s called the Flat Rate book. It includes estimated time for performing most maintenance and repair jobs, by make and model. For example, it will tell you that it will take a trained mechanic 2.1 hours to replace the radiator in a 2001 Toyota Camry. Because you’re not an experience mechanic, double the time if you have the needed tools. A Flat Rate Manual is handy for figuring whether you have the time (and talent) to tackle a specific repair on your car.