billybaloneey
Junior Member
Not interested in a pay as you need it service...looking for a full service manual a soft or hard copy.
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What's a tablet? Is that something like a cell phone that I also don't carry around with me all the time?Way faster to CTRL F and search PDF on a tablet in the garage then trying to flip thru pages to find something in a book.
It will be on Ebay Knock off CDs within a year probbaly.
So, I bought the on-line repair manual for my wife's Kia.... and then it happened! My hard drive crashed and I lost it! I still prefer a printed version. They're a dying breed!I used to buy the big service books when I’d buy a new truck/car. I still have some from years ago. Although I haven’t looked for quite a few years now, the last time I looked, I couldn’t find anything in print. Only CDs which seemed to replace the printed books. Also found you could buy online service information, but never did go that route.
I always like to have the book to use for reference if I was working on a vehicle. The CD or internet files are ok, but it’s not as convenient while your in the garage.
You might as well be talking Japanese,some of us older generation have no clue what you just said,lol.I save everything to my Google drive. ( makes it that much easier to share all my PDFs that way anyways ) and mirror my all my computers on my server.
There's zero reason to loose stuff these days.
Printed format manuals are largely discontinued by many manufacturers. Ditto for RPO codes and owner's manuals. Everything is "on line". I recently worked on a current generation GMC truck and went looking for the RPO code sticker and the vehicle info on the driver's door jamb sticker. Guess what? I was met with a #%!&$$$ "QR" code! WTF!? And NO RPO sticker!You might as well be talking Japanese,some of us older generation have no clue what you just said,lol.
I'm of the generation that prefers a printed manual to
So, I bought the on-line repair manual for my wife's Kia.... and then it happened! My hard drive crashed and I lost it! I still prefer a printed version. They're a dying breed!
So much easier to drag the paper manual under the truck to refer to as you're digging around looking for something. If I had to use a tablet there is no way I would subject it to the filth and grime of that environment - greasy/oily hands, chunks of oil-embedded road dirt falling on it, tools falling on it. A paper manual thrives on that stuff.
Nothing like a Chilton's, lol. Them pages used to get a good oiling too...So, I bought the on-line repair manual for my wife's Kia.... and then it happened! My hard drive crashed and I lost it! I still prefer a printed version. They're a dying breed!
Yup, nothing betta than a Chilton's, but alas, kinda like Funk and Wagnalls Encyclopedia's too, lol. Are we all showing our age???I can completely understand your point of view and would prefer the hard copy too.
I had the OEM service manuals for most vehicles I've owned during the 80s & 90s and might consider spending a few $ if there was a manual available for my RAM.
It's time to face the facts of our current existence, they're no longer available unless you're prepared to sell a kidney to buy one, if you can find it.
You don't need to drag your tablet under the truck while it's shedding road kill and local area feces or mash grease loaded fingers into the keyboard. LOL
Leave it on a nearby workbench, stretch a piece of saran wrap over the keyboard (external keyboard required for shop use) and find what you require.
An older used laptop is remarkably cheaper than a tablet but the tablet does sound more dramatic for this discussion.
If you really need to see the details while under the truck, print off the page and go.
The service manual for my last truck was priced at about $450. I got by with a virtual copy for free and printed pages when necessary.
The dealership was nearby and the parts guys would often print the pages I required.
We can all keep crying till the cows come home or just get on with it. We're here now and it's just easier to use the tools that are available instead of continuing to sob.
This post is not directed at any individual. Tulecreeper, your post was just a handy starting point for my rant.
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Nothing like a Chilton's, lol. Them pages used to get a good oiling too...
I used whatever I could find ref my vehicles. Last one I had for a 67 Chevy Impala SS. Helped a lot when working on the motor. Especially since I am/was not a trained mechanic, just known as a driveway/backyard wrench turner, LOL. Had an "A" frame in Mom's driveway. SHE was neva happy about that.The thing about Chilton's or Hanes manuals, they're usually written by different people.
I've used both for motorcycles, cars, and trucks.
Some were spectacular and some we're completely useless.
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