Brendan’s Blog

I recently purchased a professional repair manual for my 1999 Acura TL. I am not a mechanic, but the car is long out of warranty, and there are no nearby Acura dealerships. This isn’t one of the cheap repair manuals available at auto parts stores.  This is the same book the dealership service technicians use.  Within a month the book (~$70) paid for itself several times over.

1. The first repair I performed using the manual was a replacement of my faulty ignition switch. The dealership wanted $350 for the repair. The part was $85. I replaced it myself in under 20 minutes.
2. The second repair was to fix an automatic door lock that didn’t automatically do anything. The dealership wanted $250 to replace the actuator. The part was $45. I replaced it in under an hour (most of the time was wasted by me not following directions in the book.)
3. Most recently I changed my transmission fluid for under $30 in under an hour using all OEM parts and fluid (including replacing the metal washers that I otherwise would have easily overlooked.)

If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty on occasion, I highly recommend you purchase a services manual for your aging automobile from Helm, Inc. They carry publications for many manufacturers including Ford, GM, and Honda.

Why Buy Original OEM? Why Helm Publications?

• Helm only sells manuals written by the manufacturer (Original OEM), designed specifically for your vehicle or equipment.
• Original OEM Manuals are more accurate and complete than any other service information available. OEM Manuals contain thousands of pages of diagnostic and repair information!
• These are the same manuals your dealer service center uses so you know you’re getting the technical information needed to service and maintain your vehicle or equipment.
• Many OEM Manuals include diagramed repair and replacement procedures, electrical diagrams and training information. More about Helm publications, click here.