Haynes manuals are updated in the 21st century with digital guides for modern cars

Auto manual publisher Haynes is updating its famous workshop manuals with a new online service covering the maintenance and repair of modern cars.

Despite the concerns of many motorists that 21st century vehicles are too complex to work with at home, the publisher says the new AutoFix tool debunks the myth that DIY enthusiasts can’t work on modern cars and offers all the knowledge and advice needed to carry out home maintenance as well as new functions, including an interactive fault diagnosis service.

The new online tool covers 90 percent of cars on the road and includes DIY guides for regular and basic maintenance – from changing bulbs to adjusting clutches – as well as a guide on elements such as warning lights on the instrument panel, technical inspection preparation advice and details of fluids and settings specific to each vehicle.

Unlike the old paper manual, the guides are supported by color photographs of the key steps and even include video tutorials for certain tasks, along with advice on difficulty level, tools needed, and common issues to look for. It will even suggest other tasks to accomplish in conjunction with the one selected.

Full-color searchable wiring diagrams and technical drawings are also part of the new tool, along with an interactive fault finding tool that can help homeowners diagnose 400 common faults by entering symptoms into its search engine.

Andrew Golby, global digital director at Haynes, said the new £ 25 tool was the next step in keeping the brand the go-to source for home mechanics as cars get more complex.

He commented: The way people use auto repair information has changed dramatically since Haynes was founded in the 1960s. Indeed, today our online workshop manuals, based on the original book, sell better than printed textbooks.

“In addition, our customers are constantly asking us for more vehicle coverage, more and better help on diagnostic and electronics topics, troubleshooting, and data and information that is hard to find on the Internet. In response, we’ve tapped into Haynes’ extensive and market-leading data to create an advanced repair tool anyone can use.

From the end of this year, the AutoFix tool will take diagnostic assistance a step further, offering an error code interpretation service. Owners using their own fault code reader to connect to the electronic CAN-Bus “brain” of any modern car will be able to view all fault codes. These can then be entered into the AutoFix database for a description of the fault as well as suggested items to check.