Although the promised "paperless society" may never come to pass, today's savvy consumers know the convenience of downloading large documents and foregoing the bulky paper version. Automakers realize this as well, and almost all of them have made the voluminous owner's manuals for their vehicles available on their Web sites' "Owner's" area. Most (though not all) online downloads are free, whereas buying the paper version costs anywhere from $10-$30 or more.
While owner's manuals don't make exciting reading, they are packed with valuable instructions, information and warnings that you've probably never read. Perhaps your manual is buried in a long-forgotten pile of papers. Maybe you've purchased a used car without the manual. Or maybe you want to read the details on a car before you actually buy it. Either way, we've made it easy for you to find a car owner's manual without any digging. And accessing a manual online — or storing it on your computer — means convenient answers when you're not in the car.
Below is a list of links to obtain an online manual. In some cases, you can just search for a car's year, make and model, and then download the manual. Often, though, you'll need to register, and occasionally you'll need to provide a car's VIN, or vehicle identification number. You can find the VIN on the vehicle registration or insurance card, or on the vehicle itself. We listed if the manual is free, if a VIN is required, what model years are available and other relevant information.
Links to Online Car Owner's Manuals by Manufacturer, as of 12/14/09
| Manufacturer | VIN | Free | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acura | No | No | 1990-current models. Requires free sign-up. |
| Audi | No | No | Paper owner's manuals are available for purchase. |
| BMW | No | Yes | 2004-current models. Requires free sign-up. |
| Buick | No | Yes | 1993-current models. Must have a Yahoo ID to log in. |
| Cadillac | No | Yes | 1993-current models. Must have a Yahoo ID to log in. |
| Chevrolet | No | Yes | 1993-current models. Must have a Yahoo ID to log in. |
| Chrysler | No | Yes | 2004-current models are free. 2003MY and earlier are available for purchase. |
| Daewoo | No | No | 1999-2002 models. Purchase owner's manuals from "Order Accessories" link. |
| Dodge | No | Yes | 2004-current models are free. 2003MY and earlier are available for purchase. |
| Ford | No | Yes | 1996-current models. |
| Geo | No | Yes | 1993-1997 models. Geo models are listed under Chevrolet make. |
| GMC | No | Yes | 1993-current models. Must have a Yahoo ID to log in. |
| Honda | No | Yes | 1990-current models. Requires free sign-up. |
| Hummer | No | Yes | 2003-current models. Must have a Yahoo ID to log in. |
| Hyundai | Yes | Yes | 2003-current models. Requires free sign-up. |
| Infiniti | No | Yes | 2006-current models. |
| Isuzu | No | No | Isuzu Web site directs you to Helms Inc. for manual. |
| Jaguar | No | Yes | 2002-current models. |
| Jeep | No | Yes | 2004-current models are free. 2003MY and earlier are available for purchase. |
| Kia | Yes | Yes | 2005-current models. Requires free sign-up. Owner's manuals are printable but not downloadable. |
| Land Rover | No | Yes | 1998-current models. |
| Lexus | No | Yes | Requires free sign-up. Owner's manuals are printable but not downloadable. |
| Lincoln | No | Yes | 1996-current models. |
| Mazda | No | Yes | 2002-current models. Requires free sign-up. |
| Mercedes-Benz | No | Yes | 2000-current models. |
| Mercury | No | Yes | 1996-current models. |
| Mini | Yes | No | Must join the owner's lounge to obtain owner's manual. |
| Mitsubishi | No | No | Purchase owner's manuals through Helm, Inc. |
| Nissan | No | Yes | 2006-current models. |
| Oldsmobile | No | Yes | 1993-2004 models. Must have a Yahoo ID to log in. |
| Pontiac | No | Yes | 1993-current models. Must have a Yahoo ID to log in. |
| Porsche | n/a | n/a | No online owner's manuals, but has warranty information |
| Saab | No | Yes | 1993-current models. Must have a Yahoo ID to log in. |
| Saturn | No | Yes | 1993-current models. Must have a Yahoo ID to log in. |
| Scion | No | Yes | Interactive tutorials for current models only. Free owner's manuals for audio and nav components only. |
| smart | No | Yes | 2008-current models. |
| Subaru | No | Yes | 1998-current models. Requires free sign-up. |
| Suzuki | No | No | Paper and downloadable owner's manuals are available for purchase. |
| Tesla | No | Yes | Owner's manual download link is on homepage. |
| Toyota | No | Yes | 1996-current models. Requires free sign-up. |
| Volkswagen | No | No | Paper owner's manuals are available for purchase. |
| Volvo | No | Yes | 1990-current models. Requires free sign-up. |
Source: Edmunds.com
In rare instances, such as with Lexus and Kia, you can print the manual but not download it. Audi, Mitsubishi, Porsche and Volkswagen don't have their owner's manuals online at all.
As a side note, many of the online car owner's manuals also include maintenance schedules, but Edmunds makes caring for your car even easier with our Maintenance page, which lets you see the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule, recalls and technical service bulletins for your car in one convenient location.
The Paper Chase
If you need to order a paper copy of a manual, you can often do so from the same site link or through your local dealer. Helm, Inc. offers paper manuals for Acura, Ford, all GM brands, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jaguar, Lincoln, Mercury and Mitsubishi, and more — for a fee. Paper manuals for Audi and VW can be found at the links above. And of course, if a used manual is OK or you're after an obscure model, eBay is always worth a shot.
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By hotrod48
on 12/06/10
4:47 PM PST
how do you get the item selected to OPEN for viewing
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