How It Works: Owner's Manuals

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Last year, Canadians bought more than 1.9 million copies of a book, issued by various publishers but all on exactly the same subject. And it’s likely only a tiny percentage ever cracked theirs open, because they were the owner’s manuals included with the vehicles they bought.

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I once heard it put best like this: If a government wants to protect its deepest secrets, it should hide them in an owner’s manual, because no one ever reads those.

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But you should buck the trend, because your manual can go a long way towards your satisfaction with the vehicle.

Different formats

Every new vehicle includes a manual, but what you get may depend on the automaker. Many premium models include just a short, printed guide, while the full version is in the infotainment system (with an index so you can jump directly to what you need). In some cases, the full version will be on a DVD.

There may be several books, such as a separate one for the infotainment and navigation systems. Warranty and maintenance might have its own book as well. There should also be a separate pamphlet for the tire warranty. Unlike other components, tires are covered by the tire manufacturer, not by the automaker.

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If you bought your vehicle used and there’s no manual, don’t panic. Many automakers offer them on their websites as a free download. You can also order a paper copy from a dealership, although you’ll have to pay for it.

So set aside some time, get comfy, and check out the bestseller you’ve probably never read. It doesn’t have much of a plot, but there are several reasons to take this one cover-to-cover. Even if you read your last one and bought the same model, you should still peruse this one. There may be new and unfamiliar items on this vehicle that weren’t on your old one.

Table of contents

Safety

This takes up a fair chunk, and while some of it is the automaker covering its butt for liability issues, there are a few things that can hurt or kill you, primarily the airbags, if you don’t respect them. The manual shows you where they are and how to sit so they’ll save you rather than hurt you.

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The owner’s manual also covers child seat latches and how to properly install the seats; what the warning lights mean; and what to do in emergencies. Many people only crack open their manuals when they’re on the side of the road, not sure how to change a flat tire or turn on the four-way flashers.

Even more about safety

If you’ve not bought a new car in a while, there may be some active safety technologies that will be unfamiliar to you. The manual explains how they work and, in some cases, how to operate them, such as adaptive cruise control. In most cases your first experience with them will be when they’re getting you out of a jam, such as emergency braking or lane-departure assist, and you need to know what to expect when they do.

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The vehicle’s features

Sometimes they’re not always visible, or straightforward in their use. I drove a Hyundai that I didn’t think had an exterior trunk release, until the owner’s manual revealed it hidden in the logo. And after ineffectively kicking my foot under a Range Rover’s bumper to open the hands-free liftgate – because that’s how you open most of them – I read the manual and discovered the magic spot was on the side, not the back.

The infotainment system

There’s likely a lot of stuff lurking inside that centre screen — and the rule of thumb seems to be that the pricier the vehicle, the more complicated that system will be. Even if the salesperson walked you through it during delivery, there will be things you’ve forgotten. Go through the manual step-by-step; not only will you learn how to operate the system, but you might even find functions you didn’t know it had.

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The maintenance schedule

Proper maintenance is a vital factor in your vehicle’s longevity and resale value . Your owner’s manual outlines the more obvious ones such as oil changes and tire rotation, along with others you might not realize need attention, such as checking the steering gear or changing the coolant.

While most automakers now use timing chains, some vehicles still have timing belts . These need replacement according to the maintenance schedule, because if you don’t and the belt breaks, it will leave you stranded and could cause engine damage. If you’re not sure what your engine has, read the entire schedule to see if it’s there. (It’s not the rubber belt you see when you open the hood; both timing belts and chains are hidden behind a cover.)

The owner’s manual will also explain what grade of gasoline your vehicle needs; how much air to put in your tires; how to change a dead battery in your key fob; where to add fluids if needed; how to change a wiper blade; how to jump-start the vehicle; and many other items it may require. If you haven’t yet unwrapped your copy of this best-selling book, now’s the time.