# Auto technical data online.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-technical-data-online/423126
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 18, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-technical-data-online/423126 "2007-10-18T01:50:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-technical-data-online/423126/1 "2007-10-18T01:50:14Z")
I recently discovered that my local library has the automotive Chilton’s Manual available online. All I need to do is enter my library card number to access it.
Since trends like this are often shared within the libary system, you might want to check you local library’s web site.
Our local system is tied in w/ several communities, including across the state line into Portland, Or. and other Oregon communities, so I think this is available throughout the Portland Metro area. Not positive though, so maybe someone from Oregon could verify this.
---
### Author:  [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-technical-data-online/423126/2 "2007-10-18T16:12:57Z")
nudge, nudge.
Any feedback from other areas?
---
### Author:  [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-technical-data-online/423126/3 "2007-10-18T23:27:39Z")
I’m at work now, but I’ll check when I get home.
I’m in Washington county, so I don’t think we’re in the same system, but the Washington County system is fantastic! We even have audiobook downloads (although the wait for good ones is months).
---
### Author:  [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-technical-data-online/423126/4 "2007-10-18T23:47:31Z")
Most large and many small public libraries have large ammounts of info available online that you can’t get via Google. The problem is that usage tends to be low because people either don’t know it’s there or they don’t think of the library - they just stop at Google. It’s a big problem on college campuses, too. I think there should be a mandatory class freshman year on research strategies.
Chilton’s is a very common database that libraries pay a lot of money to have. So is Valueline. LA Public Library probably has over 100 databases that are available to card holders.
---
### Author:  [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2007, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-technical-data-online/423126/5 "2007-10-18T23:49:09Z")
[QUOTE=whatami]
I’m at work now, but I’ll check when I get home.
I’m in Washington county, so I don’t think we’re in the same system, but the Washington County system is fantastic! We even have audiobook downloads (although the wait for good ones is months).
[/QUOTE]
Thanks, I’m curious. I be interested toi see if this kind of thing is available in other parts of the country too.
---
### Author:  [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2007, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-technical-data-online/423126/6 "2007-10-19T00:00:00Z")
Mechanic Pat Goss of TV and radio fame recommends [www.alldata.com](http://www.alldata.com) which I think is popular with shops, but they also offer individual accounts. I signed up for it once but didn’t find it useful. It seems to be mostly a reference for trained mechanics, with diagnostic procedures and all that. It wasn’t much help when it came to basic maintenance.
---
### Author:  [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2007, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-technical-data-online/423126/7 "2007-10-19T00:36:17Z")
I can’t find a Chilton’s online for us, but there is a “Auto Repair Reference Center” that seems to be pretty good. Covers at least the two vehicles I own (99 Hundai and 00 Buick).
I did find a ton of periodicals that we have access to that I didn’t know about, like **Lamar** said, I just didn’t know about them…
Very cool! Thanks for turning me on to this!
---
### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2007, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-technical-data-online/423126/8 "2007-10-19T04:41:42Z")
[QUOTE=riker1384]
Mechanic Pat Goss of TV and radio fame recommends [www.alldata.com](http://www.alldata.com) which I think is popular with shops, but they also offer individual accounts. I signed up for it once but didn’t find it useful. It seems to be mostly a reference for trained mechanics, with diagnostic procedures and all that. It wasn’t much help when it came to basic maintenance.
[/QUOTE]
Known in the industry as Somedata.
😃