Reading the owners handbook

Gizmo68 · 30-06-2008, 12:04

Am i the only one who actually reads the owners handbook when i buy my new (to me) car?

OK, i skim through it, rather than read it from cover to cover, but every car does things very slightly differently.
Don't you think its useful to know what all those buttons actually do, what that warning light that has come on means, what the tyre pressures should be, or simply what oil the car should run on?

There are an increasing number of threads appearing asking the most basic of questions that are all covered in the handbook, some even sell the car without realizing the car is capable of doing lots more than they thought.

So got a question?

1. RTFM!, then
2. if you are still unsure, by all means do a SEARCH before you
3. post a new thread.

I know not every used car will still have the manual, but they are well worth reading .............. you will even learn something new, i know i do.

smstext · 30-06-2008, 12:38

i read mine when the dealer kindly let me have the manual a day early, but then i was confused what the car had and didnt have!

Vix · 02-07-2008, 22:14

I reach for mine when I want to know something

HZ123 · 03-07-2008, 19:48

These learned manuals have failed to keep up. I accuse the makers of still producing books that are hard to understand and often confusing. Most things I have learnt on here. I was not even aware of the 1000 mile running in, which the deaker never mentioned and was noticed the evening I got home with a Fabia. The makers need to bring the manuals up to modern day standards. I am also critical of the speedo which is marked 60 / 80 etc not 70. The maxidot does not give the speed which is also a shame.

Taxi 219 · 04-07-2008, 05:50

I flicked through mine and it had updates inside for later revised models and specs.

smstext · 04-07-2008, 11:26

i dont think the maxi dot in the vw's do speed either.

trundlenut · 04-07-2008, 13:32

The manual for my octy was written by someone with an interesting approach to english and a complete inability to count. The index is somewhat indicative when it comes to page numbers too.

Gyp · 04-07-2008, 23:56

we didn't get a manual with the Furby. Long story

Csn you buy the manuals as a set?

Gizmo68 · 05-07-2008, 09:28

Not sure as a set, but certainly you can get them individually.

Be careful of eBay though, as they tend to sell for more than a new one from a dealer (i even sold an E30 M3 one for £33.50 !! - although they had been out of print for a few years)

anewman · 05-07-2008, 19:01

The silliest thing in the manual for my car is a guide on how to make "2 beds" by removing the front headrests, pushing all the way forward, and reclining the seats all the way back. Interesting to know you can do it, but not sure I would describe the result as a bed.

hunter0f2 · 05-07-2008, 19:26

The Handbook for my 65 1000 MB , Started off " Thank you people for buying this very nice car" It also refered to the headlamp flasher as the " Light Hooter" I think they have a better command now!!

***DGW*** · 06-07-2008, 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gyp

we didn't get a manual with the Furby....
Csn you buy the manuals as a set?

A Fabia Owner's Manual (handbook) only costs circa £5 from a Skoda dealer. The official workshop manuals are available but the price for a set is prohibitive.

simonlb · 07-07-2008, 11:06

I must admit I do find it extremely annoying when someone registers and their first post is along the lines of 'Hello, I've just bought this and it's got a fault and I've done a search but it turned up nothing...' then goes on to describe one of the cars common faults. Why do these people lie? They haven't run a search at all and haven't even bothered trying to look through a few of the technical areas before posting. If they had, the would have found the relevant fix! It's just pure bloody laziness on their part and it does tick me off. That and crap spelling and 'text-speak'... Grr...

smstext · 07-07-2008, 12:10

lol, how about i cant get the car started but ive found a nice place for the keys to sit behind the sunvisor once im in the car. any suggestions

L-Y-K · 25-07-2008, 06:19

haha the manuals images are funy in the fabia it looks like there throwing the baby out of the window in one of them!

its good to have a flick thru just before bed if you got nothing else to do!

30-06-2008, 12:04	#1
Gizmo68 Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hawkinge Kent Posts: 1,124 Thanks: 12 Thanked 57 Times in 56 Posts	Reading the owners handbook Am i the only one who actually reads the owners handbook when i buy my new (to me) car? OK, i skim through it, rather than read it from cover to cover, but every car does things very slightly differently. Don't you think its useful to know what all those buttons actually do, what that warning light that has come on means, what the tyre pressures should be, or simply what oil the car should run on? There are an increasing number of threads appearing asking the most basic of questions that are all covered in the handbook, some even sell the car without realizing the car is capable of doing lots more than they thought. So got a question? 1. RTFM!, then 2. if you are still unsure, by all means do a SEARCH before you 3. post a new thread. I know not every used car will still have the manual, but they are well worth reading .............. you will even learn something new, i know i do.

30-06-2008, 12:38	#2
smstext 2.0 FSI Sport. Join Date: May 2007 Location: oxon Posts: 7,262 Thanks: 8 Thanked 198 Times in 181 Posts	Re: Reading the owners handbook i read mine when the dealer kindly let me have the manual a day early, but then i was confused what the car had and didnt have! __________________ OXON Meet 5 October 2008 click here for more info

02-07-2008, 22:14	#3
Vix Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Preston Posts: 1,295 Thanks: 15 Thanked 64 Times in 64 Posts	Re: Reading the owners handbook I reach for mine when I want to know something

03-07-2008, 19:48	#4
HZ123 Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 91 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Reading the owners handbook These learned manuals have failed to keep up. I accuse the makers of still producing books that are hard to understand and often confusing. Most things I have learnt on here. I was not even aware of the 1000 mile running in, which the deaker never mentioned and was noticed the evening I got home with a Fabia. The makers need to bring the manuals up to modern day standards. I am also critical of the speedo which is marked 60 / 80 etc not 70. The maxidot does not give the speed which is also a shame.

04-07-2008, 05:50	#5
Taxi 219 Get out the way Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 1,976 Thanks: 68 Thanked 86 Times in 83 Posts	Re: Reading the owners handbook I flicked through mine and it had updates inside for later revised models and specs. __________________ Car now: 56 Octavia MK2 1.9TDi Ambiente-Debadged Previous: 06 Octavia Mk1 1.9TDi Classic with + pack Sadly missed: 97 Nissan Primera 2.0TDi SLX

04-07-2008, 11:26	#6
smstext 2.0 FSI Sport. Join Date: May 2007 Location: oxon Posts: 7,262 Thanks: 8 Thanked 198 Times in 181 Posts	Re: Reading the owners handbook i dont think the maxi dot in the vw's do speed either. __________________ OXON Meet 5 October 2008 click here for more info

04-07-2008, 13:32	#7
trundlenut Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Nottingham Posts: 154 Thanks: 6 Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Reading the owners handbook The manual for my octy was written by someone with an interesting approach to english and a complete inability to count. The index is somewhat indicative when it comes to page numbers too.

04-07-2008, 23:56	#8
Gyp Briskodian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Glos. Posts: 365 Thanks: 5 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Reading the owners handbook we didn't get a manual with the Furby. Long story Csn you buy the manuals as a set? __________________ -- Gyp 03 Octavia 1.9TDi Elegange Estate + cruise, towbar, Parrot and anti-jack 54 Fabia 1.2 12V Classic Hatch + cruise, momo strut brace, sunglass holder, Parrot, mp3 and anti-jack

05-07-2008, 09:28	#9
Gizmo68 Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hawkinge Kent Posts: 1,124 Thanks: 12 Thanked 57 Times in 56 Posts	Re: Reading the owners handbook Not sure as a set, but certainly you can get them individually. Be careful of eBay though, as they tend to sell for more than a new one from a dealer (i even sold an E30 M3 one for £33.50 !! - although they had been out of print for a few years)

05-07-2008, 19:01	#10
anewman Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Leeds Posts: 2,366 Thanks: 940 Thanked 203 Times in 188 Posts	Re: Reading the owners handbook The silliest thing in the manual for my car is a guide on how to make "2 beds" by removing the front headrests, pushing all the way forward, and reclining the seats all the way back. Interesting to know you can do it, but not sure I would describe the result as a bed. __________________ 94 Favorit GLXIe Estate

05-07-2008, 19:26	#11
hunter0f2 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 21 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Reading the owners handbook The Handbook for my 65 1000 MB , Started off " Thank you people for buying this very nice car" It also refered to the headlamp flasher as the " Light Hooter" I think they have a better command now!! __________________ Argue Not with Dragons, For Thou ar't Cruchy & go well on Toast!!!!!!!!!! Wifes 1.4 Automatic Fabia Estate ,rear parking sensors. Comfort model ..52 Plate only 8000 miles!!!

07-07-2008, 11:06	#13
simonlb Briskodian Join Date: May 2007 Location: . Posts: 381 Thanks: 3 Thanked 27 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Reading the owners handbook I must admit I do find it extremely annoying when someone registers and their first post is along the lines of 'Hello, I've just bought this and it's got a fault and I've done a search but it turned up nothing...' then goes on to describe one of the cars common faults. Why do these people lie? They haven't run a search at all and haven't even bothered trying to look through a few of the technical areas before posting. If they had, the would have found the relevant fix! It's just pure bloody laziness on their part and it does tick me off. That and crap spelling and 'text-speak'... Grr...

07-07-2008, 12:10	#14
smstext 2.0 FSI Sport. Join Date: May 2007 Location: oxon Posts: 7,262 Thanks: 8 Thanked 198 Times in 181 Posts	Re: Reading the owners handbook lol, how about i cant get the car started but ive found a nice place for the keys to sit behind the sunvisor once im in the car. any suggestions __________________ OXON Meet 5 October 2008 click here for more info

25-07-2008, 06:19	#15
L-Y-K Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A30 Newquay Cornwall Posts: 4,123 Thanks: 22 Thanked 38 Times in 34 Posts	Re: Reading the owners handbook haha the manuals images are funy in the fabia it looks like there throwing the baby out of the window in one of them! its good to have a flick thru just before bed if you got nothing else to do! __________________ Fabia Bohemia Mods - err well fitted rear areo wiper!, rear OEM speakers fitted, vw damped grab handles...thats it for now!

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