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Vehicle Service Manual – Sources For Service
Information
The following is a list of sources to obtain vehicle service information for your specific
vehicle.
•
Contact your local Automotive Dealership Parts Department.
•
Contact local retail auto parts stores for aftermarket vehicle service information.
•
Contact your local library. Libraries often allow you to check-out automotive service
manuals.
Do a Thorough Visual Inspection
Do a thorough visual and “hands-on” underhood inspection before starting any
diagnostic procedure! You can find the cause of many problems by just looking,
thereby saving yourself a lot of time.
• Has the vehicle been serviced
recently? Sometimes things get
reconnected in the wrong place, or
not at all.
• Don’t take shortcuts. Inspect hoses
and wiring which may be difficult to
see due to location.
• Inspect the air cleaner and
ductwork for defects.
• Check sensors and actuators for
damage.
• Inspect ignition wires for:
- Damaged terminals.
- Split or cracked spark plug boots
- Splits, cuts or breaks in the ignition
wires and insulation.
• Inspect all vacuum hoses for:
- Correct routing. Refer to vehicle
service manual, or Vehicle Emis-
sion Control Information(VECI)
decal located in the engine com-
partment.
- Pinches and kinks.
- Splits, cuts or breaks.
• Inspect wiring for:
- Contact with sharp edges.
- Contact with hot surfaces, such as
exhaust manifolds.
- Pinched, burned or chafed insula-
tion.
- Proper routing and connections.
• Check electrical connectors for:
- Corrosion on pins.
- Bent or damaged pins.
- Contacts not properly seated in
housing.
- Bad wire crimps to terminals.
