Haynes taking its auto repair manuals online
Haynes, the well-known publisher of automotive repair manuals, moves from print to the Web, making its top 50 manuals available to home mechanics.
Anyone who gets their hands dirty under the hood of a car knows about Haynes manuals. The company has been publishing detailed instructions in its manuals for over 50 years, covering everything from changing oil to pulling engines. Now Haynes promises to enter the digital age by putting its manuals on the Web.
The Haynes Group's acquisition of Vivid Holding BV three years ago, a company with expertise in digital publishing, allowed it to take the next step with its manuals, moving from print to the Web. Haynes plans to make its top 50 manuals available by subscription on the Internet.
The online versions will include all of the existing print material, but Haynes will use video and audio to enhance the instructions. Instead of staring at a grayscale photo and trying to determine how it matches their car, home mechanics will enjoy video walkthroughs for certain repairs, such as how to replace brake pads.
This move by Haynes is similar to some automakers, such as BMW, offering its user manuals in digital form.
Haynes has not specified when the first manuals will come online. The company's Web site includes links to buy its print manuals.