CRACKING THE EUROPEAN DATA SAFE

Motor, Dec 2003 by Seyfert, Karl

Some European vehicle service information may seem 'locked up,' out of the reach of independent techs. But most of it is accessible, if you've got the right combination.

Access to service information for European vehicles has never been as easy as it is for domestic or Asian vehicles. European vehicles have never represented a majority on our roads, which may explain why they attract less attention from our domestic tool manufacturers and data suppliers. Also, some European vehicle manufacturers (no names, please) have developed a reputation for being rather stingy with their service information. It's been their view that all vehicles produced by a given manufacturer should be serviced by that manufacturer's franchised dealers. And if all vehicles are being serviced by the dealers, there's no reason to distribute the information to the aftermarket.

While this may be how they operate in Europe, it's very different in this country. U.S. vehicle owners enjoy the option of taking their vehicles to an independent or a dealer for service, and many choose independents. Our vibrant aftennarket service industry requires full access to all of the inlormation necessary to service and repair the European vehicles on our roads.

Things are certainly better than they once were, but there's still room for improvement. This article provides an overview of many of the available sources of service information on European vehicles. While much of that information can still be found in conventional sources like books, manuals and CDs, we'll show you that there's at least its much information to be unlocked elsewhere. Lets get started.

Books, CDs & Online Resources

Traditional service manuals, brought to you by information specialists like Motor Information Systems, Mitchelll and Haynes, continue to be an excellent source of diagnostic and service information for European vehicles. These companies also offer information in the CD format. Motor also offers its e-tech software on CD, which features an Internet-style browser, intelligent search function and the ability to print enlarged images.

CD-based information systems compile traditional service manuals, service bulletins and other pertinent information in a single set of disks that's updated quarterly. Motor/ALLDATA, ALLDATA and Mitchell On-Demand are the primary suppliers of service information in this format. If your shop specializes in import vehicles only, subscriptions can be tailored to provide only the information you need and will use the most. Internet-based versions of these products are also available, providing 24-hour access to the very latest service information, late-breaking TSBs, wiring diagrams and labor guide information, without ever inserting a disk.

Robert Bentley Publishers is the factory-authorized source for service manuals on Volkswagen and Audi vehicles. Manuals for all of the other major (and minor) European vehicles are also offered. Many Bentley manuals are available in either print or CD format. The VW and Audi literature on the current Bentley CDs is identical to the VAG VESIS (Volkswagen) and AESIS (Audi) information that's provided to dealer techs. The CDs also link to technical bulletins. Bentley is now featuring online discussion forums, which allow you to communicate directly with the folks who prepare the manuals.

Robert Bosch Corp. makes many of the underlying parts and systems found on European vehicles. Bosch publishes a range of books and pamphlets, designed to explain the operation and repair of these systems, as well as other important automotive topics. The blue Bosch Automotive Handbook may be small, but its nearly 1000 pages are filled with essential Information explaining some of the automobile industry's most challenging subjects. Each Bosch book is edited by the same technical experts who design and build the company's automotive and diesel systems and components. Bosch books and manuals can be purchased directly from the company, or through the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) bookstore on the SAE website.

Autodata offers several books on engine management systems, including European vehicles. The European manual is a comprehensive source of information on engine management systems for European cars introduced or revised from 1986 through 1995. The manual deals specifically with the fuel and ignition systems under the control of the engine management system.

Euroinfo on CD is the company's CD-based product, which includes information on engine management, air bags, specification data, service schedules, ECM pin data, antilock brakes, etc. Information on all major European vehicle manufacturers for the 1979-2002 model years is included. An annual subscription, with updates in the spring and fall, assures that you'll always have the latest available European service information.

Schiff European Automotive Literature is a source for owner's manuals, parts catalogs and workshop manuals for European vehicles. The company appears to specialize in manuals for older and sometimes obscure vehicles. So if you've agreed to do a restoration job on a 1961 Borgward Isabella, Schiff can provide you with an original factory manual to make the job go a bit smoother. Finding the necessary parts might be another matter.