Over the years one of the most popular and used set of books in the Denison Public Library has been the Chilton’s auto manuals. Much of that information can now be found online by going through our Texshare databases. As always you will need a valid Denison library card to access these databases and the password and user ID can be found at the library.
The keys to learning any new database are patience, curiosity, and a willingness to explore. You are not going to break anything while using the database. If you get lost or are not finding the information you need hit the back button or the home button and start over. There are no guarantees that the exact information you are looking for can be found in the Chilton’s database, but there is a lot of information there and with any luck you will find what you need. A helpful primer on how to use the database can be found at the top of the page under the tab, “Help.” Looking this over will help you unlock the full potential of what’s available inside Chilton’s.
Texshare databases are available anywhere a computer is connected to the internet through our website. The help page will show what programs you need on your computer to get the most out of Chilton’s. These include Adobe flash player and Adobe Reader which are a free download and most computers already have these programs installed.
The help page will show you how to select a vehicle to look at. Once selected there may be up to four tabs that will come up. These are; Repair, Maintenance, Labor Estimating, and Bulletins/Recalls. If one of these tabs does not come up it means Chilton’s has no information under that heading on that particular vehicle.
One of the more useful tabs for those who are not mechanics but do want to make sure their vehicle stays in top condition is the Maintenance tab. Especially if the owner’s manual has gone missing this is a way to make sure the transmission fluid and the other parts of your car that needs periodic maintenance is kept up with the schedule the car manufacturer recommends.
The Bulletins/Recalls tab is also a good way to see all the manufacturer recalls on your vehicle. If you think your vehicle is missing an important recall update go to Chilton’s and bring this information up to see if your vehicle has a recall you have been unaware of and need to address.
The Labor Estimating tab will give an idea of how long a repair should take on your vehicle. This will give you as a consumer more confidence that the quote the mechanic is giving you is in line with the actual labor time a repair will take.
There are even ASE test prep quizzes that you can take as many times as you would like to practice for passing the ASE certification.
Chilton Library is a valuable database for those interested in the type of information it provides.
Denison Library Blog 