The Difference Between a Car Workshop Manual and a Factory Service Manual

If you are a car owner, then it is critical for you to understand the difference between a car workshop manual and a factory service manual. Both these manuals are significant for the overall working and performance of your car, but both of them are different in certain aspects.

Source

The major point of difference between the two types of manuals is the source from where they are coming. As the name suggests, factory service manuals come directly from the factory where the car is manufactured. This means that these manuals are provided directly from your car manufacturer. They are well-versed with each and every component of your car’s make and model, and the manual that they provide aims at making you aware of its working and intricacies.

On the other hand, a car workshop manual is intended for workshops where mechanics conduct repairs and services on your car. These manuals are usually generalized, and mechanics also refer to your car factory service manual to find intricate details about your particular car model.

Contents

Another difference lies in the content included in both the manuals. Factory service manuals are designed as per your specific model of car, and they include details about each and every part, feature and function of your vehicle. On the other hand, car workshop manuals are general manuals that include details about symptoms and repair procedures of all cars.

Factory service manual includes details about the following:

• All the general as well as special features of your car
• Functions and specifications of your particular car model
• How to identify and fix any issues in your car
• How to service it for maintenance
• Placement of each and every component
• Repair procedures with diagrams
• Recommendations for maintenance schedule

Car workshop manual includes the following contents:

• General car problems
• Instructions to identify and fix certain problems
• General car maintenance procedures

Remember, car workshop manuals are not coming from your car manufacturer, so they have nothing to do with your particular car make and model. They have general information that is applicable to all cars. They are helpful in conducting general car problems, but when an issue arises that is specific to your car, then experienced mechanics will also refer to your car’s factory service manual for guidance. So, factory service manuals are much better to own than car workshop manuals.

Quality

Since a factory workshop service manual comes directly from your car manufacturer, they have to make it in good quality to maintain their reputation. Poor quality manuals with fragile paper, lots of spelling mistakes, and unclear pictures will only attract criticism from their car buyers. On the other hand, car workshop manuals intend to provide general instructions on car repairs and they are least bothered for quality.

Where to Buy

As far as factor service manuals are concerned, you get them for free with your car purchase. Detailed manuals can also be purchased later from your car manufacturer’s showroom. On the other hand, car workshop manuals can be bought from third party car workshops or websites.

Both types of manuals are also available for download from certain websites in PDF format. Some websites require registration, while others offer them for free without any registration. Look for a website that can provide the manual of your choice in high quality.