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Technology Review

By virginia spence


DIY Car Repair with Chilton Library from the Oak Ridge Public Library
 April is National Car Care Month and the Oak Ridge Public Library has access to the Chilton Library online to help you know where to start with basic maintenance on your vehicle or tackle advanced repairs. Chilton also offers the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) test prep quizzes for patrons interested in becoming ASE certified.
Many of our patrons are familiar with the bound Chilton Repair Manuals at the library, a great resource for car repair and maintenance. However, we are pleased to offer patrons the Chilton Library for a convenient on-the-go resource which you can access from your phone or easily take with you under your car. So, what is Chilton Library? Chilton Library is an online digital resource published by Gale.  Chilton’s roots, going back over 100 years, provide a deep history of reliable and accessible repair information. This continually updated database covers details on vehicle maintenance, repair, and technical service bulletins for over 2,600 vehicles including most years, makes, and models of both domestic and imported vehicles from 1940 to current year.
What will you find in the Chilton Library? Included resources are step-by-step service and repair procedures, wiring diagrams, maintenance and specifications tables, troubleshooting guides and diagnostic trouble codes. Guides include photos, illustrations, diagrams, and multimedia (videos and animations). Also included are ASE test preps, to help prepare for ASE certification for automotive professionals. This certification is offered through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, an independent non-profit organization dedicated to improving quality of vehicle repair and service through its testing.
How to use the Chilton Library: Convenient access is available online 24/7 on any device with your Oak Ridge Public Library card. Don’t have an ORPL library card? No problem! Contact the library to find out how to apply for a library card or apply for a Digital Access Card online where your account allows you to access all of our digital resources. Locate the Chilton Library from the library website on the right-hand side of our landing page, along with all of our other databases, or on the side bar of the online catalog. With your library card you will have access to resources from Chilton. Just search by the year, make, and model of the vehicle you are working on. You will find information on repair, maintenance or cost estimates to help guide you in topics like body, brakes, diagnostics, engine, fuel systems, heating & A/C, suspension, transmission, wiring diagrams, and more. Available information depends on the vehicle and its age.
Whether you are a repair novice, a DIYer, or an automotive professional, the Chilton Database has trustworthy repair resources to help tackle maintenance and repairs. Touted for having up-to-date vehicle information, service and repair notifications, estimates for repair costs, and tools for ASE certification, Chilton is an authoritative resource for a variety of vehicle repair projects and goals. Tackle your next vehicle maintenance or repair project with the help of Chilton to estimate the cost of professional repairs or find help in how to get started yourself. Don’t forget to stop by the library for your books and movies from our curbside pickup in your freshly tuned-up, repaired vehicle.