The Best Book that's Not a Best-Seller
April 11, 2021
Sometimes the movie is better than the book, sometimes it's the other way around. But when it comes to your vehicle, the best book of all is the owner's manual. The plot is simple: Owner wants long life and dependable performance from the vehicle, manual has the way to achieve that long life and dependable performance.
And yet, it's amazing that some people will own a vehicle for years and never even crack this book. They'll only read it when they absolutely have to, for things like finding out how to change the clock.
Ok, so you're probably not going to rush right over to your glove box and start reading the owner's manual cover to cover. We know that. But just think of what you can get out of it.
Consider this. Those who wrote or helped write this book include the engineers who designed it and the people who tested and refined it. They know more about your vehicle than anyone, period. They know how long a part is likely to last and what you need to do to take care of it. They know how far a distance or how long a time you can drive before you have to change certain fluids in it. They know what temperature it can reach before things will start to break.
And they've put your vehicle model through torture, testing it in the absolute worst conditions to see how to make it stand up to more abuse than it will ever receive. They've then torn it down, examined it and, in many cases, redesigned the parts to make them even better.
And they've put down—in fairly minute detail—this blueprint that, if you and our experts at Commerce Auto Repair follow their suggestions, will make it very likely that your vehicle will serve you well for a long time. If you don't follow those suggestions, all bets are off.
We didn't even mention that the owner's manual tells you how to operate everything in your car. How to adjust the heat and air conditioning, how to pair your smartphone with the audio system, how to program your key fob so it won't sound the horn when you lock your vehicle.
Have you lost your manual or did you buy a vehicle that didn't come with one? Many are available either online or in paper form. If you don't know where to begin with such a long book, try a couple of pages a week, just three minutes. You’ll discover your vehicle does things you never even knew it could do. And the movie will never be as good.
Commerce Auto Repair
9575 Commerce Rd.
Commerce, Michigan 48382
248.363.3749
Need Service?
More articles from Commerce Auto Repair

Can This Tire Be Saved? A Guide to Tire Repair vs. Replacement
August 2, 2026
When something goes wrong with one of your tires, one of the first things that goes through your head is: Do I have to buy a new tire, or is it possible to save this one with a repair? Understanding when you can have a tire fixed and when you need it replaced can prevent you from driving an unsaf... More

Straight Steering Starts Here
July 26, 2026
Wheel alignment is one of those maintenance items you probably dont notice until something doesnt feel quite right. But alignment plays a major role in how safely and smoothly your vehicle handles. If your wheels arent all pointed in the right direction, everything from steering response to tire ... More

Timing Cover Replacement
July 19, 2026
Your engine has a lot of parts that need to work in harmony in order to keep you powering down the road. Some of those parts need to be protected in order to keep things running smoothly, and one that does the job is called a timing cover. It is in the front of your engine and shields components... More
