As any DIY enthusiast will tell you, the key to successful self-wrenching is information. The right resources can make a job much easier and help avoid disaster. I've learned this the hard way. With six cars under my watch at the moment, there's always something to work on. So, I was intrigued when I came across StartMyCar.com, a website that promises to connect people with "the same car and the same problems." I'm always looking for new DIY car repair resources, because generic advice isn't reliable,
and signing up for professional-level mechanic databases feels overkill -- so this was right up my alley.
At first glance, the site seemed to have been created just for my needs, with a forum where you can seek help from fellow car owners. Sometimes all it takes is one piece of advice to make a repair job go smoothly -- after all, nothing can substitute for hands-on experience. There are also model-specific libraries of service guides, wiring diagrams, and other resources. This combination of tools looked promising, especially for common engine maintenance you can tackle at home. All that to say, there are many potential uses for a database such as this.
After exploring the site for help with a few of my cars, I realized that StartMyCar is far from perfect, but it's still an online resource worth bookmarking. DIYers dealing with popular vehicles will likely find the necessary resources, such as owner's manuals and fuse box charts. However, those with more obscure rides will come away unfulfilled. As an added problem, many forum posts appear to be one-sided conversations. Requests for advice often go unanswered, even after several months. Here's my pro and con breakdown of StartMyCar.
Read more: 9 Cheap Cars That Look Expensive
The Positives Of StartMyCar
One of my cars is a 2004 Ford Mustang. It's nothing special, but I've resurrected this V6 coupe to near-daily driver status and enjoy working on it. With over a quarter of a million miles on the odometer, there's always something to do.
Right now, my top priority is replacing the power window motor and regulator for the driver's side door. I turned to StartMyCar for help. I even found a post about a similar issue with a near-identical Mustang. The short conversation suggested checking the fuse, but stopped there. Eventually, though, I struck gold: a Haynes service manual for the SN95 Mustang, which included instructions on replacing the unit. Sure, there are YouTube videos, but rewinding can be a pain -- this is a substitute.
Exploring the resources for other popular models uncovered a treasure trove of reference and instructional materials. For example, the site has every Toyota Camry owner's manual from 1998 through 2021. Numerous service manuals are also available, but the years are more sporadic. There are several Camry-specific guides covering everything from changing the oil to checking the battery. A quick check of other popular nameplates, like the Ford F-150, reveals similar materials.
StartMyCar is an ideal first stop if you need a downloadable reference document or guide for your vehicle. The site may not have what you need, but you won't have to search long to find out.
The Negatives Of StartMyCar
I then needed help with a 2012 Acura MDX. One of the daytime running lights was recently replaced, only to go out again. A fruitless check of the fuse meant I needed to dig deeper. This search for assistance underscored StartMyCar's weaknesses. A month ago, an owner of a 2011 MDX posted the same problem without a reply. Meanwhile, the MDX section only had service manuals for the 2006 model year, although it had extensive availability of fuse box diagrams.
The coverage gaps increase with less popular models. To confirm this, I randomly searched for vehicles I've had past experiences with. Anyone needing an owner's manual for a Volkswagen Touareg will need to look elsewhere. While StartMyCar has the owner's manuals for all years of the Infiniti Q50, its virtual shelves are bare regarding service manuals for this model. This is a shame, as there are many reasons to read the owner's manual. In short, expect a hit-or-miss experience with StartMyCar unless you drive something with a strong sales history.
That's the site's main drawback: You won't really know what you'll find (or won't) until you look. In addition, the forum side isn't very interactive, unlike Reddit or some dedicated enthusiast groups. Combine these elements, and StartMyCar feels static rather than dynamic. That's not entirely bad if you can find what you need, like I did with the service manuals for the Mustang. I bookmarked the site, but I will treat it more like a library than a place for on-the-spot assistance.
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Read the original article on SlashGear.
