Car Trouble

“My car is doing something strange; when I turn the motor on and off my head lights and daytime running lights flicker. I want to see if I can find out what is causing this.” The Newton Falls Public Library staff understands that during this difficult economic time people are seeking information for working on their vehicle or before taking them to a mechanic.

The library subscribes to the online database, AllData, which provides comprehensive automotive reference for domestic and foreign cars, trucks, and vans from 1982 to the present. Maintenance information, technical service bulletins, schematics and diagrams are included. Since access to the database is only available within the library, the patron ‘borrowed’ a computer using her library card.

We selected her vehicle by year, make, model, and engine. Under the section, Lighting and Horns, we looked first at the Technical Service Bulletins. Under the heading Symptoms, there was information about Erratic Operation. One of the conditions dealt with in this area was “intermittent front lamp concerns.” The database included the cause of the problem and the procedure with illustration for dealing with it. The patron was able to print the information, hopeful that the simple steps given would solve the problem.