How many read the owner's manual that came with their cars.

Reading includes skimming, browsing, looking for a specific topic.

Just curious. Seems to be a lost art. Maybe few ever did. I suspect many don't know it exists.

 

I know it exists as I removed the 2+ pounds from my glove box Useful to remind me how to reset the maintenance minder/what service it wants this time.

 

I always RTFM as soon as I get the car.

 

+1, every car and bike I have ever owned.... Hard to get for some of my older classics but the internet and PDF's rock

 

I wrote it.

 

just out of curiousity yes i read the manual.

 

Ah Yeah,cover to cover. Appears a lot here don't ,by looking at the posts here. I guess it's easier to read a computer screen of 50% misinformation then a piece of paper with 100% correct information.

PaFitter

 

Read it when someone indicated that you could change the doors unlocking when you turn off the key.

 

Read it the first day I got my new 2013 sport I want to make sure I take care of this baby this time my very first new car purchase ever.

 

but i mostly read the OM on my computer screen....

 

well if nothing else, maybe this will serve to encourage those that aren't aware of its existence to have a read.

Not trying to discourage people's posts/questions (I keep a PDF copy handy on my machine too and luv to quote it)

 

I've cracked mine open a few times, when I wanted to know something. Never read it cover to cover tho. Other than how to use the electronics, and fluid specs, most of how to own and operate vehicle should be common sense.

 

All automobile manufacturers should have to state the cubic inches (centimeters for the Euro crowd) of glove compartment space with and without the Owner's Manual in the compartment.

(Obviously, Honda cheated with the Fit and made the upper and lower glove compartments to avoid my proposed manufacturer regulation.)


I read the manual for purposes of understanding the Maintenance Minder codes and maintenance procedures. I understand them now but Fit Freak forums might be scaring me into my daddy's Oldsmobile 3,000-mile oil changes.....

 

But the owners manual goes under the magic seat.

 

To me its a reference guide like research materials at work.

 

LOL! True....but I thought the hidden compartment under the magic seat was for contraband?

 

Most of them today are bloated due to CYA liability issues. Granted, the folks likely to sue due to their own stupidity are the last ones who would ever read it. This comment applies mostly to the child seat stuff and all the exploding gas bags (its not "air"). The other thing that has caused them to bloat in recent years are the complicated infotainment systems. If only looking at the basics of maintenance and operation of the vehicle, it would be as thin as they were fifty years ago.

I actually read it in the showroom, before buying the car. Why? I live in snow country in California. I needed to know that tire chains were allowed by Honda. I did not buy a Ford Fiesta because Ford prohibits what is legally required where I live. Honda is even nice enough to recommend a particular make and model of cable chains, making it even easier.

 

The number of people asking how to configure auto-locking suggests many don't open the manual. You know who you are.

Likewise for break-in and maintenance.

You've bought a consumer item costing between 15 and 20 grand and you don't bother to read about what features you're getting?

While not exactly a page turner, Honda's owner's manual is well written. It's not bloated in some CYA effort.

 

people who took the time to answer this poll are from a self-selecting pool who read it.

That being said, I once obtained a used car, where the owners manual was well studied like a textbook.
The contents were dogeared, with highlighted and underlined portions.

Perhaps a good prerequisite to make your teen do prior to gifting them their first vehicle.

 

Where's the Poll Option for "Definite Read" or "It's a Must Read?".

I "enjoy" reading my owners manual...so "Read only when I need to", is NOT correct...

And the other two Anti-Manual answers are also not correct.