BlackVXGTS
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2004
- Messages
- 5,473
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- Location
- Melbourne, SE
- Members Ride
- GEN-F2 GTS A6, VS Clubsport 185 A4
It has not really been practical to have hard copy genuine service manuals since the VR Commodore, which consisted of seven quite large (and expensive >$35 each) manuals. The VS series of (hard copy) manuals consisted of four large manuals but they only covered areas where the VS and VR were different. You still needed to have the appropriate VR manuals to perform many of the VS service functions. There is a CD that contains the genuine GMH VR/VS manuals, but it is based on a now obsolete Microsoft Help application, and only works on Windows XP and Windows 7 32 bit. It also doesn't include the wiring manual.
Genuine GM VT/VX manuals are available in digital format and consist of multiple PDF based documents, which means that they run on any of the current/recent Microsoft operating systems - 32bit and 64bit. I think genuine VY/VZ manuals are also available in digital PDF format, but I haven't had any personal need or experience with them. The genuine manuals are far, far, better than any aftermarket manual that you can purchase.
From the VF (and I believe the VE), contents of the now PDF-based service manuals have only been available online via subscription from GM, on either a period or time-related basis. You can print off the contents of various portions of these PDF manual components into hard copy, you can even print them off into PDF (via CUTEPDF or equivalent), but all of the links between the various documents are not active. In addition, they are protected, so you also can't cut and past from these "printed"documents. In addition, searching on the link contents sometimes doesn't work as identified below.
There is currently a partial PDF version of the VF Service manual on the internet. However, it's not comprehensive, and the translation from GM PDF to print (whether hard copy or soft copy like CUTEPDF) involves an optical character recognition process which produces a large number of errors. This means that when you search on the contents of a link (which now doesn't work) you may get all the references, some of the references, or none at all). However, it's a very useful and structured document for anyone interested in maintaining or finding out more information about the cars they drive.
MODS, please delete if this thread is against forum policy.
Genuine GM VT/VX manuals are available in digital format and consist of multiple PDF based documents, which means that they run on any of the current/recent Microsoft operating systems - 32bit and 64bit. I think genuine VY/VZ manuals are also available in digital PDF format, but I haven't had any personal need or experience with them. The genuine manuals are far, far, better than any aftermarket manual that you can purchase.
From the VF (and I believe the VE), contents of the now PDF-based service manuals have only been available online via subscription from GM, on either a period or time-related basis. You can print off the contents of various portions of these PDF manual components into hard copy, you can even print them off into PDF (via CUTEPDF or equivalent), but all of the links between the various documents are not active. In addition, they are protected, so you also can't cut and past from these "printed"documents. In addition, searching on the link contents sometimes doesn't work as identified below.
There is currently a partial PDF version of the VF Service manual on the internet. However, it's not comprehensive, and the translation from GM PDF to print (whether hard copy or soft copy like CUTEPDF) involves an optical character recognition process which produces a large number of errors. This means that when you search on the contents of a link (which now doesn't work) you may get all the references, some of the references, or none at all). However, it's a very useful and structured document for anyone interested in maintaining or finding out more information about the cars they drive.
MODS, please delete if this thread is against forum policy.