Chrysler Group LLC is the first automaker to provide digital owners manuals.
It had to happen sometime.
Chrysler Group LLC is dumping the four-pound paper owners manual in favor of less expensive digital version and a modest “user’s guide,” at the start of 2010 model year this October first.
For the automaker, the savings are “substantial,” a Chrysler spokesman said, adding the switch saves 930 tons of paper, or the equivalent of 20,000 trees every year.
For consumers, the demise of the manual will also will also mean there is more room for gloves or other stuff in their glove boxes, said Chrysler officials, who noted Chrysler is the first automaker to switch digital owners’ manuals for its complete lineup of 2010 model-year vehicles.
“As vehicles have increased in complexity, so has the size of traditional owners manuals,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO — Mopar Service, Parts and Customer Care, Chrysler Group LLC. “With this new approach, we are making it much more convenient for customers to find the information they seek.”
Chrysler said that traditional owners manuals may be longer than 500 pages. Now, buyers of the 2010 Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles will receive a “comprehensive DVD” and a full-color printed user guide of between 60-80 pages. The guide highlights commonly needed information.
The DVD includes the owners’ manual, vehicle and tire warranty information, navigation and entertainment system guides, as well as information on 24-hour towing assistance. Video tutorials also are available for commonly used features, such as folding down a Jeep Wrangler soft-top, operating the video entertainment system and setting the electronic speed control. In addition, owners may search by topic rather than sifting through a 500-page book.
The truncated printed user guide includes photos and diagrams allowing customers to find quickly assistance for emergency situations, such as changing tires, jump-starting a battery or assessing warning lights. The printed guide also covers basic operating procedures for temperature control, windshield wipers, seat adjustments and navigation systems.
Customers who really want to carry around the paper copy of the owner’s manual may obtain one by contacting their dealer or calling customer service.
Maybe Chrysler customers need a 500 page,4 pound owner’s manual. I don’t. All of the cars I’ve owned, including a 2007, have a manual that might be 100 pages tops. Kind of explains what Chrysler’s problem is. No clear direction and procedure on how to communicate with customers.
Hopefully, the truncated manual will have sufficient info so that you don’t need a DVD player to read it while stuck on the road in the middle of nowhere.