Low-Cost Help for Fixing Your Car

One of the toughest parts of keeping your financial head above water is keeping a running automobile.  It can be the difference between keeping or losing a job.  Coincidentally, I found some sources for help in the last couple of weeks--some in Toledo, and some in the rest of the country.

In Toledo, if you are low-income and have children and your car needs repairs to keep your job, the Department of Jobs and Family Services may help through their Prevention, Retention and Contingency Program, designed to help low-income people jump the small-fund hurdles to keeping a job and being self-sufficient.  Call them at 419-213-8900.  Also, The Toledo Area Ministries may help with car repair, but you have to be referred from your local church.  If you don't have a church you regularly attend, see your neighborhood church and ask if they will make a referral.

Outside of Toledo, I found out about an organization called Ways to Work. They work through local organizations to fund low-interest, short-term loans to get cars repaired.  They have a particular focus on providing loans for families with children. See this website to find out if your local area has a WTW program.  You can only apply for a loan through their local affiliates.  They seem to have the most local outlets through the northeast, south and midwest, although there are some on the west coast.

Free Owners Manuals for Automobiles. And Online Auto Repair Information Through Your Library and Autozone

Edmunds, the company that connects you with information about many automobile things, like price, also provides a valuable link to free online owner's manuals via the manufacturers.  They don't provide the manuals, just a single place to find many of the links to manufacturers.  With some links, you can get the manuals scot-free.  With others, you may have to register, and input the VIN (vehicle identification number) of your car.  If you care to, you may be able to find other links simply by trying Google, as Edmunds instructs.  This results in hits like Chevrolet (1993-present), General Motors (1993-present),  and Ford.  If, on the other hand, you can't find a freebie, you can go to Bishko, the auto literature site, and see if you can buy one.  Usually, you only have to do this with really old vehicles.

Also, check out the free online videos courtesy Auto Zone on fixing various parts of your car.
And if you sign on as a member (give them your email, etc), you can gain access to free car repair information for models between 1950-2007.

How about more free online auto repair?  What many people don't know is that they may be able to get this through their public library.  Many public libraries subscribe to Chilton, Alldata, or Mitchell's auto repair online publications. The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library makes Chilton's available in-home for free to all their library patrons.  If you live in Ohio, you can get a library card and PIN number that allow you to access Chilton's in your home or office. Call 419-259-5209 for the details.  TLCPL also makes Mitchell's available to in-building visitors.  Other cities may have the same subscriptions, or may subscribe to Alldata, another car repair online service.  Call your local library, or check out their research databases.  Depending on where you live (and how much money you local library has for online subscriptions), you may already have access to 24/7 car repair information over the internet, already paid for via your tax dollars.