Chrysler scraps paper owner's manuals, shifts to DVDs

Chrysler scraps paper owner's manuals, shifts to DVDs
http://preview.tinyurl.com/n42wq8

September 21, 2009 - 1:44 pm ET

DETROIT -- Chrysler Group is replacing its traditional owner's manuals
with DVDs and an abridged printed guide in an effort to reduce costs and
save 930 tons of paper annually.

Chrysler will see “substantial savings” from the shift away from paper
manuals, which often had more than 500 pages, spokesman Bryan Zvibleman
said. He declined to say how much will be saved by the change, which is
taking effect with 2010 models.

The searchable DVDs, designed for viewing at home or on some vehicles'
entertainment systems, each contain an owner's manual, warranty
information, direction for navigation and entertainment systems and a
guide for 24-hour towing assistance. They also provide video tutorials
for some instructions, such as folding down a Jeep Wrangler's soft top.
Information from the DVDs will also appear on Chrysler's brand Web sites.

The abbreviated printed guides, designed to be kept in the vehicle, will
typically have 60 to 80 pages, the automaker said in a statement today.
They will provide instructions for dealing with emergency issues, such
as flat tires, dead batteries or flashing warning lights. The guides
also give instructions for basic operations of vehicle features such as
air conditioning, windshield wipers and navigation systems.

Consumers may still receive a full printed owner's manual on request.

Chrysler had been considering the change for more than a year, said Al
Motta, head of service operations. The automaker conducted a consumer
study, solicited input through an online forum and held four focus
sessions in Chicago to help determine what information to include in the
printed version.

Finally, Chrysler mailed 500 sample DVDs and printed guides to customers
who had bought 2009 Wranglers and sought feedback. The reaction was
mostly positive, Motta said, especially to features such as the soft-top
video tutorials.

 

I hope it's better than the one I got with my Olevia LCD TV. I wanted
to hook up the CD/DVD player.
The instructions on how to do this was
on ............................."Anyone? Anyone?, Buehler?"

Yep, you got it, to find out how to hook up the CD player, you had to
play the disc.

 

Loved that Ben Stein bit in the movie!