New technology brings new options to access vehicle repair information. In the past, we all had to rely on hardcover workshop manuals, which we tried not to cover with greasy fingerprints. Printouts improved the situation, and now we have desk computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, each with its own time and place to get the most out of your VACC MotorTech subscription.
Four Logins from a Single Subscription
VACC MotorTech offers subscription levels tailored to your business needs, and all subscriptions allow 4 users to log in simultaneously, whereas other automotive data systems only allow 1 per subscriber. This opens up some opportunities for different members of your team to use VACC MotorTech.
The Front Desk
Many businesses have a service advisor or receptionist at the front desk who handles bookings and customer enquiries. We recommend they use VACC MotorTech to estimate job requirements by looking up repair times, repair procedures, or common faults, which could assist their technicians.
In the Workshop
Giving your technicians access to a computer in the workshop is now a common expectation as it improves efficiency, so making it easy for them is a priority. Many modern workshops use desktops with flat monitors mounted to the walls, along with Bluetooth keyboards and mice, to avoid cable management issues. Others could integrate a laptop and a larger screen into a mobile diagnostics station that they can wheel around the shop as needed. This setup works better if you include an oscilloscope.
Under the dashboard.
If you have a tablet (Apple or Android) and a good Wi-Fi connection, this opens up more options. The HaynesPro guided diagnostics and wiring diagrams are designed for use on a tablet, so you can take them to the job like under a dashboard. You can interact with the wiring diagrams on the tablet and quickly swap between wiring and connector views, which is way better than paper printouts.
Under the Car
A tablet, in combination with the HaynesPro service schedules, can allow you to check off tasks as you go, with links to capacities and lubrication specifications. Or you can indicate that a problem needs more attention, and the completed document can be sent to the front desk. This is a great way to prevent lost paperwork.
On the Road
If you have to go out for a breakdown or you are a mobile technician, you can access VACC MotorTech anywhere as long as you have phone data and a good signal.
For the best results, we suggest setting up a Wi-Fi hotspot on your phone so a tablet, diagnostic tool, or laptop can connect. You can then view and interact with all the features to make vehicle repairs quicker and easier.
Don’t use your phone for MotorTech
Unfortunately, most of the content on MotorTech is not optimised for phones because the screen is too small, but it works great on tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. It will only frustrate you if you try, so we don’t recommend your phone as the only way to access our online automotive resources. But there is one aspect of your VACC MotorTech subscription where we do recommend using your phone.
VACC’s TechAdvisory Service
A VACC MotorTech subscription allows unlimited access to VACC’s phone-based TechAdvisory Service. With one phone call, you will be connected to our team of industry-experienced Tech Advisors, who will take your request for information and guide you to where it is online or retrieve it from our Technical Library, which contains approximately 40,000 workshop manuals and other reference material. Not all of our information is online, and the answers you need could be in a book, a phone call away.
Make the most of what you have got
The devices used to access VACC MotorTech don’t have to be the latest and greatest high-performance machines; as long as they are modern enough to run the latest version of common web browsers, you should be fine. So, if you have the right devices in the right places, four members of your team can access VACC MotorTech information simultaneously. This could improve your business efficiency, potentially boosting your bottom line.
The Three VACC MotorTech Advantages
First, VACC MotorTech is the overarching product name that encompasses three online databases, each with different information. These are as follows.
- VACC TechOnline
- HaynesPro
- Haynes Manuals AllAccess
Most other automotive systems have only one database.
Second, our TechAdvisory Service allows you to call for assistance from a Melbourne, Australia-based automotive call centre staffed by trade-qualified technicians with access to a vast library of manuals. This provides you with a depth of knowledge that other automotive systems don’t offer.
Third, for 40 years, VACC’s TechTalk magazine has featured common faults, diagnostic hints and tips, and repair procedures relevant to the Australian vehicle market, based on industry feedback. This allows us to fill any resource gaps and keep you and the wider automotive industry up to date. To our knowledge, no other automotive data systems can produce content specific to the Australian market and deliver a hard copy magazine to your workshop for your technicians.
We know that every business is different, that’s why we offer VACC MotorTech subscription plans with flexible pricing and coverage options to match how you work. Plus, VACC, TACC, and other MTA members can take advantage of special member‑only pricing, making VACC MotorTech an even smarter investment.
For more information, go to motortech.com.au
