your opinion on alldata?

[PoorOwner]

How do you guys feel about alldata, it basically quotes the price on any job for the customer, but actual work will definitely go faster. Got a couple of estimates and they are very similar.

The time could be based on steps that "may" not needed. For example, one could have changed out a hub seal without removing the whole hub, which first you have to remove the rotors, calipers, etc etc. I asked about changing the seal and they added me another 30 minutes each side.

I could have change the seal myself in 30 minutes too, and I am not a pro.

At least when a shop has alldata, I know they get to read the torque values recommended by the manufacturer. Whether they follow this or not is another story.

 

[koditten]

I have accounts for both my vehicles. I like it and will renew as long as I have that vehicle.

 

[reader2580]

Someone posted recently that those labor hours are figured with using only hand tools. Any technician worth his paycheck is going to use pneumatic or cordless tools when possible to speed up the job.

If a backyard mechanic whose day job is sitting at a desk can beat their times something stinks about how they figure the times.

 

[Fierokid87]

I like and dislike all data for a few reasons. Some of the diagrams are hard to understand (I've had better luck with the Haynes/Chilton manuals), I sometimes get lost navigating alldata, where as a book you just flip pages till youre there, and I've been confused with some of the steps they listed. But all data has gone above and beyond, I've found bolt sizes listed for my fiero when I was doing an engine swap and lost half my hardware. It made it much easier to go buy the new bolts in the correct grades. I'd reccomend it to someone who does a lot of work to their cars, but if your just gonna do oil changes and brakes, I wouldn't bother..

 

[DodgeMech]

alldata is hit and miss on times, and on procedures too for that matter, but it is better than going out and buying the actual service manual for every different type of vehicle you're going to work on...

and anyone who ain't a pro tech(a dealer one for that matter) shouldn't say **** about "times being too high"...if you ain't lived by it, you have no reason to comment on it

 

[Keel]

alldata is hit and miss on times, and on procedures too for that matter, but it is better than going out and buying the actual service manual for every different type of vehicle you're going to work on...

and anyone who ain't a pro tech(a dealer one for that matter) shouldn't say **** about "times being too high"...if you ain't lived by it, you have no reason to comment on it

 

[jimindm]

Hard to tell if you are looking for an information system for a shop setting or one that is a certain car for DIY. I have Pro demand by mitchell and it works well for me, in a shop setting.

I think an information system is just another tool that you own. It is only as good as you want it to be. Are any perfect? No. I have always kind of had the idea that you get a tool and you use it, learn the abilities of it, and do the very best you can.

The claim of it is based on doing everything by using a set of basic hand tools, I am not sure about. All information systems are based on using factory times and repair procedures. I know all manufacturers have tool sets that dealer have to buy, year to year, to service their vehicles. I would also say that they do not expect any one in a dealership to only have the basic set of tools to complete this task. More than the basic set of tools will be available to repair the vehicles, whether the dealership owns them or the tech does.

I think the manufacturers of the information system are targeting the professional user. They are all makes all models. Part of their ability to pull out a one make and model, to appeal to DIY customers, is just snippets of the full system. While the DIY will not spend $150 a month for the system, they will spend $25-$30 for their own cars. They are not rewriting the software, they are just pulling out the information of the larger system.

I would be curious what model of vehicle you can change a hub seal, with out removing the hub.

 

[WDEagle]

I have accounts for both my vehicles. I like it and will renew as long as I have that vehicle.

Ditto

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I use it for all my personal vehicles. I like to be able to sign in, look up the specific issue and print out the pages to keep handy on the job - good to make notes (esp. if tracing wiring) and you don't end up with a greasy old service book hanging around till the next job.
Wiring diagrams / connector views and such take a little bit of getting used to, but work well once you understand them.

 

[T_R]

We have it at work I like it the best of all of them and use it for anything that isn't a make we sell new and have factory info for. We also have motor and identifix. Sometime I use alldata instead of chrysler tech connect because it's easier to navigate. Ford is good with their info, I use that for Ford.

 

[curtrnev]

All Data pretty much just ***** , I have found it to be inaccurate at best. If I have to look up a customer pay time I always have to cross check it against the manufactures warranty time. A lot of times the All Data time is less than warranty time , they will post the warranty time and the customer pay time together and who knows whose *** they pull them out of ! Had a new hire that would use some Fisher Price scan tool and have a All Data page printed out in is hand and wonder why he couldn't find the right wire color or pin out for a connector Rant Over

 

[WhiffySpark]

How do you guys feel about alldata, it basically quotes the price on any job for the customer, but actual work will definitely go faster. Got a couple of estimates and they are very similar.

The time could be based on steps that "may" not needed. For example, one could have changed out a hub seal without removing the whole hub, which first you have to remove the rotors, calipers, etc etc. I asked about changing the seal and they added me another 30 minutes each side.

I could have change the seal myself in 30 minutes too, and I am not a pro.

At least when a shop has alldata, I know they get to read the torque values recommended by the manufacturer. Whether they follow this or not is another story.

What are you trying to ask? What is your estimate for

I've used all data. We have shop key pro Mitchell and identifix now

 

[cg81]

I use alldata for labor times at work. I compare it to ford labor times and it usually reflects a fair price. It is better than pulling a number out of a hat, and should reflect to a customer they are probably not getting overcharged for the labor.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

In my (old and limited) experience, Alldata is set up fro shops with techs that are being payed "book" time. Most of the work can be done faster. It errs on the less than optimistic side of labor.

Tommy

 

[79firebird]

All data is ok for back yard shops most shops around me use mitchell on demand wich is way better. When i worked at the body shop i used it all the time most wiring in alldata is incorrect. I my self have access to both and never use alldata

 

[mfewtrail]

Have used Mitchell and Alldata. I like both of them. The colored wiring in Mitchell is helpful. Sometimes one or the other might have the more useful information. Most jobs I looked at labor for generally called for the same amount of time in either.

Autozone offers free repair manuals if you sign up. I would not expect to find much stuff on newer cars there though. For older ones, they can be helpful. They cover core information and not a lot of specifics

Libraries sometimes give access to Mitchell or Alldata. They also use other online manuals as well. If you search around you can find login info for those. The ones I've seen were similar to what autozone provides, but had way more detailed information on older vehicles.

 

[dynamike]

"Alldata" is misleading...should be called "Somedata" b/c that's what it gives you! I couldn't imagine being a non-pro & trying to fill in the gaps in their info with what you know. Good luck man, you'll need it. IMO, can't beat the manufacturers info!