When you purchased that new (or new to you) car, there is one thing that is worth its weight in gold: the owner’s manual. While it may not seem like the most riveting reading, be sure not to lose this little book. For those of you who have never even cracked open this magic manual, or may have lost it in the tumult of your garage, find it right away. Dig through those piles, and flip through a few pages. Here are some of the benefits to uncover.

It’s not written in Ancient Greek. – Luckily, you don’t need to be a mechanical genius to understand what is described in the owner’s manual. The writers do a good job of making the information understandable, and include many pictures and tables in addition to the written descriptions of parts and procedures.

It can tell you what that knob actually does. – Lately, our cars have begun to look like spaceships. All those knobs and buttons can get confusing.  Luckily, the owner’s manual will often have a picture and label for each display part. Maybe you’ve never been able to turn on and off a certain light. Crack open that owner’s manual, and the mystery can be solved.

It can tell you which bulb of the 120 currently facing you in the store to buy. – Replacing a headlight or taillight is a fairly easy process (the directions for which you can also find in the owner’s manual), but things could be significantly less successful if you purchase the wrong bulb. Your owner’s manual will give you the specific bulb number that your car takes, and keep that lost and bewildered look off your face.

Next time your headlight or taillight goes out, pull out that owner’s manual, look up what bulb you need, follow the directions for replacing it, and then bask in the feeling of automotive accomplishment once you successfully replace it yourself.