Revue Technique Automobile repair manuals (RTA, up to 2015)
The French company ETAI provides technical documentation for numerous car manufacturers and suppliers to the automotive industry. Since 1946 it also publishes various professional magazines, including the Revue Technique Automobile.
In each issue of this technical publicatrion, a full maintenance and repair study is included for a specific car model, which is later published as a separate manual. This provides much more information than the owner's handbook, supplied by the manufacturer with a new car.
The various chapters describe in detail the history, model changes, adjustment, troubleshooting, maintenance and repair.
The books in the series Revue Technique Automobile are intended for professional users as well as for experienced DIY mechanics.
More information on the renewed series "Revue Technique Automobile", published since 2015.
Publisher: ETAI, Antony (F)
Size: 27 x 21 cm (10.6 x 8.25 in) , paperpack
Language: These books are in French, but some titles were also published in Italian and Spanish.
Automatic transmissions and modern gearboxes: Because special tools and adjustment equipment are required, the overhaul of automatic transmissions and modern gearboxes (specialist work!) is not covered in these books, but they usually provide instructions for replacing the ATF fluid and adjusting the controls.
Click here for specific books on automatic transmissions.
Wiring diagrams: RTA manuals contain clear wiring diagrams. For older vehicles these show the complete electrical system but for modern cars, with their complicated electronics, only the most important circuits are shown (fuses, engine, lights, etc.).
What information does a Revue Technique Automobile (RTA) provide?
Revue Technique manuals cover maintenance and repair of the engine (including the timing gear, cylinder head, lubrication, water pump and fabrication system), clutch, transmission, drive shafts, steering system, suspension, wheel hubs, brakes, electrical equipment and the bodywork.
In addition to adjustment data, these books also contain wiring diagrams, a technical inspection guide as well as a chapter with operating and maintenance instructions.
A Revue Technique Automobile (in this example for the Renault Safrane) contains generally the following chapters:
DRIVING AND MAINTENANCE
Driving
Instrument panel
Driver's seat
Starting the engine
Gearbox
Lighting and signalling
Windshield wipers and washers
Air intakes - heating - ventilation
Opening windows and doors
Mirrors
Seats and rear seat
Maintenance
Engine compartment
Periodic maintenance
Changing a wheel
Replacing lamps
Maintenance program
Identification of the models
Jacking up and towing
ENGINE
Detailed technical data
Motor adjustment
- Valve clearance
Work without removing the engine
Timing gear
- Removal of the timing belt
- Setting the timing and refitting the belt
Cylinder head
- Removing the cylinder head
- Disassembling the cylinder head
- Control and revision
- Assembling the cylinder head
- Refitting the cylinder head
Removing and fitting the engine-transmission block
Repairing the engine
Disassembly of the engine
Checking and assembling the engine
Lubrication
- Removing and fitting the oil pump
- Checking the oil pressure
Cooling
- Removing and fitting the water pump
Draining, filling and venting the cooling system
Diesel engines
Fuel supply
- Removing and fitting the injection pump
- Setting the timing of the injection pump
- Injection pump adjustment
CLUTCH
Replacing the clutch plate or mechanism
GEARBOX
Detailed technical data
Removing and fitting the gearbox
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Detailed technical data
Draining, filling and checking the fluid level
Checking the oil pressure
Removing and fitting the automatic transmission
Removing and fitting the hydraulic control block
DRIVE SHAFTS
Detailed technical data
Removal of a drive shaft
Fitting a drive shaft
Replacement of a sleeve (gearbox side)
Sleeve replacement (wheel side)
STEERING SYSTEM
Detailed technical data
Removing and installing the steering column
Removing and fitting the steering gear
Removing and installing the servo pump
Checking the oil pressure
Bleeding the hydraulic circuit
SUSPENSION - FRONT TRAIN - HUBS
Detailed technical data
Front suspension
- Removing and fitting a strut
- Disassembling - assembling a strut
- Removing and fitting a suspension triangle
- Removing and fitting a pivot
- Removing and fitting the subframe
Front axle
- Checking and adjusting the geometry
Front hubs
- Replacing a wheel bearing
SUSPENSION - REAR AXLE - HUBS
Detailed technical data
Suspension
- Replacement of a shock absorber
Rear axle
- Removing and fitting a suspension arm
- Checking and adjusting the geometry
Rear hubs
- Replacement of a wheel bearing
BRAKES
Detailed technical data
Front brakes
- Replacement of brake pads
- Removing and fitting a brake caliper
- Disk replacement
Rear brakes
- Replacement of the brake pads
- Removing and fitting a brake caliper
- Disk replacement
Brake control
- Removing and fitting the master brake cylinder
- Removing and fitting the servo
- Servo tightness control
- Adjusting the parking brake
- Bleeding the hydraulic braking system
ABS system
- Removing and fitting a wheel speed sensor
- Removing and fitting the hydraulic block and calculation unit
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Detailed technical data
Fuses
Alternator
- Removing and fitting the v-belt
- Removing and fitting the alternator
Starter motor
- Removing and fitting the starter motor
Equipment
- Removing and fitting the instrument panel
- Removing and fitting a headlight
- Removing and fitting the front wiper mechanism
- Removing and fitting the rear wiper mechanism
Wiring diagrams
MISCELLANEOUS
Detailed technical data
Dashboard
- Removing and fitting the dashboard
Air conditioning
- Removing and fitting the compressor
Airbags
- Removing and fitting the airbag module (driver's side)
- Removing and fitting the airbag module (passenger side)
Seat belt pretensioners
- Removing and fitting a pyrotechnic pretensioner
BODYWORK
Detailed technical data
Front
- Removing and fitting the bonnet
- Removing and fitting the front bumper
- Removing and fitting the grille
- Removing and fitting a front wing
Doors
- Removing and fitting the front door trim
- Removing and fitting the rear door trim
- Removing and fitting a door front or rear)
- Replacement of an outside door handle
- Replacement of a door lock
- Power window mechanism
Windows
- Removing and fitting a door window
Back of the car
- Removing and fitting the tailgate
- Removing and fitting the bumper
Alphabetic index
THE TECHNICAL CONTROL GUIDE
The 125 points of the (French) technical control
Vehicle identification
Braking system
Steering
View
Lights, signalling
Suspension
Structure, body
Equipment
Mechanical components
Pollution, noise level
RTA manuals describe maintenance and repair in detail.
RTA manuals contain clear wiring diagrams.