Searching for Topics Using the "Search" Function

[MoxM38]

I am struggling to find the most efficient way to search the articles or posts for information on a particular topic. When I type in a word search in the search window (left of screen under "Search Articles," I constantly get "no matches found." Even the simplest of terms that are input and I know they exist, it still comes up with no matches. I'm clearly missing something....

It's probably something very simple, anyone got two cents on this?

[kenperkins]

I just use Google, most of the information that comes up is from this forum anyway and g503

[RonD2]

Hi Rick,
I also use google a lot for the reason Ken said, but inside this forum I get a lot better hits when using the "Search" button at the top of the screen (in between the "Forum FAQ" and "Usergroups" buttons). I have no clue why that search button returns better hits than the "Search Articles" button on the left side.

I'd add that with all the mis-spellings of common words and the many different words that folks use to describe the same things, searching is always a challenge. The best searches for me happen when I combine a couple of key words in the search box and click the "search for all terms" button. As you get better at it you'll learn how to focus the search hits by picking "better" words.

I've also noticed that just entering a number by itself usually doesn't return any hits. I always thought the easiest way to get to a topic list would be to enter the part number, but it doesn't seem to work that way. Don't ask me why.

Good luck!

[Kendall]

When you do a google search include the term "willysmjeep" to assist with a search of this forum.

[OKCM38CDN]

Are you choosing the forum to search, i.e. Technical Forum, For Sale, etc...

That narrows the search down...

[Jeff_Lee]

RonD2's suggestion is a little bit of magic! Use the search button between Forum FAQ and Usergroup.
I have been playing with this and it does work a lot better than the other Search tab. Limit the search words and use the most uncommon descriptive word . for example, if you search "top bow" you will get all the hits for "top" and "bow". There are a million posts with "top" in them so you get a huge return... just use the word "bow", a much less common word, and you get mostly top bow hits, and and a few hits for things that are unrelated, but have the word "bow" in it ( my connecting rod had a bow from impact....)

Cheers to Ron D!

[4x4M38]

Don’t use the Search Articles at left. It has never worked for me.

Use the Search button directly above.