Anyone Purch a Factory Shop Manual Download on ebay? Good or Bad?

[morsetaper2]

Looking for a shop manual for my 2011 Ranger. There are a few hard copies on ebay for $175-$200+ depending on seller and whether the wiring manual is included. And a few pdf downloads for cheap $$.

I'd really rather have a hard bound manual in the garage, but until the cost gets to a point I can stomach it, I suppose a .pdf would do.

There are a few sellers selling a link to a .pdf download. These sellers have good feedback but tell you little of what the source of the manual is. Is it really a download of the Genuine "Ford Ranger Factory Service Manual" in a pdf? Or an incomplete chinese translation/version of one? Just curious if anyone has purchased the download and if you were happy with it?

Is it really the Factory Shop Manual? Or a 2nd party production? Is it complete?

Two examples:

$9.90 Ford Factory Service Repair Manual Download - ebay seller cartoh81 w/ 90 feedback

$9.00 FORD OFFICIAL FACTORY REPAIR SERVICE MANUAL *MANY MODELS/YEARS* OEM WORKSHOP - ebay seller thomoh72 - 49 feedback

 

[dieseldane]

I haven't come across these, but would like to hear from someone who knows about them as well.

 

[Mac]

I'd sure be a bit careful of both, seem the same. Unless they show a picture of the actual Helms front, I'd beware. All of mine have been the hard copies from Helms, might be expensive even used but there is always a market back on E-Bay for them.
Dave

 

[doorgunner]

I'd think that they would have to "leave out" some info to keep the copywrites from sueing them for reproducing the OEM manuals....

clymer/chiltons/etc. can help a little....but don't do enough for me....I've spent hours on the web to find the info I need.....it's usually great folks in Forums who are willing to share their knowledge who provide the best info when it comes to solving one of those "head-scratching problems"!

ADHOL........I think that's the name of the site.......let's you purchase some really good colored wiring diagrams for your vehichle at a reasonable price....you can download and print out the pages that you need.

 

[morsetaper2]

I'd think that they would have to "leave out" some info to keep the copywrites from sueing them for reproducing the OEM manuals....

I was thinking that might be the case also.

I'm in no rush to get one now, with my truck being less than two years old I would hope I'd be a few yrs away from really needing a shop manual. I just need info about capacities, basic maintenence. and torque values, etc. Between the owners manual, and the forum here, I haven't really needed it just yet.

For $10, I may give it a shot. I will email the seller and ask more details.

 

[Bob C. of Indiana]

I was thinking that might be the case also.

I'm in no rush to get one now, with my truck being less than two years old I would hope I'd be a few yrs away from really needing a shop manual. I just need info about capacities, basic maintenence. and torque values, etc. Between the owners manual, and the forum here, I haven't really needed it just yet.

For $10, I may give it a shot. I will email the seller and ask more details.

So were you able to get any info from the sellers? I'm curious myself as it would be handy to have...Thanks

 

[morsetaper2]

So were you able to get any info from the sellers? I'm curious myself as it would be handy to have...Thanks

No response from seller to my question asking if was a genuine Helm Ford factory manual.

 

[Frank The Tank]

I can't say I've ever needed a shop manual other than to rebuild a trans.... Most everything is on the interweb these days with a video and a guy showing you what not to do the first try.