Repair manuals for '92 Ranger--which is best?

[rdsrds123]

Well, it's time to start maintaining my Ranger, and I need a repair book, or two. Which ones should I get. I see Chiltons and Haynes everywhere. Is there a Ford Factory book? Any others I should consider? Thanks!!!

 

[elmwood]

Well, it's time to start maintaining my Ranger, and I need a repair book, or two. Which ones should I get. I see Chiltons and Haynes everywhere. Is there a Ford Factory book? Any others I should consider? Thanks!!!

I just looked on Amazon and they have a few nice ones.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Go to a used bookstore and get a selection of them for pennies on the dollar vs new.

Then as you work on your truck and find errors in them just keep working your way through them until you find one that got that section right or explains it the best.

Once in awhile you can stumble into dealer books there too.

 

[cvar]

I bought a used set of Ford Factory Service Manuals via Craigslist.com ($15). There are precious few places online where those are posted. (Eg. http://visualbits.net/ )

 

[Mark_88]

I've used a Haynes manual since owning the 88 and it has helped, but I really think you need the service manuals if you can get them...I've never seen them myself so I don't know about pics and explanations...

Haynes is a bit limited if you don't know what you are doing because many times they do not have the pics of what you (usually) need to know...but that is where experience comes in...

You could actually save yourself all that time and money of reading the manuals by going to a junkyard and doing whatever it is you want to do...you gain experience without screwing up your vehicle...however, that doesn't help you when you have to/want to do a roadside repair...

But all of the above will build your understanding and confidence over time...

 

[adsm08]

If you can acquire a factory book that is the best one to have. 90-92 should be largely the same, so any of those years will work as most, if not all, of the relevant information is contained there.

 

[ab_slack]

I find the Haynes and Chilton books maddening. The multiple model years and while they can be helpful they often seem to have the stuff I know and lack the piece of info I need.

The OEM books can sometimes have their own headaches in terms of organization but usually there is detail in there if you can find it.

I think this is what you want with 92 http://www.ebay.com/itm/1992-Ford-R...anuals_Literature&hash=item5d36142e46&vxp=mtr

there are a few I see listed in a quick net search. One headache, at least with the older Ford manuals like my 87 BII you need several books and diagrams to get most of the info.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I have a haynes or chilton book for every vehicle I own...

IMHO, about all they are really good for is torque specs and soaking up spilled oil. And the more I've worked on vehicles the less I go searching for the proper spec, I just use the good ol' German torque spec: "Gudntite."

I would like to get some factory service manuals or my hands on a subscription to Alldata or Michell just for the wiring diagrams (light years better than the stuff in the haynes and chilton books that looks like a child doodling with a crayon and it about as useful).

 

[ElectraRider]

I have manuals for both my 89 b II & 98 ford ranger, ford shop manuals can't beat them
but the Chilton manual gave me the wire color in the wiring diagrams, so I use both of them.

 

[Chris_North]

Pretty sure I have a Haynes manual that a friend gave to me. Similarly I find it nearly useless. The only thing I consistently use it for is remembering which cylinder is which. Despite this I always keep it in my truck.

I also have a subscription to alldatadiy. Not entirely impressed with it, but it has been useful a few times.

TBH out of these googling and this forum have been most useful as far as references and information sources go, but these you have to take with a larger (or smaller? Whatever's worse) grain of salt.

 

[tmcalavy]

Chilton = vague. Haynes = vague, with pictures. Go for the factory Ford manuals if you can find them.

 

[rdsrds123]

You guys sound just like me! Thanks, I actually expected replies with this same advice. Nothing new with my new Ranger regarding repair books. And thanks for that link. I'll buy it.

 

[rdsrds123]

I ended up going online to my local library for a repair manual. They have a very detailed and apparently excellent Mitchell manual available for the downloading, if one has a library card (which I do!). I suppose anyone else could gain the same access by calling the library and filling out an application for a library card. Google Prince Georges library Maryland, if interested. I think it is very much worth the effort.

 

[Andy D]

I ended up going online to my local library for a repair manual. They have a very detailed and apparently excellent Mitchell manual available for the downloading, if one has a library card (which I do!). I suppose anyone else could gain the same access by calling the library and filling out an application for a library card. Google Prince Georges library Maryland, if interested. I think it is very much worth the effort.

Thank you for the idea. The local library is pretty good.

 

[SenorNoob]

If you use the Haynes/Chilton (they're made by the same company) then be aware that I have 2 books covering different vehicles that BOTH have the cylinder designation/firing order wrong in the book. It's pretty sad.