Service Manuals?

[elgato]

The Haynes and Chilton manuals seem a bit weak. Are the Workshop Manuals sold online for around $40 significantly better? Any recommendations on the CD's or downloadable manuals?

Thanks

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

ummm my dad bought a hard bound 3 ring binder ford manual and it was about $100

 

[OilPatch197]

The new repair manuals are written for DUMMIES!

Just look at my old chiltons manual that covers 68-72, LOTS of pictures and they go FAR in detail on the cars.

The newer softcovers just write it off as "service by a qualified mechanic"(BS!)

Man with the old Chiltons, you can take a transmission apart(auto or manual) the Rear end and do almost anything. The newer books LACK this information, and the PHOTOS are not as detailed as the assembly diagrams of the older books.

You actually knew how your car worked. Hell the new books don't even describe how the ECM works.

 

[shadetree]

The cd's on e-bay are factory shop manuals. You can find them for around $20 bucks or so.shady

 

[Will]

I have the old books going back to the 50s--my dad got them when he was in his 20s. They are not very good either, though admitedly, cars had very few parts. They are still pretty incomplete. Newer Chiltons are really bad.

I get the factory books from helminc.com, or from the factory if they don't work with Helm. I can usually find them on Ebay so try there first.

I have never bought a CD manual. I have no opinion or knowledge about it.

 

[Mac]

I've always gone with the Ford manuals from Helms Inc. Cheap on E-Bay, best there is.
Dave

 

[Jspafford]

I have the helms manuals for all the cars I own. Ebay for less than $40 for both.

 

[RobbieD]

I got all of my Ford manuals on eBay. Patience, and sniping, is the key to getting them cheap.

Chiltons and Haynes have their place. They're good as an "introduction primer" for someone who hasn't done mechanical work before.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

i mainly use my hanes and chiltons for torque specs, otherwise they are pretty much useless for any indepth project like setting up gears of rebuilding transmissions.

 

[dude772]

Ive got the ford manual for an 85 ranger is you want it.

 

[daniel3507]

i found a Helm service manual on ebay (one of the 6 inch thick ones). i was pretty excited about it and was wining till i got distracted by King of the Hill and lost at the last minute. ended up going for 41 bucks. they seem harder to find than i thought.

 

[RobbieD]

i found a Helm service manual on ebay (one of the 6 inch thick ones). i was pretty excited about it and was wining till i got distracted by King of the Hill and lost at the last minute. ended up going for 41 bucks. they seem harder to find than i thought.

Patience, Grasshopper, if you can. Unless you need it "yesterday", just keep checking and following the auctions. The biggest factor is whether or not somebody else wants the same manual. Sooner or later, you'll find the year you want listed cheap, and nobody else will be bidding on it. The best I ever did on one, was getting an EVTM for 5 bucks, including shipping. Main sets I set a target price of up to $20 shipped, and built a manual collection that way over about a year's time. Good luck!

 

[daniel3507]

i need some opinions on http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1993-Ford-Ranger-Aerostar-Explorer-Service-Shop-Manuals_W0QQitemZ220400651651QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMo tors_Manuals_Literature?hash=item3350e70d83&_trksi d=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1171|65%3A12|39%3A1 |240%3A1318
is that what i should be looking for or are the bigger ones even better than that?

 

[RobbieD]

That's the right set. The price is kinda steep, but Priority Mail shipping is included, though. The covers don't look that great, but the contents is what counts.

Just so you know, besides those two volumes there are two more manuals needed to cover EVERYTHING about the truck in-depth. There's also a wiring diagram book (called an EVTM) and there's the Engine/Emissions Diagnosis manual.

The Shop Manual books in the auction are the best ones to start with.