Haynes or Chilton?
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I've had good luck using Haynes manuals for general repair work. I personally found the pictures and diagrams a little easier to follow than the Chiltons.
depends on what your expections are/what you are trying to achieve, sometimes, Haynes is better than nothing (prefer Chilton though).
I tend to go for factory manuals regardless, complete/authoritative information.
Q.
I tend to go for factory manuals regardless, complete/authoritative information.
Q.
Q: I usually buy factory manuals when I purchase a new vehicle because I plan on keeping it a long, long time. When I buy a used car I usually pick up a Chilton or Haynes to help with the little things. I can't justify the price of a FM when I'm not sure how long I'll have the car. The Haynes manual for my Buick leaves a lot to the imagination (but is better than nothing). I was wondering if Chilton is any better?
NO, Chilton is no better. Why not pick up a used factory manual for your used car on eBay or Craigs? Costs is down and book quality is up.
What brand car? Lots of FSMs are CDs or online now.
Haynes wastes a lot of time showing you how to hone cylinders but the wiring diagrams are copies from microfiche, 4 to a page, and only for a "typical year".
For FREE you can register your car on autozone and get some mitchell-on-demand through their website. Your local library might have a similar subscription service.
Haynes wastes a lot of time showing you how to hone cylinders but the wiring diagrams are copies from microfiche, 4 to a page, and only for a "typical year".
For FREE you can register your car on autozone and get some mitchell-on-demand through their website. Your local library might have a similar subscription service.
They're now both owned by the same parent company, IIRC, and they're both pretty useless. I've always found both of them to be chock full of errors, pictures that don't apply to the correct model year, and outright misinformation.
IMO, its worth the $$ to find and buy the manufacturer's Factory Service Manual instead of a generic like Haynes/Chiltons.
IMO, its worth the $$ to find and buy the manufacturer's Factory Service Manual instead of a generic like Haynes/Chiltons.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
What brand car? Lots of FSMs are CDs or online now.
Haynes wastes a lot of time showing you how to hone cylinders but the wiring diagrams are copies from microfiche, 4 to a page, and only for a "typical year".
For FREE you can register your car on autozone and get some mitchell-on-demand through their website. Your local library might have a similar subscription service.
+1 on FSM manuals online, best $5 I've spent on my neon. 1217 pages.
Why the manufacturers don't sell them this way I don't know. I imagine they would make far more money selling a download for $5 than books for $100's.
What brand car? Lots of FSMs are CDs or online now.
Haynes wastes a lot of time showing you how to hone cylinders but the wiring diagrams are copies from microfiche, 4 to a page, and only for a "typical year".
For FREE you can register your car on autozone and get some mitchell-on-demand through their website. Your local library might have a similar subscription service.
+1 on FSM manuals online, best $5 I've spent on my neon. 1217 pages.
Why the manufacturers don't sell them this way I don't know. I imagine they would make far more money selling a download for $5 than books for $100's.
Neither. Factory manual is the only way to go.
I've seen just too many errors in Chilton and Haynes manuals. Remember - factory manuals are SPECIFIC to your car and year whereas the afermarket books cover several years at once - mistakes are so common that I cannot trust them.
I've seen just too many errors in Chilton and Haynes manuals. Remember - factory manuals are SPECIFIC to your car and year whereas the afermarket books cover several years at once - mistakes are so common that I cannot trust them.
Haynes is good for more layman's terms and has more pictures.
Chilton's is good for more verbage and technicality.
The factory manual.. can't be beat. You really do need basic understanding of electronics though.
Chilton's is good for more verbage and technicality.
The factory manual.. can't be beat. You really do need basic understanding of electronics though.
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
They're now both owned by the same parent company, IIRC, and they're both pretty useless. I've always found both of them to be chock full of errors, pictures that don't apply to the correct model year, and outright misinformation.
Way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I really liked Chilton's manuals, but all the Haynes I've bought to work on family and friends cars were just as 440Magnum said above. I will never buy another one.
They're now both owned by the same parent company, IIRC, and they're both pretty useless. I've always found both of them to be chock full of errors, pictures that don't apply to the correct model year, and outright misinformation.
Way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I really liked Chilton's manuals, but all the Haynes I've bought to work on family and friends cars were just as 440Magnum said above. I will never buy another one.
Definitely check your local public library 
Happened to find old Chilton manuals for my father's Honda Civic CRX hatchback 1986 and he said it did the trick, got him what he needed.
Now if you are needing wire diagrams, usually you can find them easier online
"wiring diagram" year make and model
in a google/yahoo/ask search
Happened to find old Chilton manuals for my father's Honda Civic CRX hatchback 1986 and he said it did the trick, got him what he needed.Now if you are needing wire diagrams, usually you can find them easier online
"wiring diagram" year make and model
in a google/yahoo/ask search
I use OnDemand5 for the Saturn and the Van.
I have a factory service manual for the Altima.
I have a factory service manual for the Altima.
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I bought the FSM for my wife's 99 Wrangler in 99. About $100 Best investment I ever made. DC organized it well.
I have some older (80's) Ford FSM's and they appeared all over the place. IIRC (I haven't looked at them in over a decade) to cover topics and crossed many models. Like Electrical FSM, Body FSM, Chassis FSM ..etc..etc. I guess it's as broad as it is long, but you buy more manuals for any specific model.
Haynes for common DIY stuff. Totally worthless for most of the stuff you need some pathway for diagnosis if you're blind. I haven't had much experience with Chilton since the 70's.
I've used (was linked to) AZ's downloads. It was great in tracking down a bad coolant sensor on my OBDI Caravan when the fan wouldn't turn on.
I have some older (80's) Ford FSM's and they appeared all over the place. IIRC (I haven't looked at them in over a decade) to cover topics and crossed many models. Like Electrical FSM, Body FSM, Chassis FSM ..etc..etc. I guess it's as broad as it is long, but you buy more manuals for any specific model.
Haynes for common DIY stuff. Totally worthless for most of the stuff you need some pathway for diagnosis if you're blind. I haven't had much experience with Chilton since the 70's.
I've used (was linked to) AZ's downloads. It was great in tracking down a bad coolant sensor on my OBDI Caravan when the fan wouldn't turn on.
I've found Haynes to be the easier to follow. FSMs have the most information.
Haynes over Chiltons for me. I've done pretty much everything with them combined, though. Even rebuilt my entire 2.0 4 cyl in my old Mazda with nothing more than a Chilton's manual. I never have purchased a FSM before, so no experience to elaborate on.
I'm disappointed they don't make more manuals for newer model cars.
I'm disappointed they don't make more manuals for newer model cars.
I had Haynes manuals amd Chiltons. Best I found were Bentley manuals. I have PDF files for the wiring and vacuum routing on my 20 yr old cars. Being on a forum for 7 yrs is my main asset.
The Chilton and Haynes manuals are identical. The only thing different are the covers.
I bought a CD for my Accord on e-bay and I couldn't get it to open. I contacted the seller and he sent me instructions (begrudgingly). I was able to open it that one time but when I went to open it again I couldn't. If anybody has any idea what I'm doing wrong I'd appreciate it. (My computer skills are not the best). Thanks
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