The best repair manuals?
03-28-2004, 08:21 PM
#1
Launching!
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The best repair manuals? Haynes? Chilton? others? I've noticed the Haynes only covers 1995-2000 Firebirds and I "think" 2001 would be the same? Maybe not...
03-28-2004, 09:10 PM
#3
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If you can get a dealer service manual for your specific year, nothing will be more detailed than that. Haynes and Chilton usually try to cover more than one car per book and in doing so they don't mention vehicle specific items.
Not to mention the layout of Haynes and Chilton suck in my opinion. If you ever read one you'll see what I mean. When they go through an explination these manuals will often refer you to other chapters instead of telling you what to do. This is frustrating because of all the page flipping and looking back and forth for info. Even more frustrating is when this happens 2 and 3 times in one step. For example, "Step 4" might read "see chapter 4 for alternator removal", then you go to chapter 4 to read how to remove the alternator and step 2 of Alternator removal is "see step 3 of belt removal. By the time you've flipped around 4 different chapters you've forgoten what the hell you were trying to do in the first place.
Yes, I'm ranting but I'd rather you feel my pain now rather then when you're under you car and wiping you're @ss with the Chilton book cause you've just realized thats all its good for.
-Steve
Not to mention the layout of Haynes and Chilton suck in my opinion. If you ever read one you'll see what I mean. When they go through an explination these manuals will often refer you to other chapters instead of telling you what to do. This is frustrating because of all the page flipping and looking back and forth for info. Even more frustrating is when this happens 2 and 3 times in one step. For example, "Step 4" might read "see chapter 4 for alternator removal", then you go to chapter 4 to read how to remove the alternator and step 2 of Alternator removal is "see step 3 of belt removal. By the time you've flipped around 4 different chapters you've forgoten what the hell you were trying to do in the first place.
Yes, I'm ranting but I'd rather you feel my pain now rather then when you're under you car and wiping you're @ss with the Chilton book cause you've just realized thats all its good for.
-Steve
03-28-2004, 09:40 PM
#4
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I have found that the haynes book for our cars is inaccurate. Its not bad for simple things (can't beat the $14 price) but it really isn't the way to go for big jobs (ie missing some torque specs for transmission install, things like that.
03-29-2004, 01:48 AM
#6
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check out www.helminc.com
Helm prints the official GM service manuals. They have way more detail than you will ever need.
Helm prints the official GM service manuals. They have way more detail than you will ever need.
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03-29-2004, 08:24 AM
#8
Copy & Paste Moderator
I have the GM service manuals (3 green books). Its expensive, but worth it. I got them for less from a fellow board member who sold his Camaro for a Z06. Maybe you can post something in the "Parts Wanted" section to see if anything turns up.
--VIP1
--VIP1
