How much better is the shop manual than the Chilton's/Haynes?

[tylerk]

I keep noticing that the Haynes and/or Chilton's manuals seem to be sorely lacking in certain areas. How much better is the shop manual? Is it "worth it?"

 

[97GS-TSpyder]

the way i look at it is they are using a shop manual for a reason...nto a chilton or haynes...while the chilton and haynes both have great info im sur ethe shop manual is thorough in points the others lack...

 

[steve]

Look at the thickness of the FSM vs an aftermarket manual. Keep in mind that the FSM doesn't have any of the general BS in it that the aftermarket ones do, so all those extra pages are useful information that missing from the others.

I buy the FSM with every car I get. Even if I'm not doing the work myself I at least know what's involved.

Steve

 

[Lunch_Box]

Where can you pick up a fsm manual.

 

[1LE]

About 10 billion times better Factory manual is the ONLY way to fly!

 

[flinguist]

Where can you pick up a fsm manual.

Look on EBAY. I just got a set for 105 shipped.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6762&item=7949352160&rd=1 From what I've read they're normally about $125.

 

[theSicKness]

i got my talon set off ebay for around 50 bucks

 

[speedracer91]

i have a hole in my pocket :thumbdown i own a DSM

 

[dave99gst]

http://www.worldparts.com/tallmits/

call and mention club DSM for a discount. hopfully ya talk to Jeremy

 

[Eliteracingghmi]

While the Shop Manual is 100 times more in-depth than a Haynes manual, I've noticed that the Haynes manual will sometimes give better pictures or a little extra insight on a topic. If I had to pick one or the other, definitely the Shop Manual, but I recommend getting both.

 

[doug]

Shop manual is tons better. I picked up a set cheap off DSMtrader for like $20 bucks. Then I got the backup CD.

 

[Defiant]

If you get Talon instead of Eclipse manuals, they're much cheaper. And essentially, no different.

 

[greycar]

The Hayes is made by a bunch of r-tards and the factory is 10000000times more in depth so you can actually see whats going on, absolutly no comparison

 

[blackGSX2g]

Yea, I didn't like Hayne's/Chiltons at all. I ended up getting the CD that has the factory manual on it. Well worth it as it actually gives you torque figures for almost every bolt you can think of under your hood. If you are just doing basic things, the Hayne's is better than nothing...but if you are doing anything extensive, the factory manual has far better diagrams and specifications.

Also, the CD has Mitsu's CAPs program on it, so you can get diagrams of anything in the car showing every nut and bolt...and it even gives you the part number so you can walk into the dealership and spend your money even faster! You don't have to deal with service people that don't know what the hell you are talking about when you need parts

 

[doug]

You don't have to deal with service people that don't know what the hell you are talking about when you need parts

Werd!

 

[EclipseGSX012]

hmmm interesting. Thanks i gotta pick up factory manual book.

 

[EclipseGSX012]

If you get Talon instead of Eclipse manuals, they're much cheaper. And essentially, no different.

I know it is stupid question but where do i get Talon manauls??

 

[Darksyne]

The factory service manual is awesome. Nothing like curling up in bed reviewing the procedure for engine removal

 

[Defiant]

I know it is stupid question but where do i get Talon manauls??

Same place you get everything. eBay.

 

[I-luv-em-all]

, u know it.

 

[EclipseGSX012]

Same place you get everything. eBay.

Thanks alot for your help

:edit:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7949072862&category=34223
is this okay? because i dont want to buy the wrong thing and cant do anything about it.

Thanks once again

 

[doug]

That looks like the CD that somebody copied from Vinny at manualcd.com and redistributed. I'd rather support the DSMer that actually took the time to scan all the pages of the service manual than somebody that just copied the CD. I can't be sure it's the same thing, but I doubt somebody ELSE actually created a service manual CD from scratch too.

 

[EclipseGSX012]

That looks like the CD that somebody copied from Vinny at manualcd.com and redistributed. I'd rather support the DSMer that actually took the time to scan all the pages of the service manual than somebody that just copied the CD. I can't be sure it's the same thing, but I doubt somebody ELSE actually created a service manual CD from scratch too.

yeah i understand what you mean. I would love to get the book but cant seem to find it for Talon. So i just get the cd because i have Chilton book as back up.

 

[yugotdonkey]

I got the cd and the haynes, the cd is much better with procedure and tells you all the specefications you could ever want. The haynes is kind of iffy, i've heard that some of their methods and step by steps aren't even accurate. I don't remember specifically what. They have some good pictures in there though.

 

[doug]

So i just get the cd because i have Chilton book as back up.

No, what I meant was if you're gonna get a CD, get it directly from manualcd.com instead of the pirate on eBay.