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?"

 

[1LE]

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

If you're going to buy the CD, you need to own the factory manual, or you become the pirate It's technically a backup CD for those that own the factory manual...

 

[EclipseGSX012]

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

Thank you for your help. Yeah chilton is kinda confusing so when i get the money ill just buy the manual cd from manualcd.com.

Once again thanks alot

 

[doug]

If you're going to buy the CD, you need to own the factory manual, or you become the pirate.

Correct. And I do have both, but if somebody is determined just to get a CD, I'd still rather them get it from Vineet than from someone else.

 

[luv2rallye]

Chilton's and Hayes are notorious for incorrect and missing information. On my 2nd car (66 mustang) Chiltons said to torque the connecting rod cap bolts to 43 ft.lbs. So I broke 4 of them in half. When going to the dealer to get new ones I asked the mechanic and he said 18-20 max and why was I so stupid to torque them to 43?. I pointed to it in my Chilton's and said "it says right here 43"! He promptly showed me the factory manual and said "Well it says right here 18-20! We get guys like you with their aftermarket manuals in here all the time."

And in the Hayes, under A/C repair it just said "See dealer". The aftermarket manuals are 1/3 the cost and you get exactly what you pay for (not to mention they cover many models and years which means it won't match yours exactly if even close). I still always buy the factory shop manual (nothing beats a completely bound, guananteed correct for your model/year hardcopy you can have with you at the car) but with the factory manual now on CD, it's not a bad 2nd choice if the factory one is too expensive for you.

 

[Defiant]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7950230357&category=34217

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[Alphashadow]

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

What is the difference between the CD and the Hard copy?
I have the DSM CD but I struggle with the electrical layout on the screeen?
I ordered the Hayes so that I might have a better understanding of what I am looking at, with the help of the pictures.

 

[steve]

The hardcopy manuals don't have scanning errors or missing pages.

 

[Alphashadow]

^OH SNAP, I did not realize the CD copy was incomplete. Makes sense why I struggle with it. Are there any reproductions of the Factory Service Manual (FSM) available for purchase?