Chilton's Manuals....

[TODD 2000 V6 CAMARO]

Does anyone here have one of these for our cars? Fred, I think you said you did. I was looking on Amazon last night, thinking about ordering it, but the only customer reviews on there gave it only one star out of like 5. They said it had way too much info that was irrelevant to their cars. Have ya'll experienced the same thing with yours, or are you happy with it? Is there a better manual I could get instead? I thought I would get opinions here before I ordered it. Thanks for any input.

[soCalTA]

I have the Haynes. Not sure how much better or worse one is compared to the other.

[Christopherrr]

the only manual you need is this forum...

Ken, Fred, Norman, Tracy, N20LT4Bird...everyone here makes up the manual. Heck, if they/we can't figure it out, no one can. LOL!!!

Fred is a walking repair manual...if we could plug into his head, ie Martix, we wouldn't need Chiltons.

I have a Haynes too...it's covers what you can do mostly yourself. The hardest problem I attacked myself was a rear axle shaft replacment. The guys on here it's easy as overhualing your brakes...and they we're right.

[95TransAm]

the only manual you need is this forum...

Ken, Fred, Norman, Tracy...everyone here makes up the manual. Heck, if we can't figure it out, no one can. LOL!!!

Fred is a walking repair manual...if we could plug into his head, ie Martix, we wouldn't need Chiltons.

Very true...one of the reasons why I love this place

I also have a haynes manual as well. It's almost the same as a chilton's. If a chilton was 10 out of 10, I'd give a Hayne's manual a 9.5 out of 10. I've used both many times, and both have served me well.

[soCalTA]

ok thanks for the review. I will stick with my haynes.

[N20LT4Bird]

THere are a lot better manuals other than Chiltons.......just not for $19.95. Ive got a Haynes manual that I use at home if im in a pinch and it works well for basic repairs and basic wiring diagrams.

At the school I teach at, we have Alldata, which is EVERY factory repair manual for EVERY vehicle from 82-present. The difference between this and the chiltons is vast, but so is the price.....about 5 grand (and thats the educators price).

If you really want the most extensive manual, get the factory manual (in paper form)......its expensive and may be difficult to get, but thats your best option.

If you guys need something in a pinch, let me know......I can probably look it up for you. However, I cant abuse my rights to use the program....

[marlon95]

i ordered both from amazon, haynes and chilton. together they seem like a combination, is something is unclear or not found in one, just look it up in the other.

[95TransAm]

If you really want the most extensive manual, get the factory manual (in paper form)......its expensive and may be difficult to get, but thats your best option.

That's what I've actually been trying to get my hands on for a while now. I know they're over a hundred bucks, but I had the chance to read one at my buddy's work (GM Dealership), and it's more than worth the money.

If anyone knows where I can get one for a 95 T/A, please let me know.

[4THGEN Z]

I have the 3 volumes from GM for my Z....and the 5 for my 04 Silverado......nothin is like factory manuals even gets into the measurements for placing/applying the emblems (ie Z28 badge on rear panel).

You can get them from Helms:
GM Factory Manuals

[95TransAm]

I have the 3 volumes from GM for my Z....and the 5 for my 04 Silverado......nothin is like factory manuals even gets into the measurements for placing/applying the emblems (ie Z28 badge on rear panel).

You can get them from Helms:
GM Factory Manuals

Thank You!!!!!

[Injuneer]

A couple of months ago there was a link to a clearnce on the LT1 year Helm manuals for $50 .

I agree the Helm manuals will be the best, but for the ususal price of $100+ the cost can be prohibitive. That's why I prefer the cheapie, to answer some of the obvious questions. In my experience, the Chilton's is better than the Haynes, put that's just personal opinion.

Helm is for the professional, Chilton's is for the amateur. It answers 90% of what the amateur needs.

I liked this quote :

Fred is a walking repair manual...if we could plug into his head, ie Martix, we wouldn't need Chiltons.

.....but..... I own a Chilton's for my 94 Formula, and I always take a quick look at it before I try something I haven't done before. I think I gained my initial understanding of the emissions systems from Chiltons. From there I expanded it by looking at other sources... but I have never looked at a Helm for the 4th Gen.

I have a 96 Saturn that belonged to my son. I need to sell it, and with 150K miles on it, I don't expect to get much. But when I try and start it, it floods. I notice the coolant temp sensor gauge is lagging the actual engine temp seriously - this would explain the hard start, and his complaints about poor gas mileage. I plug in my OBD-II scanner, and the PCM is getting the same bad data on coolant temp - but the sensor isn't setting a code, becasue its still working. Its just 30-50degF off. I pick up a Chiltons at the local Pep Boys, and the wiring diagram confirms there is only one coolant temp sensor that feeds the PCM, then the PCM feed the gauge (it changed in the Saturn in 1996). For the few bucks I paid for the Chiltons, I now know where the sensor is, the need for a particular sealant, the torque spec and the fact that there is only one, not two like I was thinking. Seems like cheap info, that will more than pay for itself when I sell the car for a few more bucks. And, it also needs rear brakes.... I'll look in the manual before I even take the first wheel off.

[N20LT4Bird]

I notice the coolant temp sensor gauge is lagging the actual engine temp seriously - this would explain the hard start, and his complaints about poor gas mileage.

Fred, I had a student come in with this exact problem on his Saturn not too long ago and i've seen this on more than one Saturn of this vintage, I think its a common problem......no MIL though because the sensor is never out of range.

[Injuneer]

Yes.. I've visited a couple Saturn websites, and apparently there was a plastic temp sensor used that was constantly breaking. I gues its sort of the "Optispark" of the Saturn.....

[TODD 2000 V6 CAMARO]

Cool, thanks for the replies, guys. I think I will order the Chilton's after next payday. I want to try to learn all I can about how to work on my car. I'll be 30 this October, so I figure I should move my mechanical knowledge beyond basic maintainance. My dad always did his own engine work....still does, too. Gotta try to follow in the footsteps.