Chilton or Haynes?

[Tavenner13]

which car care manual do you prefer? are they any different?

[bigburb]

i use the GM Factory service manuals, 4 books about 400 pages thick. chilton nor haynes are in-depth enough for me.

[K1500Tech]

:10:

I like the Chilton books better than Haynes.

[05Quadrasteer]

I have to agree with bigburb, go with the GM service manuals. They are produced by Helms and have so much more material and are not written in general terms to cover numerous vehicles.

Have a nice day.

Bill

[1980scottsdale]

I have both but the haynes has much clearer pictures. Other than that I like them the same.

[chriskelley2003]

i've got chilton, thats what my grandpa always swore by when he was working on anything

[edgl]

Always use the factory manuals. They are the only good ones to use.

[1500chevy5.7l]

hayes and chilton but gm still the best...

[bizzybone485]

i didnt know there was a GM service magazine. Can these still be bought at the GM dearship or such?

[gts]

Yeah, can you buy them at the dealership, or somewhere else?

[Silverado9969]

:boobies: :texas: :ford: I like the GM factory service manuals, but if you cant get the manuals I guess Chiltons or Haynes is the next bet

[demonstalker]

Depending on how long you are keeping the vehicle this might help too: http://www.alldatadiy.com/ Same deal as the factory manuals, just not in the printed form.

I personally have a haynes manual, but it just sits there in the garage. When I need to look something up for my truck I look it up at work on alldata, its the same deal as that link, except for it has pretty much any vehicle since the early 80's.

[box_roller]

I have the Haynes manual but I flipped through a Chilton and found that the procedures are way more thorough and detail oriented than the Haynes.

[tatoodkelt]

I have a Haynes for each vehicle but I also have a factory assembly manual for my Chevelle. Saved my butt more than once. I'd like to pick up the GM one for the trucks. Can you just go to a dealership and get them?

[ericlw]

Their should be a number to order the factory manuals in your trucks losers guide in the back.

[03 GMC 1500HD 4X4]

chilton here

[domano 68]

For whatever reason, CHilton. Seems to be put togther better.

[TITANIUM]

Since the Helms manual is not a option..... I go with chiltons manuals. Haynes manuals are not worth the paper they are printed on.

[Anub1s]

I've never had a problem finding what I needed in a Chilton manual. But I almost always can't find something in a Haynes.

If you can't have the factory manual, Chilton's the way to go.

[TC2000]

Chiltons are more detailed but the Haynes has more pictures and is easier to follow

[Webash]

Have to say I'm a Chiltons guy.

[ShotgunFacelift]

If you cant get a Factory Service Manual get a Bentley manual. If the FSM or Bentley cant be acquired, Chilton.

[justy38]

If you do alot of work on your truck probably having both books would be best. Sometimes Chilton doesn't cover something simple and sometimes Haynes don't cover something. The Chilton I have doesn't cover simple things like removing the power steering pump or torque specs for exhaust manifolds.

[Bagged 04]

I own both and use both cause liek you said more pics in one and better description in the other. I didn't even realize you could get one from gm.

[kcb37]

Haynes is easier to read and understand but Chiltons is more in depth.

[Bullitt]

I have a Haynes, but I've never even seen a Chilton. How much do the Factory Service Manuals go for?

[adversary]

another vote for alldata here!

[Chevy Fireman]

How much are the factory manuels?

[Tom S.]

How much are the factory manuels?

Helms manuals are around $150 a set - depending on year and vehicle. Sometimes you can find a used set on ebay. There is no comparison between the Helms manuals and Chilton/Haynes. It's like Mickey Thompson vs Mickey Mouse.

The Helms manuals for my 3500 are a 4 volume set, with each volume about the size of a large phone book. Weighs probably 20 lbs total.

[Chevy-Art]

The Haynes and Chilton have just enough information to get you into trouble, if you don't know what you are doing.

[v6c2500]

Found out used chilton's & haynes go for cheap on ebay, although it has been harder finding FSM's for really cheap on there(~$40 on amazon though).

[Red Devil]

If I can't get a factory service manual, I get one of each. Both will always have something 'missing' or 'unclear' that is likely covered better in the other one.

[v6c2500]

If I can't get a factory service manual, I get one of each. Both will always have something 'missing' or 'unclear' that is likely covered better in the other one.
Decided to do the same thing. :thumbup:

[Silverad04]

Is there a none option?

[joehawkz71]

i have a manual on a CD! GM one that is!

[acechevy]

Never used a haynes manual. I like the chiltons one. Chiltons is the only ones my cuz has in his shop.

[spyvie]

FWIW. I have the chilton and haynes for my truck and aside from some wiring schematics in the back, they are identical. Same wording and even the exact same pictures.

[89lama]

you have to have both, the are like 20 bucks and pay for themselves fast. just my 2C.

[spyvie]

you have to have both, the are like 20 bucks and pay for themselves fast. just my 2C.
Not sure if that's directed at me, but they are pretty cheap. I got them both from amazon for $17 and change if memory serves.

[Texsbluethunder]

I use Chiltons for basic stuff, but I subscribe to alldatadiy.com for all the difficult stuff. I think all their info is derived from the GM manual. The diagrams are the same anyways.

[Roehl_909]

I use Nodata when I'm at school for whatever I can, mainly because it's free.

Normally I stick to Chilton, I'd get an FSM if I was ever into my truck enough to warrant the expense.

I don't trust Haynes manuals much...when I first got my truck the old owner had a Haynes, I was flipping through it looking at simple things, and the only instructions it gave for changing the headlight bulbs had you taking off the grille shell.:whatever:

[CDL]

looks like my vote just evened it to 50/50. rock on.

[lefty321546]

chiltons all the way

[GreaseDog]

factory service manuals. check EBay. :read:

[TooTall1]

I picked up the 3 volume set of factory service manuals(about 5,000 pages) for $60 on Ebay

[Acropolis]

Another vote for the factory service manuals. I picked up a complete set for my '88 on ebay for $40 delivered. Provides far more detail than either of the other two.

Just set up an automated search on Ebay that emails you whenever a new set shows up. You should be able to find a cheap set quickly.

[frdfandc]

I've never liked using Alldata. It seemed to vague to me. Its kinda like using a Chiltons or Haynes manual. Just enough information to piss you off.

However, for the simple stuff I use a Haynes. But for in depth repairs its FSM all the way.

Of course working at dealerships, you get kinda spoiled when using factory service information. GM service is just a phone/fax away from my information.

[bored&stroked]

Both chiltons and haynes suck, badly. I have both for my 78 and together they don't have everything you need. I got my factory manuals for my 98 for $50, much better idea.

[thepusher]

Mitchell beats the crap out of both of them

[FordeatinZ71]

the older Chilton manuals were AWESOME but the newer ones honestly kinda suck...Haynes isn't even really worth having...it's kinda like the friend that sits around drinking all your beer pretending like he knows how to fix your truck, when in all honesty he's as retarded as a football bat...

Helms manuals are the only thing worth having...anything else is a waste of money...

[Griff4x4]

when in all honesty i'm as retarded as a football bat...


Its ok, we know...
j/k
:10:

[FordeatinZ71]

Bowling Shoes!

[Jesseman445]

Chilton out of the two. But since I lost mine when I moved I might have to check out the gm manuals.

[tylers88]

I have 2 haynes manuals

[hundoracer]

Hey Gang-
Found a set of 4 service manuals for $89. Is that a good price with $9 shipping?

I like learning things new things about my truck (cars in general) and I use my chilton manual a lot, but if people are saying that the FSM is the best, I would like to purchase it.

thanks,

Ryan

[GreaseDog]

89 isnt a bad price at all. i paid about that for my 77 manual, and i bought my 80 and 84 (i know, i dont have an 84) manuals for $20. craigslist FTW!

[mittelmeier21]

I normally use Haynes because it's easier to find one locally. If I order online I get a FSM. When I was going to school I used Mitchell or Alldata depending on what I was looking for. The old Chiltons are worth their weight in gold if you can find one for you vehicle. imo.

[mudbuddy]

GM Online site

[Hybrid240ZXT]

Alldata is great if your working on lots of different cars and just need to know the order to do something in or torque specs. But it's definitely not designed for the do-it-yourselfer that needs step-by-step directions on how to do something.