Which repair manual?
Question:
I have a 96 gmc and want to purchase a repair manual and was wanting this groups opinion on which brand was best. Thanks, KrazY
Response:
The best manuals I have found are the ones that you get from the dealer. I have a set of four that are quite detailed. The electrical book has large schematics that are easy to see. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have a 96 gmc and want to purchase a repair manual and was wanting this > groups opinion on which brand was best. > Thanks, > KrazY
Response:
The best manuals are the Helms manuals, they are very, very detailed, but pricey. Chiltons are good, but no were near as detailed and a more vague due to the various years and models they cover in one manual. Haynes are completely worthless if you ask me, unless you are novice and don’t plan to do anything but standard maintenance. — — 98 Camaro
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a 96 gmc and want to purchase a repair manual and was wanting this > groups opinion on which brand was best. > Thanks, > KrazY
Response:
I love Haynes manuals. Ive rebuilt a 95 dodge neon, a 90 saturn, and a old 89 jeep from these. And i me complete tear dwn and rebuild. The only part that has any maintence in haynes manuals is section 1 and that goes into checking timing and such also. thats only 1 of usually 10 or more sections. And they always give instructions for any intermodel differences. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->The best manuals are the Helms manuals, they are very, very detailed, but >pricey. Chiltons are good, but no were near as detailed and a more vague >due to the various years and models they cover in one manual. Haynes are >completely worthless if you ask me, unless you are novice and don’t plan to >do anything but standard maintenance. >–
Response:
The electrical is terrible, sorry, but it is. Maybe the tear down and rebuild is nice, but that is it pretty standard, so it should be. They lack specifics everywhere else. Just my humble opinion based on the ones I have owned. — — 98 Camaro
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I love Haynes manuals. Ive rebuilt a 95 dodge neon, a 90 saturn, and a > old 89 jeep from these. And i me complete tear dwn and rebuild. The > only part that has any maintence in haynes manuals is section 1 and > that goes into checking timing and such also. thats only 1 of usually > 10 or more sections. And they always give instructions for any > intermodel differences. >The best manuals are the Helms manuals, they are very, very detailed, but >pricey. Chiltons are good, but no were near as detailed and a more vague >due to the various years and models they cover in one manual. Haynes are >completely worthless if you ask me, unless you are novice and don’t plan to >do anything but standard maintenance. >–
Response:
I like the Haynes, the electrical is terrible but everything is by far better than the Chilton. Also check out the new Haynes, the electrical is way improved, I was surprised when my neighbor bought the same 73-87 truck book I have, and its been updated. Grease
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The electrical is terrible, sorry, but it is. Maybe the tear down and > rebuild is nice, but that is it pretty standard, so it should be. They lack > specifics everywhere else. Just my humble opinion based on the ones I have > owned. > — > — > 98 Camaro > I love Haynes manuals. Ive rebuilt a 95 dodge neon, a 90 saturn, and a > old 89 jeep from these. And i me complete tear dwn and rebuild. The > only part that has any maintence in haynes manuals is section 1 and > that goes into checking timing and such also. thats only 1 of usually > 10 or more sections. And they always give instructions for any > intermodel differences. > >The best manuals are the Helms manuals, they are very, very detailed, but > >pricey. Chiltons are good, but no were near as detailed and a more vague > >due to the various years and models they cover in one manual. Haynes are > >completely worthless if you ask me, unless you are novice and don’t plan > to > >do anything but standard maintenance. > >–
Response:
It’s looking like Haynes or Helms but not Chilton. I like the Haynes, the electrical is terrible but everything is by far better than the Chilton. Also check out the new Haynes, the electrical is way improved, I was surprised when my neighbor bought the same 73-87 truck book I have, and its been updated. Grease
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The electrical is terrible, sorry, but it is. Maybe the tear down and > rebuild is nice, but that is it pretty standard, so it should be. They lack > specifics everywhere else. Just my humble opinion based on the ones I have > owned. > — > — > 98 Camaro > I love Haynes manuals. Ive rebuilt a 95 dodge neon, a 90 saturn, and a > old 89 jeep from these. And i me complete tear dwn and rebuild. The > only part that has any maintence in haynes manuals is section 1 and > that goes into checking timing and such also. thats only 1 of usually > 10 or more sections. And they always give instructions for any > intermodel differences. > >The best manuals are the Helms manuals, they are very, very detailed, but > >pricey. Chiltons are good, but no were near as detailed and a more vague > >due to the various years and models they cover in one manual. Haynes are > >completely worthless if you ask me, unless you are novice and don’t plan > to > >do anything but standard maintenance. > >–
Response:
I just rebuilt an 1988 suburban and bought both haynes and chilton. The haynes is good for doing it yourself stuff, they describe repairs, etc, using tools you are likely to have or can get. I found the chilton gave lots of theory and stats, but used all of the official gmc tool names, so as far as repairs went it wasn’t nearly as good as I don’t have any special gm tools. So, if you want to know how many amps your alternator gives, and you want parts diagrams that look almost like gm’s then chilton is good, but if you want real repairs then haynes is good. I also bought the haynes engine rebuild book for chevy engines, which I found was excellent for me. It was much more detailed than the general haynes manual. hope this helps, Clint
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> It’s looking like Haynes or Helms but not Chilton. > I like the Haynes, the electrical is terrible but everything is by far > better than the Chilton. Also check out the new Haynes, the electrical is > way improved, I was surprised when my neighbor bought the same 73-87 truck > book I have, and its been updated. > Grease > The electrical is terrible, sorry, but it is. Maybe the tear down and > rebuild is nice, but that is it pretty standard, so it should be. They > lack > specifics everywhere else. Just my humble opinion based on the ones I > have > owned. > — > — > 98 Camaro > > I love Haynes manuals. Ive rebuilt a 95 dodge neon, a 90 saturn, and a > > old 89 jeep from these. And i me complete tear dwn and rebuild. The > > only part that has any maintence in haynes manuals is section 1 and > > that goes into checking timing and such also. thats only 1 of usually > > 10 or more sections. And they always give instructions for any > > intermodel differences. > > >The best manuals are the Helms manuals, they are very, very detailed, > but > > >pricey. Chiltons are good, but no were near as detailed and a more > vague > > >due to the various years and models they cover in one manual. Haynes > are > > >completely worthless if you ask me, unless you are novice and don’t > plan > to > > >do anything but standard maintenance. > > >–
Response:
That was my initial point, that it is good for repairs. Not to put anyone down for using the word novice. It is a friendly manual I guess, but I worked at a Ford Service center for a why, I know the lingo and want the specs. I guess that is why I preferr Chiltons over Haynes, but that does not matter anymore, I only get the Helms manuals now. — — 98 Camaro
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I just rebuilt an 1988 suburban and bought both haynes and chilton. The > haynes is good for doing it yourself stuff, they describe repairs, etc, > using tools you are likely to have or can get. I found the chilton gave > lots of theory and stats, but used all of the official gmc tool names, so as > far as repairs went it wasn’t nearly as good as I don’t have any special gm > tools. So, if you want to know how many amps your alternator gives, and you > want parts diagrams that look almost like gm’s then chilton is good, but if > you want real repairs then haynes is good. I also bought the haynes engine > rebuild book for chevy engines, which I found was excellent for me. It was > much more detailed than the general haynes manual. > hope this helps, > Clint > It’s looking like Haynes or Helms but not Chilton. > I like the Haynes, the electrical is terrible but everything is by far > better than the Chilton. Also check out the new Haynes, the electrical is > way improved, I was surprised when my neighbor bought the same 73-87 truck > book I have, and its been updated. > Grease > > The electrical is terrible, sorry, but it is. Maybe the tear down and > > rebuild is nice, but that is it pretty standard, so it should be. They > lack > > specifics everywhere else. Just my humble opinion based on the ones I > have > > owned. > > — > > — > > 98 Camaro > > > I love Haynes manuals. Ive rebuilt a 95 dodge neon, a 90 saturn, and a > > > old 89 jeep from these. And i me complete tear dwn and rebuild. The > > > only part that has any maintence in haynes manuals is section 1 and > > > that goes into checking timing and such also. thats only 1 of usually > > > 10 or more sections. And they always give instructions for any > > > intermodel differences. > > > >The best manuals are the Helms manuals, they are very, very detailed, > but > > > >pricey. Chiltons are good, but no were near as detailed and a more > vague > > > >due to the various years and models they cover in one manual. Haynes > are > > > >completely worthless if you ask me, unless you are novice and don’t > plan > > to > > > >do anything but standard maintenance. > > > >–
Response:
I’ve owned 5 vehicles that I’ve bought both the Haynes and the Chiltons books for and by far none the Chiltons always had the correct information on them and the most pictures for doing the job. True Haynes does have some good sections in there. Like the one for my S-10 blazer I bought, Haynes didn’t show or even talk about the right engine I had in my truck or anything. Everything was absolutely wrong!!! Chiltons had every engine made for every year covered by the book. But then I bought the Helms books and haven’t used anything else since!! You may pay a fairly good price…I bought all the books for my 97 Blazer for around $120 bucks and it is well worth it. Plus I have the books for my 89 Full size Jimmy to. So my vote is for the Helms if your any kind of mechanically inclined individual who plans on doing any kind of work on his own vehicle other than changing oil. Maverick
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a 96 gmc and want to purchase a repair manual and was wanting this > groups opinion on which brand was best. > Thanks, > KrazY
Response:
>which brand was best. > Thanks, > KrazY
I believe Helms is the best. Call them at 800-782-4356 or check out their website at http://www.helminc.com/ Jabarco
Response:
Does anyone know that helms sells the factory service manuals? That’s why they’re the best… >which brand was best. > Thanks, > KrazY > I believe Helms is the best. Call them at 800-782-4356 or check out their > website at http://www.helminc.com/ > Jabarco
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Response:
Since you guys want to talk about the heavy hitters like the awesome factory manuals, and helms, did you all forget about Mitchell? These are a very detailed set as well. Grease – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Does anyone know that helms sells the factory service manuals? That’s why > they’re the best… > >which brand was best. > > Thanks, > > KrazY > I believe Helms is the best. Call them at 800-782-4356 or check out their > website at http://www.helminc.com/ > Jabarco > — > Reach me by ICQ. My ICQ# is 8023912 or, > * Send me E-mail Express directly to my computer screen
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Download ICQ at http://www.icq.com/download/ > For adding similar signatures to your e-mail go to: > http://www.icq.com/email/emailsig.html
Response:
Helm’s produces reprints of the GM factory service manuals. These manuals are not in the same league as chiltons or haynes, they are much better. I just paid $125 for a full set of manuals for my ‘96 tahoe. Expensive?, yes, but the way I look at it is the books only have to save me one botched repair job or one trip to the dealer to pay for themselves. And I will use them for many years……a great investment in your truck. doc
Response:
Isn’t there a online manual or a web page that lists parts, numbers or diagnostic information. I live in a county that is mostly welfare. There isn’t really a garage that you can trust to be reasonable and honest. They are use to taking advantage of people. I am sure in most areas the mechanics are honest. I have a 94 GMC 4.3, is seems to backfire in the carburetor. I replace the Cap, Rotor and wires. THe cap is BORG Warner and the wires are autolite. I don’t know if they are compatible or not. Ryan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Helm’s produces reprints of the GM factory service manuals. These manuals > are not in the same league as chiltons or haynes, they are much better. > I just paid $125 for a full set of manuals for my ‘96 tahoe. Expensive?, > yes, but the way I look at it is the books only have to save me one botched > repair job or one trip to the dealer to pay for themselves. And I will use > them for many years……a great investment in your truck. > doc
