Recently bought a Haynes manual for my 01 250 and I've got to say it stinks. I always buy a Haynes for any vehicle I own and I've got to say it's the vaguest least comprehensive manual to date. Doesn't even have a break down of the Hubs or any major 4wd component.

I'm a pro mechanic and maybe my standards are to high.

What manual do you have and how does it stack up against the Haynes? I was at the parts store and they had the small Chilton's. Do they have better breakdowns in that one?

 

Haynes and Chilton's manuals have their uses. Starting campfires is the best use I know of for those manuals.

The real manuals are available at Service Manuals, Owner Manuals, Wiring Diagrams, Service Bulletins - Helm Incorporated

 

I used Mitchells eauto.com this summer had a very good break down of my 2004 I printed off pretty close to 1/2 a ream of paper, $12 for 1 week subscription $30 for the year, but it may be worth $12 to get the info the Haynes is missing?

 

I only use my haynes manual for the wiring diagrams. I have a set of factory manuals for my expy from a fellow fter, still looking for a factory set for my f-250.

 

I bought the Ford service repair manuals on DVD. I have years 1996 through 2008. I bought them on Ebay. They are the same ones they use at the dealer. Instead of having those big, bulky books, it's all on one disk. There are some good deals on Ebay.

 

Great link, thanks for that. The Haynes manuals have been ok, but those are much better.

 

Another decent option is ALLDATAdiy.com Leading Source of Factory Automotive Repair Information. I paid about $60 for a three year subscription. It is a well organized online version of Ford's WSM.

 

Stupid question Mark but are there any restrictions on printing from the online subscription versions?

 

I'm surprised you have found useful ones in the past.

 

I don't know. I've never tried it.

 

Haynes manuals always seem to only cover areas of any given vehicle i already know about, and nothing covering the sections i was hoping to learn something about..

basicly Haynes = waste of money IMO

 

The workshop manuals at http://www.motorcraftservice.com are the best, and the ones used by the dealerships.

Get a 3 day subscription, and spend those three days saving everything you want to your computer.

If you have a tool to talk to the PCM, you can even download module info and build data to do all of the service yourself.

 

Ford cd's on ebay...great

 

I wish I knew this before I got one a few months ago. I agree they suck. The first time I read through I wasn't very impressed and couldn't find answers to a couple of questions. Then I opened it again today and was disgusted with the notes. It seems like they just do a model year and then update it (but not the pictures) when newer models roll out. My manual covers 2003-2010, so anything specific for my truck is just an afterthought.

Lame...

 

there are huge differences between 03-04, 05-07, 08, and 09-10

03-10 would have to be about 17 inches thick to cover it all.