Chilton vs. Haynes
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Chilton vs. Haynes
In my experience with other vehicles, the Chiltons are way too vague, and try to cover too many models of car.
Haynes was better.
I have the Haynes for my truck, and it seems sufficient. Chapter 1 is really most of what anyone would need hopefully.
If you follow chapter 1, hopefully you won't have to visit the other chapters
Haynes was better.
I have the Haynes for my truck, and it seems sufficient. Chapter 1 is really most of what anyone would need hopefully.
If you follow chapter 1, hopefully you won't have to visit the other chapters
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
Chilton vs. Haynes
Look on the back cover of a Haynes and you'll know why it's better. The old ones say "Every manual based on a complete teardown & rebuild." and the new ones say "Written from hands-on experience based on a vehicle teardown using commonly available tools". Chilton's is just a reprint of Helm, including any mistakes or omissions, and often refers to tools only available to a dealer.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
Chilton vs. Haynes
I use both and the shop manual if I have them. All are unclear in points and most assume you know what tool and how to remove something. I have been wanking on engines for longer than I have driven, and I still get confused when I read manuals.
Like for example one manual I have says "to replace the water pump, remove the air pump and the following brackets". Of course they assume you know what an air pump looks like and which brakets are what and they also assume you realize some things have to come off in a certain sequence.
Still better than nothing.
If I had to choose I would probably go with a Haynes. It is more specific to model and does have some decent blowup pictures.
Just my opinion,
Jim Henderson
Like for example one manual I have says "to replace the water pump, remove the air pump and the following brackets". Of course they assume you know what an air pump looks like and which brakets are what and they also assume you realize some things have to come off in a certain sequence.
Still better than nothing.
If I had to choose I would probably go with a Haynes. It is more specific to model and does have some decent blowup pictures.
Just my opinion,
Jim Henderson
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Chilton vs. Haynes
I also use both plus I check with the forum here. Between the three I get it done. I have used Chiltons for years and have never been completely happy with them but I do like them. I don't think that it is that they are too vague I think that they assume you have done this before and know exactly what they are talking about. The best sections are the component specific sections in the back. They are great as I can see how my alternator, starter, etc are assembled. My only real complaint with Chiltons is that sometimes the diagrams don't match the instructions or worse yet sometimes it is a negative image ( i.e. flipped 180 degrees) that is a real PIMA ( the first three words are pain in my...). The Haynes is good but they seem to only go to the component level on some things. Pictures are better as is size. Between the two I usually get the job done.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Chilton vs. Haynes
I'll recommend the cheap Ford CD Rom offered on ebay...
I paid 2.95 + shipping.
It's just a burned copy, but it DOES have the information. Getting to it is a pain sometimes, as there is a LOT of info, and a pretty crappy interface to search through.
Every tool is a special Ford part #.. but it does give pretty dumbed down instructions. Better than a Haynes.
But the Haynes is good to have to flip through. I think the two of them together are a decent reference material set.
The Factory service manual is probably enough, but I don't really like printing all that crap out, and don't want my laptop out in the garage. It's much easier to thumb through the book.
I got my Haynes off of Amazon.com in the 'used' section.
And when it showed up, it was in plastic wrap, new...
Total price was like 11.00 after shipping.
I paid 2.95 + shipping.
It's just a burned copy, but it DOES have the information. Getting to it is a pain sometimes, as there is a LOT of info, and a pretty crappy interface to search through.
Every tool is a special Ford part #.. but it does give pretty dumbed down instructions. Better than a Haynes.
But the Haynes is good to have to flip through. I think the two of them together are a decent reference material set.
The Factory service manual is probably enough, but I don't really like printing all that crap out, and don't want my laptop out in the garage. It's much easier to thumb through the book.
I got my Haynes off of Amazon.com in the 'used' section.
And when it showed up, it was in plastic wrap, new...
Total price was like 11.00 after shipping.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 1
From: Lee's Summit MO
Chilton vs. Haynes
I perfer the Haynes manual. I've got the Ford tech book too, and it takes me forever to find things in it I would need, but it's to-the-point as well and has EVERY detail available.
Chiltons has some mistakes as well.
Chiltons has some mistakes as well.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 543
Likes: 1
From: South East Texas
Chilton vs. Haynes
I bought a Haynes for my van a few years back and from what I'm reading in the posts it must have gotten better since then because mine sucks. As I mentioned in one of my posts the pictures and drawings don't look anything like the stuff on my engine and they pretty much left you hanging if you weren't sure what this and that was to remove or do something with before you are to do this or that. I saw a Chilton's soft cover for my van in O'Reilly's and it's pictures and drawings were right on the money. It also seemed to have much more information in it.
I have to find the time to get back there and buy it.
The guy in O'Reilly's told me that Chilton's took over Haynes. They either merged or bought them out. Don't know how true it is, but thats what he said.
I have to find the time to get back there and buy it.
The guy in O'Reilly's told me that Chilton's took over Haynes. They either merged or bought them out. Don't know how true it is, but thats what he said.
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