Haynes or Chilton
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2015
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Haynes or Chilton
Wondering which most prefer for the 87-96 Ford F-150. I've never had a Chilton before but have heard good things. Ive had Haynes for my others and they were ok. Any recommendations?
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2014
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I like chillton much more they just seem to be hard to find were I'm from. Haynes wireing diagrams are crap if u ask me. This might be bull**** also but the guy at my local advanced auto told me chillton and Haynes combined. There both one now like I said it might not be true just what I've been told. If I was u and u can find one go with chillton forsure.... Good luck man eBay might be a good way to find one
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Senior User
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Thanks for the insight. I might just end up getting both used on Amazon. Im not looking to become a master mechanic but do have some repairs (emergency brake, wipers not working) that Ill need a manual for. I figure if I got both I should be ok. Thanks guys.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,533
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From: SW Florida
They both suck, IMO. Get a factory manual. Someone at work gave me a Chilton's for my truck and some of the info was wrong or incomplete. Luckily I know enough about these trucks to realize that. Someone else might have been mislead.
I keep it handy anyways... the pages come in handy for lighting my charcoal grill since the telco quit handing out phone books.
I keep it handy anyways... the pages come in handy for lighting my charcoal grill since the telco quit handing out phone books.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,006
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From: Roseville, MN
Personally I haven't been happy with either. I much prefer the official Ford shop manuals, published by Helm (I think). They can be harder to find and a LOT more expensive, but you get what you pay for.
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
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From: Gilbert, PA
Personally the Chilton is only good for two things. A door stop or kindling for a fire.
I prefer the haynes
I prefer the haynes
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Washington
I'm not sure there is a difference. My Chilton "total car care" manual was published by Haynes.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Mexico, Missouri
If you can find an old Haynes manual from 1996 or earlier, its great. Everything printed later is missing loads of info.
Mitchell wiring diagrams are gone as their licenses from the BIG 3 auto manufactures expired in 1999 and were no longer allowed to be renewed. I learned this by contacting Haynes directly.
Mitchell wiring diagrams are gone as their licenses from the BIG 3 auto manufactures expired in 1999 and were no longer allowed to be renewed. I learned this by contacting Haynes directly.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: Eastern Montana
I have always preferred the Haynes over the Chiltons... or after reading this thread, the older Chiltons.
Why? It seemed that Haynes broke it down to the stupid level... Chiltons always required a solid base of info and the authors take that for granted... I grew up in the Aircraft Maintenance world with the old style Boeing Tech Orders and the Haynes were always the Boeing version of automotive manuals.
Oly
Why? It seemed that Haynes broke it down to the stupid level... Chiltons always required a solid base of info and the authors take that for granted... I grew up in the Aircraft Maintenance world with the old style Boeing Tech Orders and the Haynes were always the Boeing version of automotive manuals.
Oly
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2013
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there are lots of haynes/chilton haters, and for good reason, but i always found them to be WAY better than nothing, by a long shot. i prefer haynes to chiltons.
buying both seems to me to be the worst option ... the money you would lay out for both would go a long way towards buying a real ford shop manual.
buying both seems to me to be the worst option ... the money you would lay out for both would go a long way towards buying a real ford shop manual.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Central Wisconsin
I use the Chilton manuals, myself. I agree that you have to have some kind of idea what you're doing to figure some of the stuff out, but anybody even remotely mechanically inclined can fill in the blanks in 99.9% of the information. The Chiltons seem to have more diagrams than the Haynes manuals, which is usually what I reference the books for anyway.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 30
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Chilton and Haynes are both published by the same company, Haynes Manuals Inc.
They are meant to have different content depending on what info you are looking for.
Its my understanding that Chiltons are made to be more step by step for the less experienced user, and Haynes have more in depth content.
They are meant to have different content depending on what info you are looking for.
Its my understanding that Chiltons are made to be more step by step for the less experienced user, and Haynes have more in depth content.
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Senior User
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I ended up ordering the Haynes. Neither are very expensive on Amazon so I figure if I don't like it I can always order the Chilton. I was always told the Haynes was for the more inexperienced but others say different. I appreciate the advice guys, thank you.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,533
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From: SW Florida
My favorite part of a Haynes manual:
"Due to the complexity of (whatever part), at-home maintenance is limited to basic checks and troubleshooting..."
Or something to that extent. Made me mad... how do THEY know what I am or am not capable of, or what tools I may or may not own?
"Due to the complexity of (whatever part), at-home maintenance is limited to basic checks and troubleshooting..."
Or something to that extent. Made me mad... how do THEY know what I am or am not capable of, or what tools I may or may not own?