Notices
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: DP Tuner

Repair book?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 8, 2016 | 08:58 AM
  #1  
Oldanvilyoungsmith's Avatar
Oldanvilyoungsmith
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
Repair book?

For the trucks I've owned before, I always just picked up a haynes repair manual, but they're in the $30ish range, But I found I can get the Bishko shop manual on CD for about the same price From Rockauto. An actual book is more convenient than taking my laptop out with to work on the truck of course, but I don't have the moolah for the actual bound shop manual.


Is the shop manual enough better it's worth the hassle of using it on a laptop? I'd assume it's more in depth than the consumers haynes manual.


Thanks ya'll
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2016 | 09:01 AM
  #2  
78 PEB's Avatar
78 PEB
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,674
Likes: 16
From: Ideeho
Probably is more in depth if it is a factory manual. Is it a searchable format? I have a couple like that and then I just print out what I need.
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2016 | 09:01 AM
  #3  
Mark Kovalsky's Avatar
Mark Kovalsky
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,731
Likes: 2,658
From: SE Florida
I think it's worth the hassle. You can always print out the section of the manual that you need.
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2016 | 09:05 AM
  #4  
Oldanvilyoungsmith's Avatar
Oldanvilyoungsmith
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by 78 PEB
Probably is more in depth if it is a factory manual. Is it a searchable format? I have a couple like that and then I just print out what I need.
I assume it's searchable? Rockauto always has vagueish descriptions. They just say it's the Bishko Shop manual CD-Rom.


I'll probably go ahead and order it, instead of getting the Haynes. I've just never used a shop manual, and didn't know if it was much better.
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2016 | 09:07 AM
  #5  
Sous's Avatar
Sous
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Veteran: Air Force
Community Builder
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,354
Likes: 5,946
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
FTE Emeritus
Report back to us when it arrives and tell us if it is searchable text/images. I would be interested in this for the $30 price tag.
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2016 | 11:35 AM
  #6  
Oldanvilyoungsmith's Avatar
Oldanvilyoungsmith
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
Will do. It's on the way, so we'll see when it gets here. With shipping and all, the CD ran me $28. Not a bad price overall.
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2016 | 02:43 PM
  #7  
Stewart_H's Avatar
Stewart_H
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by Sous
Report back to us when it arrives and tell us if it is searchable text/images.
Yup!

Stewart
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2016 | 03:22 PM
  #8  
Tugly's Avatar
Tugly
Hotshot
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
Are you looking for the manual one would use for rebuilds, the troubleshooting manual, or the wiring diagram? They are all different beasts.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Oct 8, 2016 | 03:31 PM
  #9  
coax9952's Avatar
coax9952
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 9
From: Washington State
Yes...The three rings of Mordor, Precious.....
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2016 | 09:37 PM
  #10  
Oldanvilyoungsmith's Avatar
Oldanvilyoungsmith
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Tugly
Are you looking for the manual one would use for rebuilds, the troubleshooting manual, or the wiring diagram? They are all different beasts.
I have no idea, lol.


I need something to tell me how to pull off and replace this thing, or that thing, etc. I'm used to using the generic Haynes Repair Manual for my other trucks, so I assume the shop repair manual is similar, but more in depth. We'll see, I figured it was worth risking the $30, so it's on the way.
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2016 | 11:05 PM
  #11  
bigb56's Avatar
bigb56
Logistics Pro
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,609
Likes: 324
From: Arizona
Club FTE Silver Member

That's a good price, I'll be following also to see if it is searchable. I have a very old CD that I use, it is really hard to navigate but it's all there, the entire FSM. I got it cheap at the time and everyone said for what I paid it can't be the official, complete Ford FSM. Well it is, but a real pain to find everything plus it won't work on newer Windows programs so I have to fire up my old PC with XP on it to use it.

Let us know how it works.
 
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2016 | 09:58 AM
  #12  
dn29626's Avatar
dn29626
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,500
Likes: 14
From: South Carolina
I confess to chuckling when I read the title.
 
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2016 | 02:42 PM
  #13  
79jasper's Avatar
79jasper
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
Sometimes you can ask around and someone that has it can scan what you need.
I understand wanting your own though, Don't have to wait.
For the most part, I download pdf's from sites. Those usually have the best how to's.

Main thing with the fsm is wiring diagrams and pin point tests. I do have one version that someone sent me, it does work, but like the rest said, a pain to navigate. Lol I hardly use it. Mainly if someone else asks me for a diagram.
 
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2016 | 07:51 AM
  #14  
Tugly's Avatar
Tugly
Hotshot
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
This [LINK] has the ultimate repair manual - complete with pictures, videos, descriptions, part numbers, part sources with the best price, and experienced personnel sharing tips and caveats. You still need to print stuff from time to time, but you won't find a better source of information on the vehicle. What's that worth to you?
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rt2000
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
2
Dec 16, 2010 07:43 AM
mikeinWA
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
Dec 13, 2005 10:30 PM
allengoodwine
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
May 24, 2000 06:39 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:25 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE