I need to buy a repair manual. Which do you guys prefer Chiltons or Haynes? I have 2 '90 F-150s if that matters. Thanks for your input.

 

I only get those two choices? :/
I bought the Ford Shop Manuals for my '91. :)

They have -real- wiring diagrams and all sorts of stuff Chiltons
and Haynes can touch because it takes up too much room.

How serious are you about fixing your own stuff?
...is the real question. ;)

Alvin in AZ

 

Never even thought about that. I probably won't get too deep into any serious problems just simple repairs.

 

I'd get both, one usually covers what the other doesn't. The shop manuals would be best though.

 

I have only had the haynes, and what it didnt cover google has done wonders in filling in the holes. Though there are occasional things that are unclear, and some of the definitions are not quite the same but it has done me well enough.

 

Get the Haynes. Chilton is to generic

 

In all honestly, the Haynes manual does not cover squat. Its good for general how-to's but it doesnt break anything down. Chiltons are cool but ive never seen one for this truck. Id like to invest in a shop manual. It literally mentions every bolt, and wire. It might be sort of expensive but even if you only do the simpler of the repairs (for lack of lifts or specialty tools) it could still pay off.

 

Huh? I cant think of one thing,other than body parts the haynes manual does not cover. I have done a couple frame off restos and if i have had any questions, the haynes manuals had the answers. but maybe i'm not asking the right questions.

Yes the ford manual has better indepth answers to many thing and superior wiring schematics but unless you know how to read them, what good are they

 

I have both the Haynes and Chiltons manuals for these trucks.. (1987-96) and I like the Chiltons better.. though neither are pefect. Chiltons is better for specs and diagrams but the written repair procedures in both are lacking in detail enough that a novice would have problems with some things. Both are better than having nothing but there are often slight differences in the assemblies on thse trucks from the early to later models that you won't discover until you start wrenching on them.

 

Stacked up my '91 Ford Shop Manual stuff and it's 7+1/8" high. :)
-Engine book
-Wiring Diagrams
-Everything Else book ;)
-Engine/Emissions Diagnosis and Updates binder
That last one is 3+3/4" thick by itself. :)

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I special ordered my '75 F150 when I was 21 years old and ordered
the Ford Shop Manuals to go with it at the same time. $31(?) :)
The manuals showed up first.
So, I've had them longer. LOL :)

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I inherited a '91 F150 a couple years ago, within the first month,
got on the internet and bought Ford service manuals to go with it.

Just a few months ago bought an abandoned '91 Bronco (~124k),
gonna use the '91 F150 for parts, it only has 73k miles on it. :)

I try to do -all- my own work tho.
I'm a tinkerer, it's what I do for fun. :)

Alvin in AZ

 

I like the Chiltons more cause I find the Haynes lacks a lot of detail in some areas.

 

When working on my ex-GF's '96 T-Bird I found both to be
lacking but together plus the internet it all worked out. :)

Haynes used to kick butt when they were making service
manuals for stuff they were -familiar- with in England (like
air cooled VWs for example) then they tried to include
-everything- and their quality suffered bad. IMO

Alvin in AZ

 

I have both Chiltons and Haynes manuals. They both lack a little, but together are ok. I always wanted to get shop manuals, because that would be better. If you can get shop manuals.

 

That's right, Brad--I always said, "If you can use a Chilton's, you don't NEED a shop manual!"

Maybe they've improved over the years, but I quit using Chilton's 15 years ago. Got sick of the line drawings vs. real photographs in the Haynes.

I still want to get a FSM--anybody got any better source than Helm'$?

BigSix