Chiltons vs. Hayes vs. ?

[JBearSVT]

I'd like to get a service manual/teardown book to carry around in the Leggy since I really don't know jack about them. With my Mustangs I usually found the Chiltons manuals to be arguably better... anybody have any suggestions for the best manual for my '90 wagon? The local AutoZoo only has Hayes, but I don't want to just buy it if someone says there is a clearly superior book out there. Thanks

[StatGSR]

hm, when i looked at a chiltons i thought it was a huge piece of crap with horrid pictures and even worse instructions. idk, i thought my haynes for my teg is pretty good.

[JBearSVT]

Thanks! I've noticed that the quality of info in these books varies widely from car to car sometimes. Looks like this is one of those times.

[Huffer]

I have the Haynes manual for my cars. It's very good.

obviously for $16.95 it's not going to cover everything, but it's a cheap man's factory service manual.

I like it better than the Chilton's version.

[OUTBACKWBEER!]

I like the factory Subaru manuals ...the bad part is they have individual manuals for each component.....sometime's several ....I just got the general service manual which just covers the maintence including timing belt replacement.


Your local Subaru parts person should get you what you need...

I'm lucky enough to have access to Alldata at work so we get just about everything Subaru does...at my fingertips...including the updates, recall info... :twisted:

I've always been partial to Haynes manuals over Chilton's .

[JBearSVT]

Yeah, I know you really can't beat Alldata, but I don't have access to it anymore. Wouldn't help me much on the go anyway. Service manuals aren't a bad idea, if I can get them, depending on how much room they take up. I'll likely just go get a Hayes. Thanks guys.

[Okin DaVanh]

hm, when i looked at a chiltons i thought it was a huge piece of crap with horrid pictures and even worse instructions. idk, i thought my haynes for my teg is pretty good.

Diddo

[Navig8r]

I've had a Haynes Manual for every vehicle I owned.
Bought my first car with it needing a partial engine rebuild..... Haynes took me through it, with no problems. On Vehicle #7 now, with Haynes manual #7... all have been good, with good explanations, specs, and pics.
Some things vary, but that will always be the case, as manufacturers make mid-year changes, or subtle changes year to year that wouldnt warrant a new manual.
I will agree that a Factory Service Manual is Niiiice... but $$$$$.
(Anyone need a factory manual for a Dakota, BTW... mine burned, so manual is not really useful to me now)

[Wiscon_Mark]

I have a Chilton's. It gives you a general idea on everything, but it's not great. Mostly the problem with the Chilton is that it tries to cover too many model years and models.

[sharky nrk]

FSM FTW - nothing like detailed flow charts to diagnose issues

[deadlydave]

I use the Haynes Manual for the 'how-to' take stuff apart and re-assemble. It compliments the FSM very nicely for the more involved jobs.

[1-3-2-4]

I like my Hayes Legacy manual.

[_RM_]

I picked mine up sometime last year when I first started tinkering with the cars in my garage and doing my own stuff. I've found the Hayne's manual to be pretty much exact as to what needs to be done. Never tried a Chilton's though since I've never seen one. I also got my Legacy manual by luck. I went into an Advanced Auto Parts in the middle of some small town after going to a couple Autozones and asked the guy, "Do you guys carry a Hayne's manual for a 01 Legacy?" and got a negative response. So I looked at the shelf and found exactly what I wanted. The guy at the counter was like "WTF, I didn't even know we had that one."

[decke48]

[quote="OUTBACKWBEER!"]I like the factory Subaru manuals
mmm online access is $75 an hour

[tominator]

Yeah, I know you really can't beat Alldata, but I don't have access to it anymore. Wouldn't help me much on the go anyway. Service manuals aren't a bad idea, if I can get them, depending on how much room they take up. I'll likely just go get a Hayes. Thanks guys.

I totally agree,,,Alldata is great. I prefer hayes over chiltons with just about any make but the factory service manuals are the best.

[dubkeith]

The factory service manual is well worth it. You can find *uchum copies *Uchum on ebay for cheap cheap.






*the preceeding attitude does not reflect those of SLI (-;

[d1giPhux]

If you have a BD and want the FSM.. check out my sig.

Also, I think this may be the one for the newer ones.. if not, hit me up.

http://www.designlabx.com/subaru/Legacy_GT_Manual.zip