[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Chilton/Haynes Manuals - WTF? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 2/18/2012 6:18:42 AM EDT
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I bought both the Chilton and the Haynes repair manuals for my 2007 Tahoe, thinking I would be pretty well set for any problems I might run into, given that one might have better coverage of some areas than the other. I've been smelling a little hot coolant smell the past couple of days when I pull my truck into the garage, so I popped the hood and it looks like the coolant expansion tank hose is a little cracked and wet on the tank end. Time to replace the hose.
Hey, no problem, right? I've got these two manuals, so I'll just look through them both to see what's recommended for replacing it: do I have to drain anything, replace anything else along with the hose, etc. It turns out that all of the pictures and most of the text in the coolant sections of both manuals are identical! It turns out that Chilton is now owned by Haynes. I wish I had known that before I bought the Chilton manual, but I could only find it on Amazon at the time and they didn't mention it in the description. What a rip off. |
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Chilton and Haynes manuals are the suck. Chiton manuals used to be the ones to get.... Haynes manuals have always sucked ass... And now, they both, really suck major donkey dick! I think there is an online subscription that you can get that is much better... |
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I found the chrysler made maintenance manuals on DVD for my Jeep for $20 on ebay (it's a 4 book set for over $400, or $120 for the dvd) Look around for your vehicle and you might get lucky.
There still is not a haynes manual for an 07 Wrangler. 
They are also less than perfect: My '95 Dodge Avenger had more in common with an Eclipse that year, and the manual failed to take note of that. Some parts were in completely different locations or different types than what Chyrsler and Haynes claimed. That made that car fun to work on |
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Bad advice. That link is for the 99-06 (GMT800 platform), his is an 07 (GMT900 platform). |
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That listing is for an earlier model Tahoe, but the same seller has the manual for mine as well. I just bought it. Thanks. |
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It's a hose. Replace any fluid you lose while replacing it. 
If it's got those squeeze clamps you can replace those too if you want. I think they are only supposed to be 1 time use but I can't say I've ever replaced one that wasn't lost. Absolutely, and thanks for your incisive commentary, but the hose isn't really the point here. |
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I always have bought the Haynes manuals and they helped in certain situations, but other times, especially when they are hybrid manuals for two different models, they can suck bad.
When flushing my radiator on my 4Runner, I could not for the life of me find the drain plug on the damn block like they described. I am guessing even though I was in the 2.7 4 cylinder section, they were describing the location of it on the V6. Probably worth the $20 or so they cost, but my advice is don't start tearing your vehicle apart before doing a check that everything they describe is actually on your vehicle. That can be hard at times when you have to tear into the vehicle to look for the stuff though 
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A Chilton manual got me through my first brake job on my 1981 Celica and a CV joint replacement in my 1982 Subaru. I guess things have changed since then. They're not terrible, in most cases. Some are really bad, depending on make and model. They make a great tool to use in conjunction with a factory service manual. They're also good for getting an idea of what a job entails, allowing a person to decide if such a job might be outside their ability. Quoted:
anyone used helm service manuals? I'm thinking about getting one for my gmc sierra. I could be wrong, but I thought Helm was just a retailer and that they don't actually write/create the stuff they sell. I got a owner's manual from them for a used vehicle I purchased. |
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It's a hose. Replace any fluid you lose while replacing it.
If it's got those squeeze clamps you can replace those too if you want. I think they are only supposed to be 1 time use but I can't say I've ever replaced one that wasn't lost. Absolutely, and thanks for your incisive commentary, but the hose isn't really the point here. Sorry, I don't have the diagram to post. 
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Chilton and Haynes manuals are the suck. So what is better? alternatives? A Helm factory service manual, the one dealers use. http://www.helminc.com/helm/homepage.asp?r= |
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I bought a year's subscription for my '03 Tahoe (back when I had it). It really sucked. The information and pictures were not very clear, seemed like all it was was an online generic manual like you used to be able to see at AutoZone's website. Waste of money. |
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I wonder if that covers Suburbans of the same years also. I don't think there's that much difference between them and Tahoes. |
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My local library has the factory maintenance manuals online, just need a library card.
Just an FYI..... My local public library has many of the manuals and will photocopy pages out of them for you for a few cents. If all you need is a specific section, it may save you money. I agree that the manuals are damn near worthless..... Kharn |
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Members of this forum below get access to GM service info from 1980 to 2009
1. Register at www.gpona.com/forums/ 2. Confirm your registration with an automatically generated email. 3. Go to sm.gpona.com:9001/si/home.do or click the GM Service Manual link at top right of the forum 4. Enter your forum username and password. 5. Enjoy access to GM Service Information. |
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As if all that wasn't bad enough, Chevrolet has DiScOnTiNuEd that hose. They no longer make or stock it. Aftermarket it is!
I went to an AutoZone and an O'Reilly Auto Parts this afternoon, and both of them wanted me to tell them the i.d. of the hose so they could sell me a length of generic heater hose as a replacement. Apparently no one makes a specific aftermarket formed hose for a 5 year old truck yet. 
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As if all that wasn't bad enough, Chevrolet has DiScOnTiNuEd that hose. They no longer make or stock it. Aftermarket it is! I went to an AutoZone and an O'Reilly Auto Parts this afternoon, and both of them wanted me to tell them the i.d. of the hose so they could sell me a length of generic heater hose as a replacement. Apparently no one makes a specific aftermarket formed hose for a 5 year old truck yet. Nobody is ever going to make one either. |
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Just an FYI..... My local public library has many of the manuals and will photocopy pages out of them for you for a few cents. If all you need is a specific section, it may save you money. I agree that the manuals are damn near worthless..... I did this several tines when I was in high school. The library was near the parts store anyway. 
I use the internet to look up most things now and I have a Chilton's manual just in case I need a hand on the side of the road somewhere. |
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Quoted: As if all that wasn't bad enough, Chevrolet has DiScOnTiNuEd that hose. They no longer make or stock it. Aftermarket it is! I went to an AutoZone and an O'Reilly Auto Parts this afternoon, and both of them wanted me to tell them the i.d. of the hose so they could sell me a length of generic heater hose as a replacement. Apparently no one makes a specific aftermarket formed hose for a 5 year old truck yet. Good radiator shop can make you one. |
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Factory service manuals are the only way to go. Most large public libraries have them on microfiche or on CD's. Yep, you can get factory manuals for most vehicles on eBay. Also, a lot of vehicles have forums for enthusiasts of those models, and there will be tech info and people there who can help with common problems. This can be really helpful. ETA: I don't have a Tahoe, so I have no idea how good these forums are, but perhaps they will be useful. http://www.tahoeforum.com/ http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/ Even if you don't use them for mechanic's advice, they may be interesting/helpful for other things. |
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Damn, you bought them?
Use the online Chilton for any year, make and model vehicle. All you need is a library card number. Scroll down to Chilton Library , click and enter card number. |
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Factory service manuals all the way.
Chilton used to be good until the mid seventies. Haynes( the U.K. books ) were good until shortly after the merger/take over/ whatever. Unsubstantiated rumor for the seemingly instant dumbing down of the manuals ca 1977. The recession and pressure from the garage owners due to loosing business from the DIY inclined car owner. It's plausible as garages then had shelves and shelves of service books. Chilton, Motors, Clymer and Haynes were publishers I remember seeing on the shelves. |
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Chilton and Haynes manuals are the suck. They are the most useless books ever sold as a repair manual . They are generic crap at best and would make good fire starter . beyond a set of torque specs they are junk. You are better off buying a factory manual or looking online |
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Quoted: Damn, you bought them? Use the online Chilton for any year, make and model vehicle. All you need is a library card number. Scroll down to Chilton Library , click and enter card number. I just mashed a bunch of numbers on my numeric keypad and it let me right in. |
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Chilton and Haynes manuals are the suck. Too true. Look in the back of your owners manual for a source for the factory manuals. You might pay through the nose for them, but if you are a competent mechanic that likes to do his own work, they are invaluable. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Chilton and Haynes manuals are the suck. Too true. Look in the back of your owners manual for a source for the factory manuals. You might pay through the nose for them, but if you are a competent mechanic that likes to do his own work, they are invaluable. eBay FTW. |
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Chilton and Haynes manuals are the suck. Too true. Look in the back of your owners manual for a source for the factory manuals. You might pay through the nose for them, but if you are a competent mechanic that likes to do his own work, they are invaluable. eBay FTW. That listing is for an earlier model Tahoe, but the same seller has the manual for mine as well. I just bought it. Thanks. |
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As if all that wasn't bad enough, Chevrolet has DiScOnTiNuEd that hose. They no longer make or stock it. Aftermarket it is! I went to an AutoZone and an O'Reilly Auto Parts this afternoon, and both of them wanted me to tell them the i.d. of the hose so they could sell me a length of generic heater hose as a replacement. Apparently no one makes a specific aftermarket formed hose for a 5 year old truck yet. Try NAPA. But if they have them, it'll be like $70. Typically, by the time heater hoses need replacing they've stopped making them from the factory for that vehicle, so most folks will just run generic hoses. Or cut the old hoses off the sleeves of the original and fabricate new formed hoses. Sometimes if you are lucky there are pre-formed aftermarkets made for the vehicle, but they won't be anywhere near as perfectly fitting as the original hose assembly. Also, if they'll let you into the back to look at all the formed heater hoses for other vehicles, you might be able to find a close match for the pieces you need. |
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As if all that wasn't bad enough, Chevrolet has DiScOnTiNuEd that hose. They no longer make or stock it. Aftermarket it is! I went to an AutoZone and an O'Reilly Auto Parts this afternoon, and both of them wanted me to tell them the i.d. of the hose so they could sell me a length of generic heater hose as a replacement. Apparently no one makes a specific aftermarket formed hose for a 5 year old truck yet. If you absolutely must have factory: http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/catalog/frameset.cfm |
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Chilton and Haynes manuals are the suck. Too true. Look in the back of your owners manual for a source for the factory manuals. You might pay through the nose for them, but if you are a competent mechanic that likes to do his own work, they are invaluable. eBay FTW. That listing is for an earlier model Tahoe, but the same seller has the manual for mine as well. I just bought it. Thanks. Which engine is it? Rockauto appears to have a coolant tank sized hose for the 4.x litre engine version of your vehicle, unless I'm mistaken. edit: i just did a "backtrace" on your username, ar15.com, and tahoe in google, and it tells me you have a 5.3, the pages look identical http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1433255,parttype,2058 more edit: i guess you may be SOL anyhoo, those all look like rad hoses––this is the heater hose section with a large no. of bulk straight options: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1433255,parttype,6892 |