JUST A NOTE TO LET US KNOW HOW LUCKY WE ARE.

zubzub · April 18, 2009, 08:12:14 AM

Doing some maintenance on my gf's 2001 safari (gmc POS) For starters just getting at the dizzy was a huge headache (inside the van have to remove under dash and wiring) and then when I went to change the s plug wires seems you have to pull the whees and go through the wheel wells and even then it's tight. Top it all off I have a steering fluid leak and just to have a look takes 5 mins of housing removal (more if you don't know what you're doing). And here is the clincher, when I went on line looking for all the info re the above, I had to look all over the place and there was no one decent source/forum for all of this and really why should there be from what I can tell the vehicle is a throw away, most of the central locking etc is intermitent. Still it only has 160,000 kms while my '92 VW Eurovan (most modern rig I have ever had) has 420,000 kms and all systems are still working.

So the real point of this is I very grateful and surprised that when it comes to fixing a 55 year old bus I have more info and support than fixing an of the shelf recent van.

jackhartjr · April 18, 2009, 09:11:00 AM

ZubZub...I feel your pain buddy.
One thing I do when I buy a new to me vehicle is to get the 'Chilton" manual from Advance Auto when they come out. It helps me through a lot of what you just did...in other words it would have probably told you how to best get at that leak.
As for the bus...I have three manuals for it, one I bought, one a very nice friend in Ohio gave me when he hear we had the Scenicruiser and one...well...ask Kyle how I got it!

Jack

zubzub · April 18, 2009, 07:25:26 PM

I'll check out the Chilton's, haven't used a Chilton's in years, on the european cars I mostly run, Haynes has always been the the better book and Chilton ran a distant 2nd. FWIW I had to buy factory manuals for my eurovan as that was all that was available, $275 nasty price but worth it in the long run.

jackhartjr · April 18, 2009, 07:44:04 PM

You know what zubzub, my last couple are Haynes!
Jack

gumpy · April 19, 2009, 11:12:44 AM

Quote from: zubzub on April 18, 2009, 07:25:26 PM
I'll check out the Chilton's, haven't used a Chilton's in years, on the european cars I mostly run, Haynes has always been the the better book and Chilton ran a distant 2nd. FWIW I had to buy factory manuals for my eurovan as that was all that was available, $275 nasty price but worth it in the long run.

I'm not sure, but I think Chilton and Haynes may be owned by the same company, or at least written by the same person. I bought both manuals for my 03 Explorer, and they were nearly identical. The text was the same. Even the photos were the same. And neither were very good for the wiring schematics though there was enough info to get it wired for towing.

When I went to wire the 07 Explorer, I ordered a Haynes for the wiring schematic. It was absolutely useless. After I got it, I found out they had just extended to 03 manual to include everything between 03 and 07. Unfortunately, the wiring harnesses had changed, and more importantly the colors of the wires had changed. I could not find one wire based on the book's schematic. I had to trace them back from the tail lights, and then it was a guessing game. Took me about 12 hours to get the tail lights wired on that one.

NewbeeMC9 · April 20, 2009, 04:58:54 AM

I had the same issue with wiring on an old 95 explorer, it was an eddie bauer and had a fancy(but stock) radio, so specifics was not covered and wiring was different.

I ended up paying $12 for Alldata and found it quite useful and accurate on those specifics down to a fuse that was not labeled for that service.

http://www.alldata.com/

I haven't renewed for the toad yet but seriously considering it.

JohnEd · April 20, 2009, 01:38:02 PM

I have alldata for everything. Used to be better and that I have no explanation for as it is all digital stuff.

Haynes USED TO BE BETTER. Maybe their old books still print out as the old version and not the chilton clone. Chilton is and has been junk for a while now.

I went down to my Lex dealer and wined about not having tech data and the Service Manager took me back to their "library" and told me to help myself and use the desk out front by the parts counter...."call me if I can be of more assistance". Unbelieveable!

A while later I had problems with my Ranger. Went over to the dealer and asked if I could use the shop library and the SM said "WHAT?". I answered " Hey, they extend that service over at the Lex dealer to me....why shouldn't you guys?" He thought on that for a second and said "follow me, please". Took me to the library and walked me thru how things were arranged and said "if you need any copies see the girl next to the parts counter". More disbelief! I was kidding him. I still have Alldata cause mostly it gives me the answers I need, but when the going gets tough....you know.

John the happy camper

Lin · April 20, 2009, 01:50:07 PM

Chilton and Haynes may be okay, but you are far better off getting the factory service manual. There are many available on Ebay.

gus · April 21, 2009, 08:07:22 PM

I agree with Lin. Chilton and Haynes are only useful for minor stuff and sometimes will have a photo not found in the factory manual, but there is no substitute for factory manuals. I have them for every vehicle I own and don't see I could do without them.

Len Silva · April 22, 2009, 06:16:28 AM

I've had the same experience with Honda dealers. One laughed me out of the office, the other spent the best part of an hour showing me where to find the information I needed and making copies for me. Guess who gets my business.