The Best Auto Repair Manuals for the Job

Auto Repair Manuals, Service Manuals, & Shop Manuals

Different Manuals for Different Situations

• Bentley Manuals - Publishing auto repair manuals since the 1960's, they are still publishing today, Robert Bentley Inc has both official factory repair manuals and service manuals for import (foreign) and domestic cars.
  
  Service manuals have briefer entries and are written by the Bentley staff. Service manuals often include additional troubleshooting tips, routine maintenance hints, and model-specific repair information not found in their other manual type. It is aimed at the do-it-yourself owner and the pro.
  
  The official repair manual is written by the manufacturer and is aimed at the advanced-level do-it-yourself owner or professional technician. It contains more information than the service manuals and assumes a high level of automotive experience and skill.
• Chilton Manuals - Probably the most famous name in the auto repair world, Chilton's has been publishing manuals since 1922. They cover both domestic and import vehicles going back all the way to the 1940's.
  
  Some of the highlights include: step-by-step service and repair procedures, close-up photographs and illustrations, vacuum and wiring diagrams, troubleshooting and diagnostics guides, and maintenance and specification tables.
  
  They also have a series of more technical diagnostic manuals and labor cost manuals. The labor times take into account vehicle age, operating conditions, and the aftermarket shop environment for more accurate estimates. The technical diagnostic manuals feature: a comprehensive list of trouble code titles, conditions, and possible causes and explains engine performance components and system operation.
• Clymer Manuals - Covers not just cars but ATVs, motorcycles, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, and small engines. They stopped publishing auto repair manuals in the early 1990's. These manuals are aimed strictly at the do-it-yourself owner and therefore are more basic.
  
  The books cover routine maintenance, such as tune-ups and brake service, and more extensive repairs involving engine and transmission disassembly. They have excellent illustrations and photographs of the model they completely disassembled and reassembled in order to write the book.
• Haynes Manuals- Also publishing auto repair manuals since the 1960's, they are still publishing today. These are aimed at the do-it-yourself owner and the pro. They cover over 300 models of cars and 130 types of motorcycles, both domestic and imports.
  
  Each book is written by a pair of writers who work approximately six months on the book. A car or motorcycle is bought at the beginning of the project and sold at the end.
  
  Manuals published before 1993 are called "Owner's Workshop Manual" and after 1993, "Service & Repair Manual." The major difference being that the earlier manuals were far more technical. Reprints of the earlier manuals were converted to the service and repair manual type of book. A chapter devoted to maintenance can be found only in the 1993 and newer manuals.
• Mitchell Manuals- Covers 1966-2002 for domestic cars and 1968-2002 for imports. They were originally called National Service Data. These are only written for a range of years or car models rather than a single volume for each make and model. They also have medium and heavy duty trucks repair manuals.
  
  Sections include engine performance, electrical, engine, chassis, heating & air conditioning, and electrical components. They have some of the most detailed wiring diagrams available. There is a separate set of transmission repair manuals.
  
  There are also Mechanical Parts & Labor Estimating guides, Mechanical Labor Estimating guides and Transmission Parts & Labor guides. All of them provide over twenty years of parts and labor costs.
• Shop Manuals- These are commonly called factory shop (or service) manuals or OEM manuals in later years. These come directly from the manufacturer (ie. Ford, Honda, etc) and are the most detailed and accurate repair manual you will find. Each one will cover a specific year, make, and model of car.
  
  Not surprising, they cost more and are generally BIG books. Factory experts prepare these manuals for their dealership service departments. Procedures provided are factory approved methods and will not offer shortcuts.
  
  Shop manuals are not for beginners. Descriptions are not broken down to their most fundamental parts because it is assumed you have some working knowledge of engines.
  
  Consider it your bible or ultimate reference source!