Haynes vs. Chiltons

[MarEng]

Was going to post this in the bilge as it is a bit of a rant but didn't want it lost in the political flood - selfish aren't I?

Have avoided Chiltons manuals for years - they have always been less than useless. In a fit of desparation I purchased one last night - my Chrysler 318 manual didn't cover the model year in question and I needed to figure out which pin to ground to dump the ABS error codes. You guessed it - still less than useless. Of course the auto parts store won't take the manual back now that the plastic is off. ($15 flushed.) Waiting for the Haynes manual to arrive by mail. The Haynes was cheaper too!

Just hate to see others throw good money away on poor documentation without at least being forwarned.

[MarEng]

Was going to post this in the bilge as it is a bit of a rant but didn't want it lost in the political flood - selfish aren't I?

Have avoided Chiltons manuals for years - they have always been less than useless. In a fit of desparation I purchased one last night - my Chrysler 318 manual didn't cover the model year in question and I needed to figure out which pin to ground to dump the ABS error codes. You guessed it - still less than useless. Of course the auto parts store won't take the manual back now that the plastic is off. ($15 flushed.) Waiting for the Haynes manual to arrive by mail. The Haynes was cheaper too!

Just hate to see others throw good money away on poor documentation without at least being forwarned.

[MarEng]

Was going to post this in the bilge as it is a bit of a rant but didn't want it lost in the political flood - selfish aren't I?

Have avoided Chiltons manuals for years - they have always been less than useless. In a fit of desparation I purchased one last night - my Chrysler 318 manual didn't cover the model year in question and I needed to figure out which pin to ground to dump the ABS error codes. You guessed it - still less than useless. Of course the auto parts store won't take the manual back now that the plastic is off. ($15 flushed.) Waiting for the Haynes manual to arrive by mail. The Haynes was cheaper too!

Just hate to see others throw good money away on poor documentation without at least being forwarned.

[Keith Wilson]

The only decent Chilton's manual I ever saw was the one for my old Ducati 250 single, and I think that one was mostly a translation from something Italian. The rest of them are, as you say, worse than useless. Haynes isn't perfect by any means, but at least you can get something done.

[Keith Wilson]

The only decent Chilton's manual I ever saw was the one for my old Ducati 250 single, and I think that one was mostly a translation from something Italian. The rest of them are, as you say, worse than useless. Haynes isn't perfect by any means, but at least you can get something done.

[Keith Wilson]

The only decent Chilton's manual I ever saw was the one for my old Ducati 250 single, and I think that one was mostly a translation from something Italian. The rest of them are, as you say, worse than useless. Haynes isn't perfect by any means, but at least you can get something done.

[raycon]

I prefer Haynes over Chiltons as well especially for electrical systems troubleshooting.

[raycon]

I prefer Haynes over Chiltons as well especially for electrical systems troubleshooting.

[raycon]

I prefer Haynes over Chiltons as well especially for electrical systems troubleshooting.

[Ken Hutchins]

Should not need the pin thing, turn the ignition key on/off,on/off,on and the check engine light will blink. If it doesn't work try again with an additional on/off or maybe even twice more. I will have to look up the codes, the only one I remember is 55 means end of eror codes. You should be able to find the codes on Google somewhere.
What is the problem with the vechicle?

[Ken Hutchins]

Should not need the pin thing, turn the ignition key on/off,on/off,on and the check engine light will blink. If it doesn't work try again with an additional on/off or maybe even twice more. I will have to look up the codes, the only one I remember is 55 means end of eror codes. You should be able to find the codes on Google somewhere.
What is the problem with the vechicle?

[Ken Hutchins]

Should not need the pin thing, turn the ignition key on/off,on/off,on and the check engine light will blink. If it doesn't work try again with an additional on/off or maybe even twice more. I will have to look up the codes, the only one I remember is 55 means end of eror codes. You should be able to find the codes on Google somewhere.
What is the problem with the vechicle?

[MarEng]

Scary - I was going to mail the Chilton's manual to the publisher with my receipt, on the off chance they'd refund my money. The publisher of Chilton's is now Haynes. I hope things don't sink to the lowest common denominator.

I've got an ABS light on. Used to be you grounded pin 13 on the ABS plug (separate computer from the engine computer) and the ABS light would flash the code. The MIL (check engine) light is not on - so no engine codes. This is a 2000 model truck (RAM 1500) and pin 13 is an empty slot. Suspect it is a failed RWAL sensor but wanted to confirm before I change it.

Suspect the Vehicle Speed Sensor is also going. No speedo below 20mph then works fine. Sensor changed with the newer model year. Also, no MIL code for a failed VSS in my older manual - probably the reason for no check engine light. Have already thrown the ignition switch and no codes pop up on the MIL light.

[MarEng]

Scary - I was going to mail the Chilton's manual to the publisher with my receipt, on the off chance they'd refund my money. The publisher of Chilton's is now Haynes. I hope things don't sink to the lowest common denominator.

I've got an ABS light on. Used to be you grounded pin 13 on the ABS plug (separate computer from the engine computer) and the ABS light would flash the code. The MIL (check engine) light is not on - so no engine codes. This is a 2000 model truck (RAM 1500) and pin 13 is an empty slot. Suspect it is a failed RWAL sensor but wanted to confirm before I change it.

Suspect the Vehicle Speed Sensor is also going. No speedo below 20mph then works fine. Sensor changed with the newer model year. Also, no MIL code for a failed VSS in my older manual - probably the reason for no check engine light. Have already thrown the ignition switch and no codes pop up on the MIL light.

[MarEng]

Scary - I was going to mail the Chilton's manual to the publisher with my receipt, on the off chance they'd refund my money. The publisher of Chilton's is now Haynes. I hope things don't sink to the lowest common denominator.

I've got an ABS light on. Used to be you grounded pin 13 on the ABS plug (separate computer from the engine computer) and the ABS light would flash the code. The MIL (check engine) light is not on - so no engine codes. This is a 2000 model truck (RAM 1500) and pin 13 is an empty slot. Suspect it is a failed RWAL sensor but wanted to confirm before I change it.

Suspect the Vehicle Speed Sensor is also going. No speedo below 20mph then works fine. Sensor changed with the newer model year. Also, no MIL code for a failed VSS in my older manual - probably the reason for no check engine light. Have already thrown the ignition switch and no codes pop up on the MIL light.

[Ken Hutchins]

Sorry, no experience with ABS problems so the only thing I can think of is the obvious, check the brakes all 4 wheels.

[Ken Hutchins]

Sorry, no experience with ABS problems so the only thing I can think of is the obvious, check the brakes all 4 wheels.

[Ken Hutchins]

Sorry, no experience with ABS problems so the only thing I can think of is the obvious, check the brakes all 4 wheels.

[Victor]

Or do what I did - pull out the bulb! tongue.gif

[Victor]

Or do what I did - pull out the bulb! tongue.gif

[Victor]

Or do what I did - pull out the bulb! tongue.gif

[Mike DeHart]

Yes! A hardware solution to a software problem. In New Jersey you fail the state vehicle inspection if the "check engine" light is on. If you pluck that light enough times, it goes out and doesn't turn on again. The electrical engineer who sits next to me at work gets all upset when you fix things this way, but I checked the engine first and it was still right there under the hood where it belonged....

[Mike DeHart]

Yes! A hardware solution to a software problem. In New Jersey you fail the state vehicle inspection if the "check engine" light is on. If you pluck that light enough times, it goes out and doesn't turn on again. The electrical engineer who sits next to me at work gets all upset when you fix things this way, but I checked the engine first and it was still right there under the hood where it belonged....

[Mike DeHart]

Yes! A hardware solution to a software problem. In New Jersey you fail the state vehicle inspection if the "check engine" light is on. If you pluck that light enough times, it goes out and doesn't turn on again. The electrical engineer who sits next to me at work gets all upset when you fix things this way, but I checked the engine first and it was still right there under the hood where it belonged....

[dmede]

best advice i ever got on my landcruiser forum was to take my chiltons manual, throw it in the bushes. throw some rocks at it. burn it and the bush.

the only thing they are good for is starting fires.

[dmede]

best advice i ever got on my landcruiser forum was to take my chiltons manual, throw it in the bushes. throw some rocks at it. burn it and the bush.

the only thing they are good for is starting fires.

[dmede]

best advice i ever got on my landcruiser forum was to take my chiltons manual, throw it in the bushes. throw some rocks at it. burn it and the bush.

the only thing they are good for is starting fires.

[JeffH]

I've alway perferred Haynes, but I may be a bit biased...

smile.gif

Jeff Haines

[JeffH]

I've alway perferred Haynes, but I may be a bit biased...

smile.gif

Jeff Haines

[JeffH]

I've alway perferred Haynes, but I may be a bit biased...

smile.gif

Jeff Haines