1 of the most usefull DIY products!!!

[gururise]

Just got my $8 CD. The graphics could be better, but it definately is worth the $8.

Appears to be a CD-R copy of the actual service manual. I don't know if it's legit or not. If it isn't that guy is in for some trouble once Ford finds out.

Gururise

 

[dogfriend]

Originally posted by 98FordX24

Yeah, I dont see anything on this CD that isnt in my haynes manual. Maybe I havnt found the good stuff on it yet.

There's a lot of stuff on mine that isn't in Haynes or Chilton.

I bought the CD from the same guy Robert bought from.

The CD I have fits the description of the one that costs $1200 from Helm. (I think that it is an early edition though, so it may not have all revisions of the most current one)

It includes the Service Manual which shows all procedures to remove and repair anything from the power seats to the auto transmission. I also bought the paper version of this on Ebay. It comes in two 6 inch thick binders and has a couple thousand pages. It appears that all of the info is on the CD.

It also includes the Electronic & Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual (EVTM) which gives schematics of all systems, connector and splice locations, and pin diagrams with circuit numbers and color codes. I think this is the best feature on the CD. This is much better than either Haynes or Chilton because the information is specific to your vehicle; its not a generic schematic (i.e. 4.0L shown, other engines and years similar -- how similar? what's different?)

It also includes the Powertrain / Emissions Diagonosis Manual which has descriptions of how the various systems are supposed to operate and has Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) and Pinpoint tests to diagnose common problems.

Wow - either you got a different CD or you haven't looked at the whole thing

 

[BradE.]

I really like my CD. The power train diagnostics manual alone is worth about $150. Hanynes is small time compared to this thing.

 

[Robert]

Neither my Haynes nor my Chiltons will give a flow chart for troubleshooting OBD-II codes. I have had two different codes since I got the CD and went to the DTC table. Scrolled down to the exact code, clicked on the link and got 3-4 pages of step-by-step instructions on the proper flow of diagnostics routines to troubleshoot the code. My previous manuals give a one sentance description of the code and leave it up to you to decide what to do about it. Also, when I replaced my rear parking brake shoes last Saturday, I went to the procedure on the CD and printed out the complete procedure (about 3 pages). It lists numbered, step-by-step directions to follow with drawings for about every other step. My Haynes manual shows a photo of the rear parking brake assembly and only has a few undetailed steps to change them out. All of the drawings and schematics that were mentioned are in there, but so are much more detailed procedures for everything I have looked up so far than you will find in the Haynes or Chiltons manuals.

 

[X24]

Maybe the $8 CD is different.

 

[BradE.]

I have the $8 one, it's a Ford Factory Service manual. Has everything Robert mentioned. EVTM, Powertrain diagnostics manual, and Service. Has the torque specs for every bolt on the truck, gives all trouble codes and troubleshooting info as Robert mentioned, also give DTC's for Transmission. Lists just about every repair procedure you can think of. Also uses factory part numbers. It's worth $8 just for the Powertrain Diagnostics info.

Perhaps you just got a bad one. Mine has 1000x more info on it than the vague Haynes manual. A true must have for anyone serious about working on their X.

:redexp:

 

[dogfriend]

just one more point

I will give two examples of how the CD has much better information.

If you look at Haynes, in Chapter 12 paragraph 31 Wiring Diagrams:

"Since it isn't possible to include all wiring diagrams....the following diagrams are those that are typical and most commonly needed"

They give a table of color codes but no other explanation about how to read the schematics.

If you look at some of the generic schematics in Haynes, you can see numbers like C123 and G105 and S206. This is not explained, but these refer to Connectors, Grounds and Splices in the electrical harness. On the CD, you can look these up by number (C123) and find the location described both in words, (ie left front inner fender) and with a drawing. The practical use of this is that if you suspect that you have a ground problem in (for example) the power window circuit you can easily find all of the grounds in the circuit. You can easily find a connector so you can check for voltage or continuity in any circuit.

Second example: Chapter 7 Part C para 1 Transfer Case

"Due to the complexity of the transfer cases...this chapter only covers
...removal and installation procedures."

The service manual (CD) has three chapters on the transfer case. The first chapter gives the description & operation + Diagnosis & Testing (DTC's and Pinpoint Tests) plus Symptom Chart for both A4WD (4.0L) and AWD (5.0L). The second chapter is In-Vehicle repairs and complete teardown of A4WD case. The third chapter is the same for AWD. I agree that not many would have the courage (stupidity? ) to tear apart their T-case on the front lawn, but at least you will know what you're getting for your $1200 when the shop does it for you.

I think knowledge is power, and this CD has a lot of knowledge in it.

 

[93exploder]

What do you have to do to get the CD to work ? I have windows XP.

 

[dogfriend]

I think that a couple of eariler posts said that it ran on XP with no problem.

I have run it on two different computers: a Mac using Virtual PC (under OS9) and on a crappy 133 (I think) Pentium with Win 98 at work. It runs on both with no problem. I wish it would run under Mac OS X, because I would be able to convert pages to PDF format and email them.

 

[93exploder]

well it installed just fine now for some reason where it wouldn't before. Now to figure out where the stuff I need is.

 

[Mike]

welp i just ordered mine... hope i like it

 

[spotted dogs]

can't get a copy in Canada!

I checked these auctions and the sellers will only ship to the US of A. I would love to get my hands on a copy....Is there anyone willing to help me out with "copy" of a 1998 Explorer....I am not a cheapskate trying to avoid the $$$ of an "original copy"...and will pay any cost of a cd, postage etc.

 

[TwoToneX]

Well, one of the guys is selling one for a 93/94 Ford Trucks including the Explorer. Have any of the first gen's tried it out? How well would this work for 91's and 92's ya think? Here's the link for the 93/94 CD:

Dead Link Removed

 

[dogfriend]

re: Early Explorer CD

For $8, I would try it. Even for 91, a lot of the details would be the same. The EVTM is the most valueable part, IMO.

 

[boo_koo]

Originally posted by TwoToneX
Well, one of the guys is selling one for a 93/94 Ford Trucks including the Explorer. Have any of the first gen's tried it out? How well would this work for 91's and 92's ya think?

Here's one for the 1992
Dead Link Removed

 

[diablo5969]

I know this is kind of old, but did anybody ever end up getting a CD for a first get Ex?

 

[IAmTodd]

I have the '95 version, and it is excellent! So far it has helped me when i rewired my speakers and other various things. With mine though, the search feature never works! I don't know why, but it doesn't. Definetly worth however much I paid for it!!!

 

[Nate1]

Just wondering what the layout is? Is it a large html database.... or like a windows help file, or did ford up and make their own software. Methinks I'm buying one, and would like to know if I can convert the whole thing to PDF. Thanks
-----Nate

 

[dogfriend]

Originally posted by nweibley
Just wondering what the layout is? Is it a large html database.... or like a windows help file, or did ford up and make their own software. Methinks I'm buying one, and would like to know if I can convert the whole thing to PDF. Thanks
-----Nate

It appears to be a proprietary software package. It doesn't use html (at least if it does it is well disguised). You can copy images and text to the clipboard and paste them into other applications, so theoretlcally you could paste into another app that can convert to PDF.

I run it under emulation on a Mac under Virtual PC (Mac OS 9). If I had Virtual PC for Mac OS X, then I could convert pages to PDF because you can convert anything that you can print into a PDF file under OS X. I haven't bought the newer version of Virtual PC because the Ford CD is the only application that I need to use it for. I am getting tired of rebooting into OS 9 just to look at my Ford CD though.

 

[Robert]

It's a DOS based sudo Windows look. You can print the documents so you can print them to a .PDF file. I have done a few of them but I would never try and convert the whole disk, there are like a gazillion pages.