Chilton or Haynes?

[josevargas]

I put 106K miles on my 2005 Explorer in three years. Pretty good vehicle, until the blend door started acting up. Realized that I was in the dark for the most part about the inner workings of my vehicle. Looking around for a repair manual and realized that Chilton's were a tad more expensive than Haynes. Any preferences or suggestions as to which one would be the better buy?

 

[techieman33]

Both if you can afford them.

 

[03Redfire]

From working at a dealership for the past 35 years, I can tell you that the best manual is the factory manual for the year of vehicle you are working on. Both Chilton's and Haynes manuals only hint at the information needed for large jobes. The books are usually designed to cover many years, starting with 2002 in your case. They will cover 2002 through 2005. Most of the info will be for the 20002 the first year of the new body style. Later years or different information may be left out and get you in trouble. The factory manual will zero in on the model that it is for and give enough detail to get the job done. I know the cost factor of the factory manual is several times higher than the other books, but you get what you pay for. I actually have bought most of my factory manuals off Ebay at a fraction of the price that the dealer would charge. On my 2003 I bought the main service manual for $40.00 and the electrical diagram and troubleshooting manual for $15. If you know someone at a dealer you may be able to talk them into printing off pages from the electronic manuals that they use. Again this is better than the other books.

 

[aldive]

I am a fan of Haynes.

Good luck ....

 

[shadowless127]

From working at a dealership for the past 35 years, I can tell you that the best manual is the factory manual for the year of vehicle you are working on. Both Chilton's and Haynes manuals only hint at the information needed for large jobes. The books are usually designed to cover many years, starting with 2002 in your case. They will cover 2002 through 2005. Most of the info will be for the 20002 the first year of the new body style. Later years or different information may be left out and get you in trouble. The factory manual will zero in on the model that it is for and give enough detail to get the job done. I know the cost factor of the factory manual is several times higher than the other books, but you get what you pay for. I actually have bought most of my factory manuals off Ebay at a fraction of the price that the dealer would charge. On my 2003 I bought the main service manual for $40.00 and the electrical diagram and troubleshooting manual for $15. If you know someone at a dealer you may be able to talk them into printing off pages from the electronic manuals that they use. Again this is better than the other books.

QFT. NOTHING will ever beat material coming from the people who built your vehicle, because no one will know more about something then the people who made it; same thing applies with all products.

HOWEVER, out of the two, I like haynes a bit better. BUT, take a trip down to your local library, they may have the Chilton books you can borrow or copy off the pages you need for the blend door.

 

[jrford]

I think you can get them on CD or in Paper. I just bought the books – big one for $150 and another $50 for the Wire Schematics for my model and year. CD is a lot cheaper, I guess I’m a little old fashion I find it easy to flip pages, and I’m a little leery of propping my laptop on the Valve cover . . .or sliding underneath the car with it. Books don’t’ have a problem oil, dust and dirt.

Its labeled 2004 Explorer / Mountaineer. Over 1000 pages, tons of drawings for everything and Diagnostic steps too. I have bought them for all my cars if I plan on owning it for a long time. Well worth it, pictures very helpful. It is written for the tech so some things are assumed.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Chilton makes a CD too. I bought one in Pep Boys.

 

[Turdle]

If you ever need to change a heater core, you'll quickly find haynes and chilton's both worthless.

Get the ford manual if you can.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Both if you can afford them.

x2. I have one of each. Haynes' will show you things Chilton's doesn't & vice versa.