Hey, been looking for a Chilton'* Manual for my car since I got it. I have used Haynes before and they have been more useful paper weights than anything else. When I noticed the Chiltons manual it looked different than the older ones I have seen but didn't think more about it. When I got home I opened up the cover on it, Haynes must of bought out Chiltons and just sticks Chiltons name on it!! WTF? Sorry for the rant .

What is a good inexpensive manual for my car? I cannot afford Pontiacs 2 edition set for $70 at the moment. Anything else? Some guy on eBay sells a CD for my car for $30.00 shipped, but doesn't give a brand so I am skeptical as to how much actual useful info is in it. Anyone here have that CD and fell like burning me a copy? PM me incase anyone wants to work out a deal, but I doubt that will happen. Anyone recommend something?? TIA

I've got 'em all. The best is the 2 volumn set of Pontiac manuals, but are also the hardest to read and the most expensive. The CD is a collection of PDF files from the manuals and isn't complete and is sometimes shortcutted,it'* about $30 on eBay. I didn't find it worth the money I paid. I also have the Hays and the Chiltons, both are good but don't cover everything your gonna need, if you can't afford the big manuals these would be a good starters.
I get the most use out of the two volume Pontiac set and the "H" Body Parts & Illustration Catalog. I bet I've got a $100 in those alone. They have been worth every penny.

ken

I bought a chiltons at Wal-Mart one night, compleatly un-intentionally too
I noticed the 92-93 White SE on the cover, i grabbed it and bought, didnt even look at the price
Its Manual number 28200. has served me well so far!

That'* the one. Found mine on e-Bay, paid 1.99 for it + (I think) 4.00 shipping...figured that was a major deal.

ken

wow i paid 16 CDN for it, still money well spent IMO

Just lucky on that one. !!!SCORE!!!


ken

I paid $18 for my Chilton'*, and went 4 towns over to get it. Tthinking about returning it and going for the Pontiac books. Are they vehical specific or Do they have the Eighty Eight and they LeSabre in them too? I would assume specific since its Pontiac but just want to make sure. I hope that will be a wise investment. Thanks for all the info guys.

They are totally and completely vehicle-specific: the exact year and model. The books are made up of the pre-written chapters that pertain to your car, so in other words the components shared with Buicks will have the same chapters appearing in the Buick book. By the same token, the way the books are put together means that the chapter numbering doesn't always flow smoothly (e.g. the book might skip from Chapter 8a to Chapter 8c without ever explaining that Chapter 8b has nothing to do with your car, but don't worry about it; the Table of Contents is correct anyway).

Right.

Absolutely; it will pay for itself very quickly. I've been able to not only do repair jobs myself that I would otherwise have had to pay $$$ to have someone else perform, but also I probably did the repairs _better_ than they would since I had (and was actually reading) the exact instructions on how to do it on my specific car.

(and if I do have to send the car someplace for service, I'll lend them the manuals as well.)

Can anyone that has the Pontiac books give me the part numbers or the ISBN numbers? I found it at one place yesturday on Google, trying to find it today and cant?? Thanks

Part numbers for what?