Repair Manuals

[VeeDub]

I am a DIY guy and I am looking at getting a 2006 Mazda5. There does not seem to be a Haynes manual for this vehicle. Where do you pro guys get manuals? Book or online. Thanks

Edit: I have found some used ones on EBay/Amazon for around $120 is that reasonable?

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[woodstockva]

I use ALLDATA (online), but for my personal vehicles or any family member's that I work on all the time I buy the factory shop/service manuals. They are the most complete precise manuals you can buy....better than ANY other source of information for a specific make/model/year of vehicle.

Think about it like this.....The Haynes Ford Ranger manual covers like 15-20 years of them & is only 1 1/2" thick......The factory shop manual for any ONE year is a mutli-volume set of books that is typically 4"-6" thick.....no comparison whatsoever. With the factory manual you can literally take a vehicle completely apart & put if back together.

Ebay is by far the best source. Look at the sold listings first to get an idea of what they are actually going for, and then create a "saved search" to notify you when a new listing is posted.

 

[joel63]

I am a DIY guy and I am looking at getting a 2006 Mazda5. There does not seem to be a Haynes manual for this vehicle. Where do you pro guys get manuals? Book or online. Thanks

Edit: I have found some used ones on EBay/Amazon for around $120 is that reasonable?

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Are they factory manuals?
They are your best bet.

 

[Darius6t9]

Found a couple on ebay for ya. one is a cd for $8.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/281134485070?lpid=82

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2005-2010-M...008-2009-/261456076374?_trksid=p2054897.l5670

Search results on ebay

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trk...006+mazda+5+service+manual&_sacat=0&_from=R40

 

[VeeDub]

Thanks. Those look good


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[Charles (in GA)]

Do yourself a favor and get the factory manuals. They have good text and illustrations. AllData is good, but sometimes leads you astray, and the pics **** most of the time. I don't own a vehicle that I don't have the factory manuals to.

Charles

 

[mrborohachi]

Faxon Auto literature look them up on a google search, they only carry FACTORY FSM's

 

[GSMotorrad]

Where do you guys get the official factory manuals? Is "Bentley Publishing" official, or is like a glorified haynes/chiltons?

 

[GrantCee]

I'm just a normal DIY guy, and I've learned the hard way to buy only the factory manuals (you'll often find them generically abbreviated FSM, for "factory service manual".) I own the FSM for every vehicle I have, PLUS my tractor. They are just invaluable. As others have said, check eBay.

Be aware that there are some people who make a living collecting FSMs, scanning them, and putting them on CD. There's nothing wrong with that, but before paying for one of those check out the enthusiast forums for your vehicle - they'll often have them for download, free!

For instance: I've owned both Suzuki and Mitsubishi 4x4 vehicles, and there is at least one (usually multiple) sites where I can download the appropriate FSM for my year/model -- and I have.

Forget Haynes & Chilton. (Sorry, never heard of Bentley.)

 

[Darius6t9]

The ones I posted for his mazda is the FSM. The one on disc is more likely scanned into PDF's. I know Nissan no longer produces FSM's. They are all PDF now through their FSM program called ASIST. www.helminc.com does quite a few FSM's. Bentley Also does a lot of Manuals.

I used to work for Nissan. The company I worked for also ran Honda/Acura, subaru and Mazda.

 

[rockwithjason]

Haynes manuals aren't worth a wipe of your ***. get the factory stuff

 

[Stuart in MN]

Is "Bentley Publishing" official, or is like a glorified haynes/chiltons?

Bentley manuals aren't the official factory versions, but at least for some cars (in particular older BMWs) they're very good. I also have the factory manual for my 1986 5 series, but in many ways the Bentley is easier to use.

 

[MFolks]

Some choices:

Manuals (Some of these websites sell used manuals, just ask)
www.repairmanual.com
www.manualsnmore.com
http://www.midwestmanuals.com/
http://www.books4cars.com/
http://www.repairmanualclub.com/motomanuals/
http://moto-manuals.com/
http://www.e-classicbike.com/
http://www.repairthatmotorcycle.com/manuals/kawasaki.html

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[zakmartin]

Haynes manuals aren't worth a wipe of your ***. get the factory stuff

Unfortunately, if you're working on a 1978 Fiat X1/9, Haynes/Chilton's is all you're going to find (and those are out of print now).

I totally agree with the spirit of your opinion though.

 

[GrantCee]

Unfortunately, if you're working on a 1978 Fiat X1/9, Haynes/Chilton's is all you're going to find (and those are out of print now).

Seriously? X1/9 FSMs are *easy* to find (I used to own one and a 124 Spider, and had the FSM for each.) A quick eBay search just netted nearly a half-dozen copies.

 

[dodgemike]

X100. You cannot go wrong with
factory service manuals. Have
had them for vehicles, heavy equip
motorcycles etc. If I own it I have
theFSM on the bench while doing
repairs. I tend to keep them but
you could sell it with the vehicle
and recover your money. Buyers
would know you were serious about upkeep.

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[joecon]

You can get an on line service like alldata or Mitchell for about $30 or 40 and you
get any changes or TSBs that apply to your car

 

[zakmartin]

Seriously? X1/9 FSMs are *easy* to find (I used to own one and a 124 Spider, and had the FSM for each.) A quick eBay search just netted nearly a half-dozen copies.

I didn't even think about that, but you're right. I did my X1/9 resto project before there was an Ebay though, so the thought didn't occur to me. I felt really lucky to get my hands on the Chilton's Guide from a used book store. lol.