pbink

Just wondering before I buy this weekend...

Is there any/much difference between the Chiltons, Haynes, Helms manuals for the Accord?

Rad Racing

Basically Helms is Informational-Based. More of where things are located and specifications. Very In-Depthed. Haynes is mostly Maintence-Based with "Real Photos" I've never used Chiltons. I like Helms the best. The diagrams are pretty easy to understand.

pbink

hmm...so for instance...helms would have the specs of what the valves should be adjusted to and Haynes would have a procedure to do the actual adjusting?

Anyone else? Chiltons?

P_Adams

I rely on Chiltons Accord/Prelude 1996-2000 repair manual 30152.
Reasoning: I grew up using Chiltons, the independent garages I worked at used Chiltons (as did some Dealers I worked at (for the used car dept)) and I'm comfortable with it.
It includes both wiring and vacume hose diagrams which other publications don't.
Honestly, I first bought a Hayes thru Barnes & K'Nobel, took one look, and started beating the bushes for a Chiltons.

P

hellohihey

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pbink &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmm...so for instance...helms would have the specs of what the valves should be adjusted to and Haynes would have a procedure to do the actual adjusting?

Anyone else? Chiltons?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, Helms will have the complete process as well, the Helms is about 4 times the size of the Haynes with that much more information

Helms is the factory manual for Honda, it is the one used by dealers

Ghostyman

I have a Haynes manual for my 1985 Accord and a Chilton manual for my 1991 Accord. I don't know much about cars but they've both walked me through successful replacements of alternators, a transmission, struts, radiators, etc. They both seem to have good information and fairly easy-to-follow direction.

The biggest difference seems to be that the Haynes illustration and diagrams are a lot clearer that the Chilton diagrams. The Haynes drawings are all crisp, large and easy-to-read. The Chilton drawings, on the other hand, are often small and sometimes printed so poorly as to be nearly invisible.

A similar problem occurs with the photographs. In the Chilton book, the photos are very dark and it can be very hard to locate parts. The Haynes book uses very professional-looking photos that are brightly lit and often labeled with arrows.

I think a lot of that is because the paper that the Haynes manual is printed on is much better than the Chilton book.

Hope this helps some.

Chiovnidca

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hellohihey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Helms is the factory manual for Honda, it is the one used by dealers</TD></TR></TABLE>
Helms is best for a Honda.

matt_in_sd

From what I rember Chilton has a couple of different lines of manuals. One is geared toward pros and is pretty good, the other is marketed towards guys who need a manual to change the brakes. And they suck for anything more complicated. Helms is the way to go if you plan on keeping the vehicle for a long time.

muadib37

Any links to download the helms, haynes, or chilton manuals in pdf/ebook format?

They are so much easier to search this way!!!