Just wondering before I buy this weekend...

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

 

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.

 

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?

 

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

 

<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

 

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.

 

<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.

 

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.

 

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

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