Need a service / repair manual. Whats the best? - Honda Forum / Acura Forum

mike_sho · 10-29-2004, 09:31 PM

Im looking to get a repair manual for my Prelude. Whats the best to get , how much am I looking to spend.

I heard the honda service manual is good. Also helms....

ExViTermini · 10-31-2004, 05:38 PM

the honda service manuals are very very good..and also very expensive. There are a few options: helms, haynes, chiltons, etc..

IMO I'd prolly go for helms or haynes if you can't afford the honda one....and expect to pay 20-40 bux for it.

mike_sho · 11-02-2004, 11:56 AM

Yeah I heard helms was pretty good. I think Ill try the Honda service manual though. Im sure its good stuff.

spray004 · 11-02-2004, 02:26 PM

I have a better one, AlldataDIY. Its a website owned by Autozone. It has every wiring diagram, part explosion, OEM part number for most every modern day car. Its $25 for a one year subscription. I use the service for my truck and get way better explainations and bang for the buck from it than my Haynes manual. It even has OEM part costs as well. The only downside is that a Haynes manual will have more pictures. Every possible DTC is listed as well. Personally I think its well worth the money. Additional cars are $15 per car per yr.

mike_sho · 11-02-2004, 03:43 PM

Yeah I plan on having this car awhile. So Id rather not spend 250 for another 10 years. When I can just spend like 25 once and sell it later

Also there are ebay people selling pdf files on disc of service manuals for fairly cheap with just about everything on it. I would get that but feel those could be really crappy.

Id rather just have a nice book. No printing needed. Maybe one of those cd's for when im bored and feel like searching or whatever. Like a backup. Or second reference.

But yeah anything on the computer it will be one of those cheap cd's for me. Im sure they can also be downloaded.

spray004 · 11-02-2004, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_sho

Yeah I plan on having this car awhile. So Id rather not spend 250 for another 10 years. When I can just spend like 25 once and sell it later

Also there are ebay people selling pdf files on disc of service manuals for fairly cheap with just about everything on it. I would get that but feel those could be really crappy.

Id rather just have a nice book. No printing needed. Maybe one of those cd's for when im bored and feel like searching or whatever. Like a backup. Or second reference.

But yeah anything on the computer it will be one of those cheap cd's for me. Im sure they can also be downloaded.

But the Alldata stays updated unlike a book.

Rick V · 11-02-2004, 07:37 PM

during the complete teardown and rebuild of my motor i found nothing along the way that the helm's manual did not have. bearing size charts, all clearance specs like piston to wall, bore specs for "a" and "b" pistons, journal sizes, cam and crank endplay and run out spec's etc.. to name just a very small few.

the only thing i did not like is that not very often were bolt size and pitchs given. but after seeing a shop manual they dont have them either.

another thing that would have been nice would have been subsystem routing like oil galley and coolent paths but none of them have them anyway.

in the end its very much worth the price

spray004 · 11-02-2004, 07:53 PM

At worst, they offer a trial period. If you arent satisfied you can get a refund within 30 days.

mike_sho · 11-10-2004, 10:01 AM

Yeah whats to update. The car was built 10 years ago and its not changing itself...or at least last time I checked cars dont update themselves.

So having a manual that updates is pointless. Like I said Id rather buy a cd if it were my computer. Paying for a service is wasted money. Also it could go down. Not a cd or a manual when you need it.

UltraMagneticAL · 11-10-2004, 10:10 AM

helms > * even alldata blahblahblah

when your hands are all greasy and you need to look up how to fix something, it's nice to have the book w/ you all the time. better than getting your keyboard all fuct and nasty too

also, there's not much really you need to "update" a repair book is a repair book, the method of taking off your distributor isn't going to change...unless some magical little car gnome comes in and sticks his penis in the bolt hole and it snaps off and you dont have a tool to pull the penis out.

spray004 · 11-10-2004, 12:35 PM

But the book doesnt have OEM part numbers & price, exploded part view with part listings. I have a Haynes manual and it has no where near the detail of the Alldata. It gives almost the same the detail as professional shops use.

It's worth my $25/ yr. Saves money compared to buying a part, trying, not being the problem and so forth.

UltraMagneticAL · 11-10-2004, 01:35 PM

cuz you ahve a cheapo haynes.....the helms and honda manual are much more detailed than the haynes

for the money $125 at most for the helms, and if you plan on working on the car for more than 5 years, then the books is a better deal...plus you don't have to print anything or get your keyboard messed up

AkariMotorsport · 11-10-2004, 01:53 PM

The factory manual is way better for electrical problems.

spray004 · 11-10-2004, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UltraMagneticAL

cuz you ahve a cheapo haynes.....the helms and honda manual are much more detailed than the haynes

for the money $125 at most for the helms, and if you plan on working on the car for more than 5 years, then the books is a better deal...plus you don't have to print anything or get your keyboard messed up

To each is own.

mike_sho · 11-11-2004, 11:08 AM

Whoa helms is $125? Wow. Im gonna go find out how much a honda service manual is today for the prelude.

Actually im going to call now..........

Ok. Called honda they said honda service manual is made by helms? I didnt know that.

So is there such a thing as a Honda serivce manual or is this guy that I called just out of the loop?