Best Manual?

I recently purchased a '97 SR5 v6 ext. cab 4wd auto 227k, and am curious of what opinions are for the best manual. Rock Auto has three options, Haynes and Chilton are relatively inexpensive <$20 and then there's the Bishko version that is almost $90.

I am relatively inexperienced with more complex auto work. I've always done my own brakes, oil, wheel bearings, minor stuff, but never more complex jobs. Is the extra cost of the Bishko worth it?

Thoughts?

 

The more in depth coverage the manual have, the better. Most Haynes/chilton repair book touch basic, common sense repair only with limited depth coverage.

As mention, buy a FSM if you want to learn. I don't have a FSM and I'm doing fine, lol. TW is already a good source for your repair.

 

If that's the publisher of the FSM, then yes, IF you think you are going to get deep enough to need an FSM.

Haynes and Chilton's are great fire starters. You may already know more than they will provide you.

 

Toyota Factory Service Manual will be your best option. Haynes and Chilton source all their data and diagrams from the aforementioned FSM.

They’re pricey - but it gives you 100x more info than what Haynes or Chilton will give you.

Here’s a set for $180 with the electrical schematic manual

https://www.ebay.com/itm/232777076065

 

FSM's are great - depending on what you're trying to do online resources also are really great to have on hand. Here's a thread devoted to that:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-thread-compiled-list-of-helpful-links.95271/

My contribution:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-of-helpful-links.95271/page-13#post-15915073

 

It all depends Sometimes the FSM leaves out the simple things that a factory tech would know.

It all depends on your skill level the diagnostics section is great to have.

Myself I gotta have the Electrical Wiring Diagrams for any vehicle I work on

 

I have Factory manual in PDF if you need it. PM me

 

Just look for the FSM 2 volume set for your year for sale. Yeah, they're more expensive than a Haynes or Chilton's manual, but, they're exponentially better too. I use the shit out of mine so they're worth every penny. And, when I bought my set around 5 years ago, I paid $300. You can now pick up a set closer to $150. There are online versions but I really like the physical books.

 

if you are just an oil change, brake change guy the less than factory manuals are fine. The factory manuals are the go to source for emissions diagnostic procedures and the other more complex issues. I would take advangtage of the pdf offer.

 

I find the internet is the best manual. Even has videos, lol...

There are some less-than-legal FSMs online if you search hard enough (not that hard, actually).

 

Yes and no. Lots of guys online that dont know squat and are posting videos and stuff on fixing vehicles the wrong way. Its a great resource, yes! The videos can be invaluable! BUT! I will take the FSM any day over some random guy on the internet. There is so much BS out there if you dont know much about cars you can get yourself in trouble. AND ALWAYS GET A 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH OPINION! Obviously.

That said TW seems to have some pretty legit guys that know their stuff, IMO its one of the best Tacoma resources out there. You can still find the PDF service manual online, might take a little searcing but they are out there. I downloaded a bunch of them. FSM is even better than ALL-DATA in my opinion, it goes into more depth on many repairs. Hands down FSM over anything else.

 

Well, I hope I'm considered one of the random guys making videos showing how to do things the RIGHT way.

 

I hope so too! Just to clarify, I am not implying anything about you or anyone else here. Merely stating a fact. Seen so much BS on YouTube and online you really have to be careful what and who you listen to.

Trying to point out the fact that the internet really is not the best manual. But it for sure has it's place. And there are many many many very good videos and advice online for our trucks. But I will still take the FSM over that any day. Hope you understand what I'm trying to say.

 

I understand what you're saying but I've actually found more good than bad with YouTube videos in my experience. Hate to disagree with you but it sounds like to me you're stating your opinion, not fact. Even if a video isn't the greatest, you can still glean some good info from them. A FSM manual is a 2 dimensional tool while a video is a 3 dimensional tool. The FSM tells you what to do and will show a pic, but often that can still leave the person guessing how to accomplish the task. A well-done video will show you how to do the step in the FSM and give you the necessary detail and tools used that the FSM can't provide. With that said, I'd take a well-done video over the FSM any day. But, a good video and having the FSM to consult also is the best of both worlds.

 

Due diligence is part of online research - if someone doesn't have the ability to differentiate between good and bad info online about a repair, I doubt they'd be able to follow the FSM for that repair as well. Most good repair videos refer to FSM's and give visuals of what repairs look like.

Nothing wrong with not having printed copy of a FSM - the best thing about them imo is wiring diagrams that you can't find online and some small things here and there like diag processes and torque specs, although most of those are all over the Internet as well.

 

I have seen some pretty terrible YouTube vids. No only opinion but also fact from experience. I have still been able to glean some info from crappy vids looking at the car if I am trying to figure out where something is supposed to go, etc.

Didn't say or intend to imply they were totally useless. The key is a "well done" video. Obviously I would take a well done video any day...but I would compare it to the FSM to make sure I was doing it right. Would be nice to have really good vids and fsm but sadly that's not what we have most of the time. All I am trying to say is that a paper fsm is still much more reliable than a video. Maybe not so easy to follow but everything is spot on 100%. I follow the fsm to the T and have no problems and know it's done right. There's lots of little things it covers that vids can miss because of inexperience or ignorance.

 

There is a reason the FSM is not provided to you with the vehicle. The FSM isn't going to hold your hand because when it was written it was assumed that the user would be a certified Toyota technician that went through school/training and knows how to do simple tasks. For example: if it says use SST to remove bearing...it won't sit there and tell you how to set the tool up, where to put it, what socket to use for the tool, etc...

Personally in MY OPINION (I say this because I'm sure someone will get butt hurt) if you can't use the FSM because it leaves you "guessing" then some of those jobs you shouldn't attempt unless you like spending money on parts you broke. It will be a learning experience for sure, but at what cost. I agree, videos can be helpful for sure but as @BarnBoy mentioned, nothing beats the FSM. I have seen many instances in videos where someone does something I KNOW you shouldn't do because the FSM tells you NOT to and common sense from years of experience tells you not to that ends up working for them, but then you read the comments and the guys that have never done it trying to learn end up learning bad practices and habits which end up costing them money, time, and potential injury.

All I am saying is take youtube DIY videos with a grain of salt and use common sense but ALWAYS first learn the procedure in the FSM. As soon as I see a youtube video about a repair and the guy starts spitting out socket sizes and they are SAE when he's working on a Euro or Jap car/truck I turn that crap off. If he doesn't know the basics I don't want to hear what he has to say. Sure, people find shortcuts in doing the job and post it on youtube which can be useful, but there is a reason the FSM did not tell you to do it that way. Keeping that in mind, always think from the other side of the isle. Why didn't the manufacturer say to do it that way? Look at what doing the shortcut could do to the repair. Will it increase risk of damage to other components? Increase risk of injury? Are you willing to accept that risk if you have limited experience? Seasoned mechanics may take the risk, while guys trying to learn may be better off doing it the longer "right" way so that there were less "HELP ME" posts and money spent.

Bottom line, take youtube with a grain of salt and always use the FSM. FSM = the way the manufacturer designed the vehicle to be repaired. If you follow the FSM to a T, you know for a fact your repair was right, safe, and you will be safe on the road.

In any case that is just my 2 cents. I'm pretty sure the OP didn't intend this thread to be a debate.

BTW Like I said before, I do have the PDFs of pretty much all Taco's if the OP needs.

 

And, there are times where following the FSM can be detrimental. One example is the rear axle seal job. People blindly following the FSM for this repair have ended up with a repair that doesn't last. The reason is because Toyota redesigned the seals some time in the past and now the mating of the inner retainer and axle seal is poor unless you adjust the inner retainer position or flip the retainer like we show in our videos. What resource let's people know how to do the repair properly? It's a forum write-up or a video like I've made. Another example is mistakes made in regards to torque specs in the FSM. Some of the mistakes are very gross with the FSM specifying foot pounds when the value is suppose to be inch pounds.

If the FSM is the end all, be all of resources, why are there forums like this with people seeking out solutions to the problems they're having? The FSM is a valuable tool, no doubt, but I've actually learned a hell of a lot more from frequenting forums like this and watching YouTube videos. Forums and YouTube videos have definitely changed the game giving DIYers more information to have the confidence to handle their own automotive maintenance, repairs and mods.

 

I do not disagree; however, keep in mind that the FSM has constant revisions and additions. FSM from 1995 will be different from 1999 (print date not vehicle manufacture date). Just keep that in mind.

 

X10000 exactly what I am trying to say. I agree 100%

Though I have had times where I don't know what the special service tool is or how to set it up, and have gone online and found vids or froum threads and been able to figure it out. So you really need both.

Didn't mean to turn this into a debate but it needs to be pointed out to help others down the road who read this thread. There's a reason they have the FSM, and it's not to sit in the drawer. IMO is the #1 tool, internet and videos are a backup. After all, 20 years ago all we had was the FSM. Internet is a bonus. You can't rely on it like you can the FSM Anyway, I think we all got our points across.

And OP, I also can get you a PDF manual if for whatever reason you can't find one from others.