Haynes or Chilton Manual?

[maddyn]

I am in the process of swapping a TDI Motor into an 89/90 Ranger, and am going to need a decent electrical diagram, and I am sure lots of other random information. So which of the manuals have more complete/ better info in them? Or is there something else that is better than these two?

Thanks for the help

 

[Uncle Gump]

None of the aftermarket publications come close to factory manuals. Certainly when electrical diagrams are concerned.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

You’re going to want a factory manual. Or at least access to something like Mitchell or AllData. The wiring diagrams in Haynes manuals look like they were drawn by a 2-year old with a couple crayons. Chilton, sadly, isn’t much better (although Chilton is a better manual than Haynes all together). The factory manuals even give you pin outs at plugs and stuff, what a real electrical diagram should be. They are year specific.

 

[maddyn]

Sounds good, thanks for the input. Looks like there are a couple factory electrical/chassis manuals on ebay that will fit the bill

 

[RonD]

+1 on the Ford EVTM for 1990 Ranger unless its an 1989 Ranger, lol
There will be differences

You may want similar for the year of the TDI you decide on
All vehicle makers publish and send out wiring manuals to Dealer shops so they can troubleshoot new(that year) models

 

[Shran]

Both... plus the EVTM...

I have about 10 Haynes & Chilton books for Rangers, Bronco II's and Explorers of various years. Sometimes I can find exactly what I need in one, sometimes it takes both, sometimes it's in none of them. Their wiring diagrams are not great but better than nothing.

As an example of why they kinda suck - I needed to adjust the valves on my 2.8 and found specs online but wanted to double check in the book. One book said it covered '83 and up trucks but it had NOTHING about valve clearance. Another book covered the same years and had just a snippet about the clearance specs but not the actual process for how to do it, and the 3rd book had everything. Both Haynes & Chilton are a decent reference but will surely leave you wanting more information.

 

[Josh B]

The more manuals you have the better off you'll be.
Yard sales, estate sales, goodwill, salvation army, thrift shops, libraries, the list goes on

 

[sgtsandman]

Haynes and Chilton are better than nothing but an actual shop manual is usually way better. Every once in a while, there is information in the aftermarket manuals that isn't in the shop manual. So, having both isn't a waste to have.