What Workshop Manual on CD should I get?

Hi there,

I am planning on purchasing a workshop manual for my '97 Venture. Any advise on which one I should get? I am an Automotive Engineer and plan on doing detailed work on the vehicle.

Thanks

Joeri de Haas

Are you referring to a Factory Service Manual? Those are very good for repairing your vehicle as it contains more detailed info than a Haynes or Chilton manual. I see these on eBay every once in a while for a rather decent price. I have many factory manuals for the various vehicles that I own, and I bought them on eBay.

I don't have a factory service CD, but I do highly recommend both the factory service manuals as well as a Haynes manual. Forget Chiltons or All-Data. The times that I've had to use a Chiltons I hated ever moment of it. All-Data wasn't a whole lot better (this was the Autozone All-Data disc).

The Haynes manual as decent instructions for doing most shade tree mechanic things. It is also laid out in a very logical manner and easy to follow the process from start to finish. I've found that the shop manual has much more information and is year specific usually, but there isn't that same logical process isn't there. You will jump around a lot as there are no real general overviews. The factory service manuals also detail error codes, test procedures, and have detailed wiring diagrams if you are tracking down electrical problems.