Is it worth the 20 bucks for new Haynes manual - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

MASTER YOTA · 08-13-2011, 11:59 AM

Hey just had a quick question. I had the 92-96 Haynes manual. but now i have a 97 4th gen. Is it worth spending the extra bucks to get the 97-2001 haynes camry manual. I am not really interested much in the body or fender type stuff, more just of engine, and small diy projects i can do as a novice.

PS any preference of chilton or haynes?

Yuko · 08-13-2011, 12:24 PM

I read that Haynes manuals are more detailed and descriptive than Chilton. In my comparison, Haynes is better. $20 for a new 97-2001 Haynes manual is not bad. Last time I check at half-priced books, a used 97-2001 Haynes was $17 in my area. Might be less now but I can't find one anymore.

Having said that, the Gen 3 and 4 are very mechanically similar so you might not need another manual.

vincentfox · 08-13-2011, 05:14 PM

Haynes is terrible. I've about had it with mine. Little black and white pictures, usually for some other variant of the car than they one I have.

I had a guy at the local Kragen who recommended Mitchell online stuff over any of the paper books you see infesting the stores.

oopssorryy · 08-13-2011, 05:39 PM

If you have the 5S I wouldn't worry, but I know that the 1MZ did go threw some changes so a new one might have some better up to date info on it. No book will have all the info, but that's what the internet is for. Haynes is a good book, but it does have some holes, or can be unclear. But all books will have issues like that, and you can coe here for info or google it.