Chilton's Manual - any good?
 

Hey,

I want to do more of the maintenance/repair work on my truck myself.

Is a Chilton's Manual a good guide, or are there better complete manuals out there?

Thanks,

RE: Chilton's Manual - any good?
 

Other than a Chilton/Haynes manual, you have a few other options:
(1) Print version of the Chrysler Service Manual. Link. $90.
(2) CD version of the Chysler Service Manual. Link. $90.
(3) Go here, click on the link in the first post. This is a Chrysler service manual for a 2001 Dodge Ram. (Most items will be the same in yours) Download size: appx. 60MB.

The Chrysler service manual is what all the dealerships use. It includes much information Haynes/Chiltons will not. A very important feature is that it has ALL the wiring diagrams.
I have the service manual for my 1996, and it is the best money I have spent (well, besides what I spent on the truck, of course). Invaluable for the DIY-er.

RE: Chilton's Manual - any good?
 

I agree with Dodgerules86.

I think the money spent for the paper version of the 1995 Ram FSM
has paid itself back at least 10 times.

It is worthwhile to download the .pdf file for the 2001 Ram FSM
even if you have a 1994-2000 Ram
just to get the updated and corrected text in some sections.

One disadvantage of the paper Ram FSM is that DCx
does not send you the corrections and TSB's

It is worth noting that the 2003 Ram FSM
still had chapters on the Magnum 5.9V8 (last year for this engine)
and the 46RE automatic transmission
and the 'last best corrected instructions' might be those 2003 chapters
instead of the chapter in your paper book FSM

If you absolutely have to buy the cheap repair book
the Haynes is better than the Chilton

This $13 book is well worth the money even if you don't intend
to build a stroker

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/193...734340?ie=UTF8

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...V65932523_.jpg

RE: Chilton's Manual - any good?
 

10-4 ...

I will DL the .zip of the 2001 manual, so graciously provided here!

If the differences aren't too major between the '01 and the '99 I should be good.

In the end I will most likely get the .pdf specifically for my '99... Just because (in theory) it should be the best suited for my use!!!!