I am looking to buy a manual for my stratus, but there are several types available. Haynes and Chrysler Offer Repair Manuals, but Chrysler also offers a "Service Manual" for the same car year. What is the difference between the two?

 

I’m not able to answer your question with any certainty, but I’ll tell what I think.

First off, I have both the Haynes and factory shop manual, as well as the factory parts catalog for my 02 coupe.
The Haynes is nearly worthless, which is sad as I have preferred them over Chilton’s for many many years.
I got may factory manuals (actually a set of 3) off eBay for $35 (including shipping) and are definitely the way to go.

In addition to the above mentioned factory manuals, I have seen an additional set of 3 or 4 factory “procedural� type manuals, each covering specific components (one was transmission diagnostics, and another was power train, for example) I am not sure toothier content, but suspect them to be a flow-chart type diagnostics procedure, which will then reference you to the primary shop manuals.

Hope some of this helps
Vince

 

it depends on what your doing.... or need to do with it...
factory manual is for a certain model make and year of only 1 car tels how to work your seats sterio and how to operate your car
the servise manual give you a brad range on how to repair things
the specific repair manual is self explanitory

thats what ASE sais anyways

 

i should be getting my repair manual tomorrow. Its a chrysler manual for just the 96 stratus/breeze/cirrus. Its not available to the public so it probably has some in depth stuff in it.