Is anyone familiar with the CD service manuals (it's for a '99 rodeo), are they worth it? For all I know, it could be an electronic version of a Chilton. I have no manual currently, and am looking for recommendations on what to get. Below re some uotes on the subject I found in this forum.

Here's one I found on ebay
CD Manual on EBAY (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4507570976&category=40020#ebayphotohosting)

thanks!

QUOTES
Just chimming in here... The Haynes manuals are not worth the paper they are printed on... Only trust a Chiltons (have to order from a book store) or the actual shop manuals. Just my .02 worth... and yes this is a non-interference engine as stated before.
I have found Chilton manuals to be mostly useless. A majority of the time I end up not even using it.
If possible, I would locate the factory service manual. I found mine on Ebay for about $35.00.
The Haynes / Chilton manuals cover too many models to be useful, IMO.
I've never used the ones that come on CD and haven't heard much about them. I'd rather have a book to look at than be tied to my computer while doing a repair anyway. Dale
Where Can I purchase a manual at?
You may contact the publisher of the manual, HELM Inc. by calling 1-800-782-4356 or by writing them direct at:
HELM Inc.
Publications Division
P.O.Box 07280
Detroit Michigan 48207
I've found many differences between my Chilton manual and the factory service manual. I'm sure the same can be said for the Haynes, they are just too generic.
I have been told by several people that if you buy a Haynes AND a Chilton, together they make one complete manual. The Chilton leaves out stuff that the Haynes has and vice versa.
END QUOTES

Solster:

I've got a set of the Helms 99 Rodeo Shop Manuals. It's a three volume set, four if you include the supplemental electrical schematics book.

Each volume is 3 to 4 inches thick. They manuals come with nice easy to use binders. These are not your typical 3 ring type, but a sturdy design that allows you to take pages out and re-insert easily.

The electrical book has pictures of the locations of most of the electrical parts which I've found to be helpful. It's a softbound book about a half inch thick.

The manuals are straight forward and the diction is at the right level. I spent sometime just learning how to read them and negotiate my way around in them. I've found the information listed in the manuals to be very comprehensive and easy to understand. There are some passages were they don't translate from Japanese (I assume the originals were in Japanese) to English quite right, but you get the meaning anyhow. I don't care for how it addresses one procedure and goes right into a new one with out a clear stop and start point.

At first I didn't care for them, but the more I use them the easier it is to find the information I looking for. Over all I'm satisfied. They've paid for them selves many times over by allowing me to do my own repairs vs. the dealer.

I thought about buying the CD set, but to print a hard copy would've cost a small fortune in ink and paper. Plus when I'm in the garage I like having the hard copy to thumb through.

If the CD set has a search feature (this I don't know) it might have swayed me towards buying them (in hindsight). I takes time to look through the table of contents to find your section of interest. The table of contents is over a hundred pages.

I've used Chilton’s before, and didn't care for them because they were not complete and the quality of the diagrams was poor. It seamed like every time I needed to see a diagram of how something was assembled, that particular diagram and the piece I need to view was unreadable.

Best regards.

Letsrodeo, thanks!

I like the idea of a search in the CD, that would be a good idee, thanks for thinking of it.

Anyone else have a preference, or have knowledge of the CD manuals???

thanks

I bought the CD version of the manuals on Ebay, Glad I did. They are Chiltons and pretty decent. I just read the section I am interested in and print the page or two with the procedure I need. Adjusted the valves in my 97 Rodeo this weekend and it went well.
I have used Haynes ( junk) and the factory manuals ( expensive). These are worth it IMO>