Customer Reviews

General Motors Full-Size Trucks, 1988-98, Repair Manual (Chilton Automotive Books)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book provides you with all of the basic information needed to proform basic and some major jobs on trucks. It was easy to work with and it gave step by step instructions. It was a nice change to work with.

The problem with the guide is that it tries to cover all the different models in one book, but ends up not being specific enough for a given model. I found I have to constantly read between the lines to figure out what actually needs to be done on my 1997 Silverado.

I am going to try the Hanes.

I have previously been very disappointed with many repair manuals (other than Chilton) that have for instance:
- very vague instructions like "year model 1973 shown, others may vary" when the model I'm working on is like from another planet rendering the instructions completely useless
- blurry black and white photos where you cannot tell if they shot a picture of a steam engine or a car part leave alone make any use of the photo
- manuals that outright do NOT cover certain engine/transmission/equipment or their combinations. For instance for a -96 320iA BMW with the single VANOS M50B20 engine I was supposed to purchase two books: one of the newer e39 BMW body type for the engine and another for the rest of the e36 model car. Needless to say I did not.

Because of that my hopes were not high as I purchased the Chilton manual, especially since my truck is one of the last ones to use the old 5.7 smallblock engine, using DI instead of HEI ignition and equipped with the less common heavy duty 4L80-E transmission. I was sure that Chilton would not cover my truck at all and would just say "1994-95 models differ, consult the owner's manual" or something as idiotic.

Well, what do you know? The Chilton manual actually acknowledges that these trucks have indeed had a lot of different engines (V6,V8 smallblock,V8 bigblock, several different Vortex engines and two diesels) and they have had different variations such as the HEI/DI ignition mentioned above, and the Chilton manual actually DOES COVER each and every different variation and how they differ from each other, with very clearly drawn pics and diagrams instead of blurry photos. No more guessing involved!

Each section is clearly labeled so that you will know exactly what you are supposed to be doing with your particular year model and engine type and repairing and servicing the truck is therefore very easy. Even the fault codes are listed for all years and combinations and explained with unprecedented detail.

As you can guess, I'm not just positively surprised by the Chilton manual but utterly and completely pleased. This is how a repair manual is supposed to be done.

If I would absolutely _have_ to find something negative to say about the manual then the only fault I've found is that the ignition timing chart is blank and you're told to refer to the sticker in the air cleaner. In many cases those stickers can be worn off or the air cleaner unit changed by a previous owner so you would have nothing but Google and truck forums to refer to. Luckily this was not the case in my truck but nevertheless that is clearly a minus, I believe this kind of vital information should be included. (BTW for the 5.7EFI the timing advance is set to zero with the electric advance wire unplugged if someone there is looking for that info)

So yes, if you have a 1988-1998 GMT400 body full-size truck, this is certainly money well spent and you will earn your investment back tenfold with the very first faulty sensor that you replace yourself.

So general they might as well expanded it to include Fords and Chryslers. Most schematics are small and blurry. I bought it to troubleshoot a horn. Guess they forgot trucks have a horn. There's a reason why the books are sealed in plastic at the parts stores. If you tried to look something up you would quickly realize they aren't worth anything. Save your maney and shop elsewhere. You'll end up doing that anyway.

This chilton's manual upholds the tradition of Chilton manuals with good directions in the care, maintenance and overhaul of specific products.

Item was just as advertised, and I received in a timely manner.

General Motors Full-Size Trucks, 1988-98, Repair Manual (Chilton Automotive Books)

This manual was exactly as it was represented to be. Along with a fair price and shipping costs ... well done.

This book has good info in it but the print is very very small even the diagrams are way to small and it has no trouble shooting in it
Treatrider

I am not overwhelmed with the book it did not show me a lot things that I was looking for. Then a lot of the words you have to use magnifying glass.

This manual is exactly what I was looking for. The only issue that I have is some of the diagrams are in very small writing. Thanks for the manual!