Customer Reviews

Subaru Coupes, Sedans, and Wagons, 1985-96 (Chilton's Total Car Care Repair Manual)

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This manual is garbage. I've tried to use it for three separate jobs on my 96 Legacy and every time it has proven worthless. The latest example concerns the camshaft position sensor. The manual lists trouble codes that would confirm the diagnosis, but lacks sufficient info to get the car to display the codes. The book gives only a vague arrow in the general direction of the sensor location. It details the steps to remove the timing belt in order to change the sensor on the Legacy. As I look at it, and as my mechanic assures me, the sensor can be removed and replaced on a 96 Legacy without disassembling anything else. Worse than worthless, this book would have me spending hours on a 2 minute job!

I'm going to buy the Haynes book, and never buy another Chilton.

This book claims to cover Subarus up through 1996. The cover shows a '95-'96 Outback, which is exactly what I have. I bought the book to help me fix a faulty power window switch. In the section on removing the door panel around the switches, the newest Legacy shown is a '91, whose door panel does not have power switches at all, and is completely clipped on and must be pried off. After two of us pried around the switch area on my own car with no success, we ditched the book and discovered that the switch area of the door is firmly screwed in, and in multiple layers. Had we followed the book and kept prying, we would have damaged the door. I understand that you can't cover every difference on every model in such a wide range of model years, but I don't think it wise for the book to imply it is complete when following the book could end up in damage to your car because of inaccuracy or incompleteness. I also couldn't find information I needed on the glove box hinge and how the front passenger seat anchors to the floor. I have used Haynes manuals on my two previous cars, and am going back to buying those. They are more model-specific and contain more relevant information.

This book has errors of omission and commission. It will contradict itself from one section to the next, and doesn't portray information in a coherent format. I have learned to regard the guidance given in the book with a certain amount of skepticism. Only recommend this book if you absolutely cannot find anything else.

I own a '95 Legacy "L" (FWD) sedan. I purchased this book to assist me in replacing the timing belt, and performing brake work. The manual is one of the best I have used. I have had Chilton, Haynes, and Clymer repair manuals for 6 or 7 different vehicles, and this manual is the most comprehensive of any of them. A previous reader rated this book very poorly, but apparently he/she did not notice that many of the "minor" maintenance items are covered in the front section of the book, including location and replacement of the PCV valve, which is not obviously visible on most Subaru's due to its design. The manual has excellent detail drawings showing various major components (drawings look like they came directly from a Subaru factory manual or parts manual). Caution, if you are not "mechanically inclined", or cannot follow mechanical drawings, this manual may be difficult for you. This manual is worth the money for anyone who is capable of performing much of their own repair and maintenance work. The book has a nice look to it (glossy cover with a good looking Outback on front!!).

This book is a waiste of money and is the worst I,ve seen in repair manuals. I have several other Chilton books on fords, chevys, vws and olds and they have been very helpful. But as for the Subaru your better off working on the car blindfolded. I wanted to check my fuel pump the book doesn't tell you where the fuel pump is I had to call the dealer. The illustrations are very generic and too general. I went to re-set the check engin light, the book wasn't even close where to find the main fuse box. The book shows it located under the dash on the left side by your ankle.....Wrong! I tried to replace the PCV valve, again It doesn't tell you where to find it. Bottom line is the book just doesn't show or tell you where to start it assumes you already know. And as for trouble-shooting forget it!

I bought this book to help with some work I wanted to do on my Girlfriend's FWD Subaru Legacy. I highly recommend finding another book.

This book is first, aimed at AWD models, is too broad to cover specifics, and as it is, the pictures are so dark that it's hard to see small pieces. I've done about three minor jobs (replacing the factory rear speakers as they were blown- it didn't even tell you how to take the rear deck apart, drum brakes, and trying to locate the sensor in the gas tank), and all three, the book was worthless, even as a reference point. Aside from basic info, don't count on this book for much, unless you have the exact vehicle they used to illustrate the book.

The only thing this book is good for is to set your drink on when working on your car. The instructions are not only confusing. In many cases they are just wrong.

These cars are built by Fuji Heavy Industries, with the same passion that goes into building washing machines. That goes a little way to explain why the writers of this manual had so little interest in putting this book together. Still, we pay good money for this stuff so we should get better. On the positive side, it's quite entertaining to spot the mistakes, and the electrical diagram section is hilarious.

I own a '95 Legacy "L" (FWD) sedan. I purchased this book to assist me in replacing the timing belt, and performing brake work. The manual is one of the best I have used. I have had Chilton, Haynes, and Clymer repair manuals for 6 or 7 different vehicles, and this manual is the most comprehensive of any of them. A previous reader rated this book very poorly, but apparently he/she did not notice that many of the "minor" maintenance items are covered in the front section of the book, including location and replacement of the PCV valve, which is not obviously visible on most Subaru's due to its design. The manual has excellent detail drawings showing various major components (drawings look like they came directly from a Subaru factory manual or parts manual). Caution, if you are not "mechanically inclined", or cannot follow mechanical drawings, this manual may be difficult for you. This manual is worth the money for anyone who is capable of performing much of their own repair and maintenance work. The book has a nice look to it (glossy cover with a good looking Outback on front!!).

sirs your book is well written but I have a86gl 1800 carburated 2wd 5speed no where does it tell me how or if i can flash trouble codes (ECS) though it lists codes can you help thankyou Dennis Buler