Customer Reviews

Toyota Sienna, 1998-2002 (Chilton's Total Car Care Repair Manuals)

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

 

 

This "Manual" is a complete waste of money.

The "information" is so basic and sketchy that it is nearly useless to both the novice and the experienced mechanic.

Examples:
1. Front door trim panel removal (section 11-15): Step 2 instructs the user to remove the door handle trim bezel by removing a screw and prying with a screwdriver. This will surely mangle the bezel and snap off one or more of the three tabs on the back side of the bezel that aren't mentioned anywhere in the text, and which MUST be carefully released in order not to damage the bezel.
2. Front parking light bulb replacement (section 12-21): Step 1 tells the user to remove a mounting screw and then "... pull the side housing outward ..." This will not work at all, since a heavy plastic lug holding a rearward facing pin will interfere with the opening in the body of the car. The light housing must first be pushed forward about an inch to release the mounting pin before it can be removed. This little, but ESSENTIAL and non-obvious, step is never mentioned.
3. While complete instructions are provided for removing the sliding door (section 11-18), no information is provided for diagnosing or repairing the actual problem that I'm having - the power door opening and closing system is behaving erratically. This manual does not even mention that there is a power door available on this vehicle, nor does it indicate what components (such as a drive motor) are involved, where they are located, or how to remove them!

Alas, it looks like the best recourse is to purchase the phenomenally overpriced (over $100!!) shop manual from the dealer, if you can even get the dealer to order one for you.

This book is very detailed in the repairs/maintenance that the authors think should be explained. However, other items were merely glossed over and not adequately explained. If you have something that needs to be repaired and the authors included it in the book, you have a very good guide here. Otherwise you are out of luck.

This book is OK for mechanical on most things,but it doesn't give anything on body repair such as door handle replacement,bumper,head light etc.

I had been looking for a book like this ever since I purchased my Sienna in 1999. I even bought the official service manual from Toyota, but of the two, I prefer this. It is much easier to follow for a non-professional mechanic.

Using this, I was able to change out the ATF on my car, and at the same time drop the pan and change the ATF filter and pan gasket.

Some other jobs: replacing the tire carrier, and fixing the latch release on the rear door.

If you own a car and there is a Haynes manual for it, get it.
Even if you have all your work done by someone else, you will at least know what service you are purchasing.

Repair manual was very helpful. I was able to save lot of money on repair of the car as I my self did did repair.