Customer Reviews

Volkswagen Golf, Jetta, and Cabriolet, 1990-98 (Chilton's Total Car Care Repair Manuals)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This is a poor manual. In many cases, the instructions given even on basic repairs are incomplete (torque specifications missing, for example). It also contradicts itself - the text will say one thing, and the captions on the pictures say the opposite. For example, the instructions for replacing the air filter say that you don't need to disconnect any hoses or wires from the housing in order to remove the housing, but the pictures show you exactly what hoses and wires to remove. Regardless, I was unable to get the air filter housing open at all with these directions; I'm by no means a mechanic, but I think I should be able to change an air filter with a well-written repair manual. Also, the information about the rear washer system isn't detailed enough - I can't find the rear washer reservoir where this book says it is. Perhaps they left out some Golf-specific details and the description of this system only applies to the more-popular Jetta? Hopefully I'll find out soon, because I've returned this book and ordered the Bentley manual, which costs three times as much but will hopefully be complete and consistent.

I have bought 3-4 Chilton's manuals for my Hondas over the years and was very impressed with them. This Chilton for our VW Cabrio was VERY poor. Luckily I bought mine used for $7. Manual gives ALOT of general information, little of specific to the Cabrio or Volkswagen. No relay layout and no specific cruise control information at all - two specific points of interest for me right now. This book will walk you through general topics like timing belts, brakes, and oil changes.

Where my Honda Chilton manuals were printed on newspaper thin paper to cram as much information as possible into 1 book, this one is printed on normal paper and is thinner than the Honda manuals. Book fails to address hardly any of the Cabrio specific items such as convertible top care, and top replacement.

Do yourself a favor, gather your courage and money and spend the $50 or so on the Bentley manual. You will be much happier with it. Anybody want a Chilton's manual for cheap?

I bought this hoping that I would find enough information to repair a problem with a 98 Jetta. It's always a crapshoot with Chilton's - I was able to fix a 98 Jeep Cherokee with another Chilton's manual I had purchased for that vehicle.

I lost this time. The manual lacks in detail - the many sensors the car has are mentioned, but never described. There was no troubleshooting information for any of the sensors I was looking for. There is only basic coverage of the fuel injection system. I was able to find more on Google than in this book.

A waste of money for me. your mileage may vary.

This book is not up to the standards of any other Haynes book I've ever owned. It is more like the Chilton manuals-poorly illustrated- that created a market for the Haynes manuals in the beginning.

This manual is poorly organized, has large gaps in coverage, is poorly illustrated, and has a useless index. In short, it has not helped me a single time whenever I tried to use it to resolve a problem.
Looking for information about the secondary air pump? You won't find it in the index, nor is it mentioned in the chapter about the air intake system.
You have ODB code P1475 and are trying to locate the leak detection pump? Negative - the leak detection system is not mentioned in the entire manual ... (there are exactly 5 items under "L" in the master index and Leak Detection is not one of them).
There is no listing of ODB fault codes and there is no (useful) trouble shooting guide.
At first I thought that the manual is for the expert mechanic who just knows many of the things that the manual does not mention. I now believe that it is simply badly researched and written.

Printed on newsprint making photos USELESS!
Bought it to repair my AC unit. Chilton advice...go the dealer, USELESS!

OK... Chilton isn't for professionals. I am not one. It is good for some smaller jobs or as a secondary reference. I wasn't sure how to remove my speedometer from the dash. It had great pictures and suggestions. I wouldn't use the book to overhaul the fuel injection, but it is good for the weekly small jobs.

Good for basic repairs but lacking in detail. If you are really serious about doing your own repairs I would recommend something with more detail and greater clarity in the pictures.

this book was in excellent condition. i couldn't find a book for that old of a car in any auto or book store.(1992) the books for other cars were about 40.00. mine cost 10.00 with s/h.

Potential buyers should take note that this book does not really cover most VW's that were produced in 1999. It covers only those on the A3 frame, not the A4. The A3 frame was used briefly in 1999 and replaced in 1999 with the A4. VW refers to them both as 1999 models.