OK, What repair manual would you recommend? Chilton? Haynes? other??

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1999 4X4SC, F250 Light Duty, 5.4L (replaced with new 5.4L 04/11/00 due to oil leak)
4R100 also replaced with reman on 02/07/01 due to hard 3-4 downshift.
3.73LS
Gibson Sweptside
K&N
Bilsteins
Flip Chip

 

I've always used a Haynes manual. First thing I would ever buy with a vehicle. Never seen any of the other manuals so I might be a little biased

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'97 F-150 XLT Supercab 4x4 ORP
Project "Hidden Horses"
4.6L v8 w/ auto & 3.55 LS rear end
Superchip!
AirForce 1 FIPK
Custom exhaust
Custom Graphics
Hard Tonneau Cover
GTS Headlight Covers
Pioneer DEH-P7200 "Dolphin" Stereo

electric fan and new wires & coils on the way

 

have to agree on that one. Haynes is what i use as well. have chiltons for another vehicle(chevy impala) and it isnt as thorough as the Haynes. the one thing i dont like about haynes though is that the pics they give you always seem to be from some strange angle where you cant tell what they are looking at.

 

I've been wondering the same thing. I have the haynes for my truck, but recently found a great one for my gf's vw. it was done by 'Bentley' and is widely regarded as the standard for that type of car. I even managed to find a cd version so i can just reference the repair on my pc, then print the pages necessary. Good thing too, as i was about to buy the bentley that runs in excess of 100 dollars canadian. They don't make one for the F150, i think it's only hayens and chiltons, and i don't like the looks of the chilton one.

Hopefully there will be something better. Of course, i usually end up using the search function on this board to find out a lot too!!

Bambino

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Bambino Online
Owners Gallery Truck #179
1999 reg cab/short box/ORP - 3.55; 4.6l 5sp; factory snapless tonneau; twin 6" kicker sub tubes; Custom Exhaust; Mobil 1 5w30/Motorcraft FL820-S

 

I bought the Chiltons for the 1980-1991 Ford truck/Bronco, and had to by the Haynes 2 days later. I bought the Haynes for my 98 F-150 the day after I bought my truck. Haynes is more detailed.

 

Haynes is the best!!!!!!!!
Lariat#1


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1997 Red/Silver F150 Lariat Flareside 3 Dr. SC.....
ORP & Tow Package Complete Lariat Option Package
{APPEARANCE}
GTS Projector Beam /Carbon Fiber Headlight Covers
AVS Tail Lights Slots
Door Sill Protectors
Flareside tail lights wired to work upper & lower lenses together
Owens Fiberglass Step Boards
Custom Tinted Windows
Ford 2-Piece Bra
Lighted Ford Logo in Grill
20" Chrome Exhaust Tips
A.R.E Bed Cover Lid
Pendaliner Inner Tail Gate Protector
Zie-Bart Total Paint & Under Coating W/ Sounder Deadener Protection
Lariat #1 Plate under glass on Front Bumper
Custom made Ford Red Window Decals
Blue Tinted Rear Lic. Plate Protector
Ford Lited Hitch Receiver Cover that works off brakes lights
Heavy Duty Bed Mat
Red reflectors above Rear Bumper
{PERFORMANCE}
4.6L WINDSOR
Auto Trans
3.55 LS
4-Wheel ABS
Platinum 3 Spark Plugs
K&N Air Filter W/ modified stock MAF side air box
Outerwears Blue Pre-Filter Cover
Tornado Air Man.
TD Performance Oil Filter Relocation Kit
Motorcraft Racing Oil Filter FL-1HP
Fumoto Oil Drain Valve F-106
Dual Exhaust System W/Stock Muffler
NAPA Ceramix Carbon Ceramic Premuim Brake Pads(Front)
17" Goodyear Wrangler A/TS Tires
55 Watt Halogen(replacement) Reverse Lights
Pilot 55 watt Halogen (add-on) Reverse Lights on Hitch under truck
Driving Lamps upgraded to 55 Watt Cool Blue Halogen Bulbs
Pilot Bright Whites headlite bulb replacements 65/55 watts
Driving Lamps(Foglites) work W/ High Beams On & Driving Lamps(Foglites) also work (ON or OFF) W/ Park Lamps On W/Switched Relay
A.R.E Cover wired W/interior(dome) light wired to a mounted door jam switch thats wired to hood light
SurgeGuard by Calterm
{AUDIO} Stock In-Dash Cass. W/6 Disc Changer & 2 Stock Speakers(back)
2 Pioneer TS-A6865 3- Ways(front)
Black Felted Inner Front Door Speaker openings All Speakers Dynomat Lined
Trenz Billet #3 Antenna
{SECURITY}
Ford Total Security System W/ Motion Alarm All on factory Key Fob
Ford Warning Decals on Windows
A.R.E Cover also wired to Alarm System
Hitch Pin locking system
This is LARIAT#1..... IN The Great State Of Indiana "Where more than corn grows in Indiana".
........http://hometown.aol.com/terrylariat1...page/auto.html A Very Proud Member of ...www.f150online.com

Future Mod.`s.......

 

How about a factory manual. There are factory manuals on CD up for bid on E bay all the time. There are 3 different '99 truck CD's available there right now. One CD covers all models of Ford trucks for any given year.

 

go with factory manuels

 

I say go with the Factory book on print. I've got the Factory Shop manual for all '99 trucks and it's had to use because it's had to find stuff and also doesn't go into real detail. What I mean by detail is that it'll tell you how to diagnose and fix the problem but when it comes to taking something apart, it just remove this part, that part and so on. It written for a Ford machanic that alreay knows how to take things apart (Those quick disconnects are a PITA if you don't know how to disconnect them). The nice thing is that it give exact torque specs and such and even tells you in detail how to take apart your complete truck.

 

mpocrats,

For every vehicle that I owned I got the factory manual. For Ford it is Helm.
www.helminc.com Expensive but so is my truck.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

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00 F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 4.6 w/5spd 3.55LSD
Warn XD9000i, skid plates, Draw tite class III,
Rancho RSX Reflex shocks, MAC 8.8 Axle Girdle
BFG 285/75 R16 MTs,
Borla Cat Back, Headman Headers,
Custom air intake system with modified
air box, Ported Throttle body,
Shortened MAF sensor tower,
K&N air filter,
Superchips

 

I agree with JMC. Helms is the best, had one for '87 Ranger and my current pickup. Very detailed and easy to follow.

 

Haynes.

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My Ride: 1998 F150 4x4 Lariat Supercab Flareside 5.4L in Oxford White/gold, ORP, Tow Package, 3.55 Gears.

Modifications:
Optima Red Top Battery
Split Fire Spark Plugs
K&N FIPK
Gibson Supertruck Exhaust System
Stepshield door sill protectors
Performance Accesories 3" Body Lift
Performance Accesories Lift Lips by Mountain Enterprises
Superlift 3" lift blocks
Gabriel Gas Ryder LT VST Shocks
Daystar Front Anti-sway Bar Polyurethane Bushings
Heckethorn Steering Stabilizer
35x12.5R16.5LT BFG All Terrain KO's
16.5x9.75 American Eagle 589's.
McGard Premium Wheel Locks

Photos at: http://www.communicomgroup.com/jmtruck

 

I purchased the Ford Factory Service Manuals on Ebay for $40.00. It comes on a CD and provides you with the same information the Ford techs receive.

I highly recommend purchasing one...

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2000 Wedgewood Blue Expy XLT 5.4L 4WD, C&C group, towing package, beige leather interior, captain's chairs, 6 CD Changer, 255/70R16, all-weather floor mats, factory fog lamps, Mobil1 5W-30 Synthetic w/ Puralator filter

MODS
Ford Bug Deflector (2/15/00)
Superchip (3/11/00)
Airaid (3/23/00)
Edelbrock IAS shocks (3/23/00)
Under Seat Locking Storage Drawer (6/6/00)
MPC Rear Air Foil (7/2/00)
Super-White Headlamps and Foglamps (1/15/01)
Gibson Swept Side catback (2/8/01)
Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway Bar (2/8/01)
Ventshade Window Ventvisors (3/4/01)

 

I have the Haynes for the F-150/Expedition and found there are a lot of things that are not right for 1999 models. The manual is supposed to cover 97 - 99 and really it covers 97-98.

I am getting the factory manual.

Ian

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99 Expedition EB
5.4l, 4x4, 4.10'S
WMS Tube, Bassani Cat Back Exhaust.
Superchip Flipchip on Order

 

Chilton blows. Gonna trade mine in for a Haynes. Not nearly enough detail, half of my motor's stuff ain't in there, removal and replacement instruction page numbers lead you to vacuum system schematics, stupid book. I found what I was looking for faster in the dark with a flashlight and the replacement part in my hands. And I'm NOT a mechanic by any means.