DAWG NATION
New member
Which do you think is the best?
And are they worth it for the average Joe who wants a DIY repair guide?
Thanks
And are they worth it for the average Joe who wants a DIY repair guide?
Thanks
Haynes vs Chiltons T4R Repair Manuals
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brillo_76
Elite Member
I would go after the factory service manual as you can by them used in both book and digital forms. The aother books are not detailed enough. I thought I saw a few posts somewhere on this forum where you can buy it all on one DVD disc and print out what you need.
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Brian.
Member
I'm a third for the FSM. Sometimes, though rarely, the FSM will kinda gloss over an area with the assumption that it's obvious and this can suck for a DIYer. Maybe a Chiltons/Haynes will be more beneficial in that case... if you think that might be true, go to your local library and check (most libraries have Chiltons digital database free to use, just ask ~ some will even allow you to do it from home).
Kanoe
New member
I have the Haynes manual and I am still on the hunt for a paper FSM.
I will say it is just OK. It still pays to do a bit of searching online before jumping into major work. Better than nothing and it's light enough to keep in the 4runner full time.
Word of Caution: I have found several mistakes in the Haynes, mostly regarding torque specs. Need to be on your toes in case a given value doesn't make sense. Then I usually skim Tims video as he always gives the correct specs.
I will say it is just OK. It still pays to do a bit of searching online before jumping into major work. Better than nothing and it's light enough to keep in the 4runner full time.
Word of Caution: I have found several mistakes in the Haynes, mostly regarding torque specs. Need to be on your toes in case a given value doesn't make sense. Then I usually skim Tims video as he always gives the correct specs.
mtbtim
Elite Member
I will echo what the first 3 people have said. Don't bother buying an inferior manual. A simple Ebay search will generate several options to buy the 2 volume Toyota FSM set a lot of us own. Some have the online version of the FSM but having the physical books is much better in my opinion. The going price for this 2 volume set is somewhere between $150-$200.
HugeFatChick
New member
I can email the digital fsm for 3rd gens
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19963.4lsr5
New member
The Hays manual is only good as a door stop in my opinion. The Chilton has a few more details possibly.
Both books have simple generic info that the average Joe with an internet connection should be able to figure out on their own. Neither one of those books are going to give you an accurate step by step on how to do anything technical or important.
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Both books have simple generic info that the average Joe with an internet connection should be able to figure out on their own. Neither one of those books are going to give you an accurate step by step on how to do anything technical or important.
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DAWG NATION
New member
Thanks for all the advice.
I guess the FSM is the way to go then...
I guess the FSM is the way to go then...
Doc2012
Senior Member
I’ll say this for the millionth time, the ‘free’ manual online is for the 01-02 4Runner ONLY.
It will do no good for any earlier year; it doesn’t have anything for the 3RZ, j-shift case, Multi mode j-shift case, e-locker, manual transmission, TPS for the earlier years, etc etc.
OP, you can spend 40 on a Haynes or Chilton, or you can get on this site, for 20 for two days, and download the FSM for your year.
https://techinfo.toyota.com/techInf..._US&resource_url=https://techinfo.toyota.com/
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Doc2012
Senior Member
Why not download, then if you want a paper copy, print it?
Or, if you know what you’re going to be working on, just print that section?
Not trying to be a Debbie downer, but that seems like the most logical way to go about it; it’d keep the ‘book’ clean, and you’d only spend about 20 bucks, to get it.
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Brian.
Member
Yes, one of the 3 that are floating around is the 01~02, but there are 2 Others out there too. A 1998 and 2000. I'm looking at the 2000 right now, and it has everything you claim isn't available. The '98 has a clumsy layout as it was apparently a Toyota download and no one bothered to take the individual files and combine them into a usable manual.
I understand, it's a case of having an opinion on only what you know. Please consider yourself informed that you were lacking information, and what you claim doesn't exist actually does (somewhere, I found all the links in this forum but couldn't tell you where they are now). Worth that hassle to find vs just buying access and downloading then compiling into an actual usable document? Maybe, maybe not... personally I found these before knowing that was an option, actually before even buying a 4runner.
mtbtim
Elite Member
To answer your first question, I don't feel like burning up my printer at home printing basically two encyclopedias of information. I also don't want to sit at a copy place for an eternity waiting to print up these two manuals.
To answer your second question, I find navigating the physical book less cumbersome. With the book, I can quickly find the section I need. That hasn't been my experience with the online versions I've seen.
Maybe I'm old fashioned but I prefer having the original physical books to look through. It's exactly like the difference of reading a book you hold in your hands compared to reading it on a Kindle or your laptop. I also prefer physical cook books over online recipes. In the cookbook, I can make notes on how I tweaked the recipe to my liking.
There's nothing "Logical" to your way preferred way. It's just your preference. There's lots of people like me who prefer the original books over an online version and we felt it was worth the expense to get them. I use these books all the time, and in my mind, I've saved tons of time being able to quickly find the information I'm looking for rather than having to navigate through a digital version. So for me, the physical books are money well-spent.
TonyB66
New member
At my age, I think just a few months behind Tim, old-fashioned applies to me too. So much so, at our previous canyon home I had a room pretty much dedicated to books, floor up the ceiling, a high one too. Heck, I even made an attached rolling library ladder. Much of that is in boxes now...
I've come to really appreciate digital media, so much so I've got dups of many of my favorite books, mostly reference ones. With the right app (Notability for me) I really dig being able to search for key words or phrases, not just within a book but across my library. If I knew I read something about X at some point, but forgot where, I can find it. As with paper, one of course can highlight, make notes on the page, dog-ear, etc...
And, what I really find cool is the ability to have associated voice notes. After a passage where I have some thoughts I don't want to lose or that highlight the point being made, I create a voice note at that spot. I always do so at the end of chapters in all reference books I read, summarizing it in my own words. I "re-read" one of my favorite investment books recently by simply replaying my voice notes, summaries of each chapter and portions within those. I imagine with something like an FSM one can note lessons learned from the job, tool experiences and considerations, etc.
Having hundreds of "books" on my iPad, with space for many, many more, I have a sense the boxes will remain unopened until after I'm gone.
I have the library synced to the iPhone too, but prefer reading and navigating with the larger screen. Recently added, some of what I have 4Runner-related:
Old-fashioned guy at heart but the digital world does have many conveniences for sure...
I've come to really appreciate digital media, so much so I've got dups of many of my favorite books, mostly reference ones. With the right app (Notability for me) I really dig being able to search for key words or phrases, not just within a book but across my library. If I knew I read something about X at some point, but forgot where, I can find it. As with paper, one of course can highlight, make notes on the page, dog-ear, etc...
And, what I really find cool is the ability to have associated voice notes. After a passage where I have some thoughts I don't want to lose or that highlight the point being made, I create a voice note at that spot. I always do so at the end of chapters in all reference books I read, summarizing it in my own words. I "re-read" one of my favorite investment books recently by simply replaying my voice notes, summaries of each chapter and portions within those. I imagine with something like an FSM one can note lessons learned from the job, tool experiences and considerations, etc.
Having hundreds of "books" on my iPad, with space for many, many more, I have a sense the boxes will remain unopened until after I'm gone.
I have the library synced to the iPhone too, but prefer reading and navigating with the larger screen. Recently added, some of what I have 4Runner-related:
Old-fashioned guy at heart but the digital world does have many conveniences for sure...
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mtbtim
Elite Member
I've got an update on your advice to pay $20 for a 2 day subscription to Toyota Tech Info. I bought a subscription yesterday just to check it out and there isn't an ability to download the whole factory service manual in one shot like you eluded to. You would need to download each section of the book individually and then organize it somehow with Acrobat. This would take a huge amount of time. It seems Toyota wants to sell memberships to Tech Info by doing it this way. So, while you can find the information you seek on Tech Info, you can't just click on one link and download the entire FSM for you vehicle.
