I have a 1982 280ZX. Other than a factory repair manual what is the best "shade tree mechanic" repair manual out there? Chilton, Haynes, or?

Well...Duh...What do you think the Nissan service techs were using...FSM (Factory Service Manual) Pretty hard to get a better source of reference than that !!!...unless you have a retired Nissan service tech on retainer and at your every call and beckon...

Man that would be nice...

webdawg1

That is a big DUH! But I always recall factory manuals as being slanted toward trained factory technicians and referring to "special tool #1234" that most shade tree guys don't have. Is that the case with Nissan / Datsun manuals?

Actually, no. There are a few "use tool xyz" items, but for the most part that is not the case. When it is, readily available tools tend to do the same job as a "special" tool.

I don't have a Chilton or Haynes manual, only my FSM and have not yet had any problem using it. Straightforward and to the point is how the book is written, and (I think this is the best part) it tells you what "it" is, and what specifically "it" is meant to do and why.

You can download a PDF of your manual here: http://carfiche.com/manuals023/cars/

If it say TnA, just check back later.

Hey Scott, good question. I have some factory manuals for '81,'82,'83 but nothing else to compare them to. Nor do I really have a need, as my car is a '70 and I do have other manuals other than the FSM for 1970. Some of the illustrations are very good in the alternate manuals such as Haynes or Chiltons. Everyone has their own preferences. I don't think it is possible to have too much information on hand. That is one of the benefits of the search feature of this site also. If one manual doesn't answer your question, maybe another will. As far as specialty tools, there is usually a way around using most of them. Heck, the techs at the dealerships have always done their share of improvising special tooling too. I am amazed at the special tool listings for rear differentials though.

Having a LOT of pictures helps also... and a program such as "picasa" to store them on your computer. You can download it from the following url:

http://picasa.google.com/

Like they say "A picture is worth a thousand words"...

webdawg1

I have a Haynes book, but I use that along with the FSM, and other resources you find on the Internet, like AtlanticZ.ca. The Hayne's books and such give the basic stuff for your series of car, and the FSM gives the more specific information for your model. the internet resources will give you alternatives to the tech books, and that's where you'll find the real 'shade-tree' stuff.

I copy & paste all the stuff I read from Internet website, or car discussion forums into a notes database. I'm using Jot Notes. You can even paste pictures into it, but probably isn't for those people who prefer paper copy & notebooks.

thxZ

I use all three plus several others that I have picked up. It seems that often I will understand how a procedure is to be done after reading several different explanations of it.... The most through IMO, and the one I rely on most, is the FSM and sometimes the others help me to best understand it.