Late Model Shop Manuals, Hard to Get

Just got a GMC pickup (recently got a Cadillac also) and went to the
service guys to get the shop books. Things have changed quite a lot
since my last purchase about 10 years ago.

Apparently the books are on CD now and cost around $800, each.

The service guy was able to find the GMC manual in paper but it was
almost $400.

What the heck? This is really expensive just so I can understand come
computer codes or track down an electrical problem.

Even if there is a Haynes available they don't cover the computer
systems interface, use and error codes.

Anyone have any insight on this? Know where a more reasonably priced
documentation set is available?


What really shocks me about this is what GMC/Chevy/Cadillac's mind set
is regarding these doc sets. I wouldn't suggest piracy as a solution
but electronic media at that cost would seem to open the door to a
variety of bootleg issues. Guess it's a philosophical issue, I don't
get it though.

Thanks,
Rick

Have you checked for the non-oem manuals on CD?
I've seen some at parts stores recently. You might also check into Mitchell
manuals.


"Rick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Just got a GMC pickup (recently got a Cadillac also) and went to the
> service guys to get the shop books. Things have changed quite a lot
> since my last purchase about 10 years ago.
>
> Apparently the books are on CD now and cost around $800, each.
>
> The service guy was able to find the GMC manual in paper but it was
> almost $400.
>
> What the heck? This is really expensive just so I can understand come
> computer codes or track down an electrical problem.
>
> Even if there is a Haynes available they don't cover the computer
> systems interface, use and error codes.
>
> Anyone have any insight on this? Know where a more reasonably priced
> documentation set is available?
>
>
> What really shocks me about this is what GMC/Chevy/Cadillac's mind set
> is regarding these doc sets. I wouldn't suggest piracy as a solution
> but electronic media at that cost would seem to open the door to a
> variety of bootleg issues. Guess it's a philosophical issue, I don't
> get it though.
>
> Thanks,
> Rick
>

What shop manuals are you lookng at that go for $400-$800? My GM
manuals for my truck came in a 3 volume set. Each one was about the
size of a phone book and they only cost me around $105 for the set.
To the best of my knowledge, they are the most comprehensive set of
service manuals that are available anywhere for my truck.


On Sat, 09 Aug 2003 17:20:09 GMT, Rick <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Just got a GMC pickup (recently got a Cadillac also) and went to the
>service guys to get the shop books. Things have changed quite a lot
>since my last purchase about 10 years ago.
>
>Apparently the books are on CD now and cost around $800, each.
>
>The service guy was able to find the GMC manual in paper but it was
>almost $400.
>
>What the heck? This is really expensive just so I can understand come
>computer codes or track down an electrical problem.
>
>Even if there is a Haynes available they don't cover the computer
>systems interface, use and error codes.
>
>Anyone have any insight on this? Know where a more reasonably priced
>documentation set is available?
>
>
>What really shocks me about this is what GMC/Chevy/Cadillac's mind set
>is regarding these doc sets. I wouldn't suggest piracy as a solution
>but electronic media at that cost would seem to open the door to a
>variety of bootleg issues. Guess it's a philosophical issue, I don't
>get it though.
>
>Thanks,
>Rick
>

I was looking for the standard GM shop manual. I had expected to spend
about what you suggested. Did you get yours through the dealer?

Rick

Tim wrote:
> What shop manuals are you lookng at that go for $400-$800? My GM
> manuals for my truck came in a 3 volume set. Each one was about the
> size of a phone book and they only cost me around $105 for the set.
> To the best of my knowledge, they are the most comprehensive set of
> service manuals that are available anywhere for my truck.
>
>
> On Sat, 09 Aug 2003 17:20:09 GMT, Rick <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>Just got a GMC pickup (recently got a Cadillac also) and went to the
>>service guys to get the shop books. Things have changed quite a lot
>>since my last purchase about 10 years ago.
>>
>>Apparently the books are on CD now and cost around $800, each.
>>
>>The service guy was able to find the GMC manual in paper but it was
>>almost $400.
>>
>>What the heck? This is really expensive just so I can understand come
>>computer codes or track down an electrical problem.
>>
>>Even if there is a Haynes available they don't cover the computer
>>systems interface, use and error codes.
>>
>>Anyone have any insight on this? Know where a more reasonably priced
>>documentation set is available?
>>
>>
>>What really shocks me about this is what GMC/Chevy/Cadillac's mind set
>>is regarding these doc sets. I wouldn't suggest piracy as a solution
>>but electronic media at that cost would seem to open the door to a
>>variety of bootleg issues. Guess it's a philosophical issue, I don't
>>get it though.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Rick
>>
>
>

Order from Helm. They provide the factory with their manuals.


http://www.helminc.com/
--
Steve Williams
Fort Plain NY

"Rick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was looking for the standard GM shop manual. I had expected to spend
> about what you suggested. Did you get yours through the dealer?
>
> Rick
>
> Tim wrote:
> > What shop manuals are you lookng at that go for $400-$800? My GM
> > manuals for my truck came in a 3 volume set. Each one was about the
> > size of a phone book and they only cost me around $105 for the set.
> > To the best of my knowledge, they are the most comprehensive set of
> > service manuals that are available anywhere for my truck.
> >
> >
> > On Sat, 09 Aug 2003 17:20:09 GMT, Rick <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Just got a GMC pickup (recently got a Cadillac also) and went to the
> >>service guys to get the shop books. Things have changed quite a lot
> >>since my last purchase about 10 years ago.
> >>
> >>Apparently the books are on CD now and cost around $800, each.
> >>
> >>The service guy was able to find the GMC manual in paper but it was
> >>almost $400.
> >>
> >>What the heck? This is really expensive just so I can understand come
> >>computer codes or track down an electrical problem.
> >>
> >>Even if there is a Haynes available they don't cover the computer
> >>systems interface, use and error codes.
> >>
> >>Anyone have any insight on this? Know where a more reasonably priced
> >>documentation set is available?
> >>
> >>
> >>What really shocks me about this is what GMC/Chevy/Cadillac's mind set
> >>is regarding these doc sets. I wouldn't suggest piracy as a solution
> >>but electronic media at that cost would seem to open the door to a
> >>variety of bootleg issues. Guess it's a philosophical issue, I don't
> >>get it though.
> >>
> >>Thanks,
> >>Rick
> >>
> >
> >
>




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"Steve W." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Order from Helm. They provide the factory with their manuals.
>
>
> http://www.helminc.com/
> --
> Steve Williams
> Fort Plain NY
>

Why would a factory need service manuals?

Helm



On Sat, 09 Aug 2003 21:08:46 GMT, Rick <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I was looking for the standard GM shop manual. I had expected to spend
>about what you suggested. Did you get yours through the dealer?
>
>Rick
>
>Tim wrote:
>> What shop manuals are you lookng at that go for $400-$800? My GM
>> manuals for my truck came in a 3 volume set. Each one was about the
>> size of a phone book and they only cost me around $105 for the set.
>> To the best of my knowledge, they are the most comprehensive set of
>> service manuals that are available anywhere for my truck.
>>
>>
>> On Sat, 09 Aug 2003 17:20:09 GMT, Rick <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Just got a GMC pickup (recently got a Cadillac also) and went to the
>>>service guys to get the shop books. Things have changed quite a lot
>>>since my last purchase about 10 years ago.
>>>
>>>Apparently the books are on CD now and cost around $800, each.
>>>
>>>The service guy was able to find the GMC manual in paper but it was
>>>almost $400.
>>>
>>>What the heck? This is really expensive just so I can understand come
>>>computer codes or track down an electrical problem.
>>>
>>>Even if there is a Haynes available they don't cover the computer
>>>systems interface, use and error codes.
>>>
>>>Anyone have any insight on this? Know where a more reasonably priced
>>>documentation set is available?
>>>
>>>
>>>What really shocks me about this is what GMC/Chevy/Cadillac's mind set
>>>is regarding these doc sets. I wouldn't suggest piracy as a solution
>>>but electronic media at that cost would seem to open the door to a
>>>variety of bootleg issues. Guess it's a philosophical issue, I don't
>>>get it though.
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>Rick
>>>
>>
>>
>

I think he meant they provide the dealers with factory service manuals.....



Jeremy



"Oscar_lives" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:TLeZa.106810$o%2.47576@sccrnsc02...
>
> "Steve W." <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Order from Helm. They provide the factory with their manuals.
> >
> >
> > http://www.helminc.com/
> > --
> > Steve Williams
> > Fort Plain NY
> >
>
> Why would a factory need service manuals?
>
>

All of the GM dealers now access to a web based service manuals. This
allows the dealers to have updated service information as changes take
place to a vehicle. The paper manuals are available through Helm and
even the dealers order from them. If you want to order paper manuals
there is a spot in the front of a dealer service manual that has the
phone number to call. Be aware since the dealers do not get the paper
manuals the volume is lower so the cost is now higher. You can buy
Mitchell manuals or other manuals from parts warehouses but they will
not have all of the correct information, campaigns, bulletins, etc.
They more or less buy from Helm and make a copy to their formatting
that is usually out of date and incorrect.

Fu



[email protected] (Tim) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Helm
>
>
>
> On Sat, 09 Aug 2003 21:08:46 GMT, Rick <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >I was looking for the standard GM shop manual. I had expected to spend
> >about what you suggested. Did you get yours through the dealer?
> >
> >Rick
> >
> >Tim wrote:
> >> What shop manuals are you lookng at that go for $400-$800? My GM
> >> manuals for my truck came in a 3 volume set. Each one was about the
> >> size of a phone book and they only cost me around $105 for the set.
> >> To the best of my knowledge, they are the most comprehensive set of
> >> service manuals that are available anywhere for my truck.
> >>
> >>
> >> On Sat, 09 Aug 2003 17:20:09 GMT, Rick <[email protected]>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Just got a GMC pickup (recently got a Cadillac also) and went to the
> >>>service guys to get the shop books. Things have changed quite a lot
> >>>since my last purchase about 10 years ago.
> >>>
> >>>Apparently the books are on CD now and cost around $800, each.
> >>>
> >>>The service guy was able to find the GMC manual in paper but it was
> >>>almost $400.
> >>>
> >>>What the heck? This is really expensive just so I can understand come
> >>>computer codes or track down an electrical problem.
> >>>
> >>>Even if there is a Haynes available they don't cover the computer
> >>>systems interface, use and error codes.
> >>>
> >>>Anyone have any insight on this? Know where a more reasonably priced
> >>>documentation set is available?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>What really shocks me about this is what GMC/Chevy/Cadillac's mind set
> >>>is regarding these doc sets. I wouldn't suggest piracy as a solution
> >>>but electronic media at that cost would seem to open the door to a
> >>>variety of bootleg issues. Guess it's a philosophical issue, I don't
> >>>get it though.
> >>>
> >>>Thanks,
> >>>Rick
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >