whats the guide called that veryone with 3rd gens talk about? They tell people everything on how to repair the car.

 

FSM
Factory Service Manual
Often on eBay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1992-Pontiac...9b9cce&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1985-Pontiac...f24d94&vxp=mtr

or new from Helms
http://www.helminc.com/helm/search_s...lm&class_2=PON

 

Alldata DYI

 

Yes sir the factory service manual for your specific year of car. A wealth of information that is well worth the price.

 

 

Different manuals have different things...

FSM is GREAT for DEALESHIP PROFESSIONALS working on BRAND NEW CARS with NO miles on em. I.e., car comes into the DEALERSHIP, UNDER WARRANTY, (as opposed to, the "shop") with ONE complaint or defect, your goal is to jump in there, fix exactly ONE thing that broke (as opposed to "wore out") and renew the car. Completely inadequate and terrible for "maintenance" of a car with gobs of miles. Probably the WORST thing is, they assume that the car is BRAND NEW; the flip side of that coin is, that it hasn't been very long since it was built (that is to say, it's only "really" "complete" if it's still 1986 or whatever). They aren't retroactive AT ALL as to updates in lubricants, technology, part substitutions, etc. Extremely valuable regardless even if not always ... completely applicable. Assumes access to FACTORY parts, FACTORY tools (get ready to whup out yer trusty J-16485-B, even though the book doesn't give you the faintest vaguest remotest dimmest hint of a glimpse of a whiff of a clue what the hell it is, let alone how to use it), DEALERSHIP facilities like lifts. Has wiring diagrams and lots of other info SPECIFICALLY for YOUR SPECIFIC car, including crash repair.

Chilton's & Haynes type ones are GREAT for general maintenance; old car, work being done by the owner or a hobbyist or some similar NON-pro. They tend to not be very specific to any given year model or option package but have lots of good overall "how-to" stuff. Too generic for alot of things. Really helpful sometimes for figuring out what interchanges between years, which of course is totally absent from the FSM.

Alldata is what professionals in aftermarket type shops taking care of OLD cars use. Tends to be more aimed at long-term wear and tear issues as opposed to sudden infantile parts failures in an otherwise BRAND NEW car. Assumes ALOT of prior knowledge about cars in general. Typically requires a subscription.

Obviously, each has its place; no one of them is the "complete" solution.

 

Just use thirdgen.org! or google.

 

The ole " my car won't start; what is wrong with it "( no further info supplied ) from newbies scenario?

 

Ya that will happen anyway but the ones that do provide info can be read and searched for.