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98Dakota4x4
Dodge Dakota
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3/31/2003
23:53:06

Subject: What is the best Repair manual to Buy?
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I like to work on my rigs, I have owned Toyota's for a long time. But I needed something with more power to pull my toys so I purchased a 98 Dakota ex cab 4x4 with the 5.2L. Any suggestions for a good repair manual. My first project will be to fix the transfer case input shaft seal. It looks like it is leaking! I hate oil leaks!! Thanks



Timid
Dodge Dakota
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4/01/2003
01:33:32

RE: What is the best Repair manual to Buy?
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Mopar Shop Manual it will set you back about 115 big ones but it will have everything and anything you will need to know. I bought one for my 01 right after I bought it. You will have to go to the dodge parts house or dealership and they will give you a # to call to order one.
Good Luck.



Daktrep9298
Dodge Dakota
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4/01/2003
08:08:30

RE: What is the best Repair manual to Buy?
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I personally like the Haynes Manuals. I hate to read so I want something with a lot of pictures. They Haynes manuals have a good amount of pictures and simple explanations. I have never seen a Mopar factory service manual so I can't judge that one. But for $15, the Haynes manual works for me.

Thanks
Dan



Larry B
Dodge Dakota
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6/11/2003
21:02:34

RE: What is the best Repair manual to Buy?
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I got Haynes and Chiltons for the vehicles in my fleet. I've found that what they don't tell you would fill another book. On my kids Blazer 4X4, ( I hate Chevy's) Chiltons gets real detailed on how to properly drill out the rivets in the ball joints. Then all that say is. Remove the ball joints. What they don't tell you is there is not enough clearance to remove them. The front drive shafts are in the way. They don't tell you that you must either disassemble the entire front wheel and remove the shaft or. Do like I did and cut them out with a Sawsall.



BlackDak
Dodge Dakota
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6/12/2003
03:35:42

RE: What is the best Repair manual to Buy?
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You can actually order the factory service manuals, and diagnostic manuals @ www.techauthority.daimlerchrysler.com You can either order any Service, Diagnostic, and Owners manuals, from MY 1992 up to 2003. They even sell training materials, and the latest TSB's. the service manuals go for around $90. You can even subscribe to the site for online access to their factory service manuals, BUT the subsciption is a whopping $200 for 30 days. An equally helpful service info site is @ www.alldatadiy.com. They actually have the same service info as the factory manuals, and for only $25! For a full year! You subcribe for a single vehicle, every other vehicle you subscribe is $15 more. This is what I use, and it is very detailed, in fact it seems like all of the info there is taken directly from the factory service manuals, nothing is left out! I hope this helps!



HSKR
Dodge Dakota
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6/12/2003
04:33:09

RE: What is the best Repair manual to Buy?
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Or you can watch Ebay, and pick up a FSM(factory Service Manual) for under $50 frequently. There is even a CD-rom version available. I got one of the CD-rom versions for my '00 Dak.




tek
Dodge Dakota
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6/12/2003
08:02:35

RE: What is the best Repair manual to Buy?
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We have the Haynes for the 98 kota, its OK, but the Mopar FSM is considerably better..

You can order it from The Chrysler Group in either hard copy or CD version for a PC.

Also visit Dakota USA, and DTO join the groups, lots of good info and helpfup peeps.



JustRed
Dodge Dakota
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6/12/2003
10:14:07

RE: What is the best Repair manual to Buy?
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If you're going to go through the trouble to do work on your car, you might as well order the factory manuals, whatever make the vehicle is. I've heard too many stories about what Haynes/Chilton's and so forth leave out.

Just my $.02.



Dr. D
Dodge Dakota
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6/12/2003
10:24:08

RE: What is the best Repair manual to Buy?
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NOTHING beats the factory manuals !!

Dr. D

p.s.

Check with a few of the local wrenches down at the local Dodge dealer and ask them if they have more manuals than they need for the 98' Dakota and if you will show them a $20 bill I bet they will find you one.



ripped
Dodge Dakota
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6/12/2003
11:43:10

RE: What is the best Repair manual to Buy?
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I see the service manuals CD's on eBay dirt cheap now someone must have figured out how to hack the copy protection, probably alcohol 120.



DakAttack
Dodge Dakota
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6/12/2003
12:15:39

RE: What is the best Repair manual to Buy?
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I have the factory manual on CD for my 01. As others have pointed out, it's the most complete. Cost me $30 off Ebay. My only complaint is the Acrobat software makes reading the manual a bit cumbersome. What I've found works best is to print the pages you need and file them away afterwards. Keep the truck long enough and you might end up printing the whole d. thing. I've seen the cd on Ebay for less than a Haynes manual but not sure the cheap ones are the real DC McCoy. Doesn't matter as long as it's accurate and complete. Any manual is better than no manual at all.



Eric W. Metze
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2004
11:58:06

RE: What is the best Repair manual to Buy?
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Hey, I just called Haynes & they have a repair manual for 2000-2003 Dakotas & Durangos available as of last week - I just ordered one ($19.95 + $5.00 shipping). At least it's a start for now, rather than $90.00 for a manual with alot of stuff you may not need.



another mark
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2004
12:11:54

RE: What is the best Repair manual to Buy?
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I have the factory manual the haynes and the chilton. The
factory manual is the best and covers every last wire, splice and
bolt on the truck. The chilton and haynes leave TONS of
information out.



Paul
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2004
13:14:02

RE: What is the best Repair manual to Buy?
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I too have the FSM. The way I figure it, with lowering my truck, doing the cam swap, some interior stuff, and future mods I have planned, it has more than payed for itself in saved installation costs.



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