FAQ: Service / Shop / Repair Manual Information

c-taylor-6 wrote:

.........You wont find a manual for the Riviera.....

Of course you can find service manuals for the Riv. Direct from Helms or almost always are a few on Ebay at somewhat reasonable prices if you shop smart.

Thanks Dave... Guess I didnt search good enough
I was certain that they werent made

They aren't like "aftermarket" manuals like cheapies at the parts store. These are GM shop service manuals, a BIG 3 volume set of books.

Can anyone comment on which is better? I've used Alldata a lot in the past few years for their wiring diagrams but it seems to me their mechanical diagrams and procedures don't really stand out.

Opinions appreciated!

I subscribed to the DIY Alldata service once, and was really disappointed.
I called them and got my money back.
It didn't seem to offer any more detail than a Haynes manual does.


I say GM service manuals all the way!

I worked at a GM dealership for a while and we naturally had all the factory manuals but also subscribed to AllData to originally help us with non-GM cars.
The Tech's liked using both though in certain circumstances on the GM's as there are some shortcomings of each.
But if I had to chose between the two I would recommend the FSM over Alldata, although like I said having both is a nice luxury.

I also subscribe to ALLDATA but find it hard to find what I'm looking for.
I am going to get the books asap.

EASHER,
There is a set of 3 for the 98, up for sale right now on ebay. Starting bid is cheap. Look in the For Sale section here for a Link i posted a couple of days ago. I have it on my watch list and nobody has bid yet. I don't need them i already have a set.

That's what I loved as an added bonus when I bought the '99. Popped the trunk and all three GM manuals for it were sitting in there.

For the most part, the GM manuals are pretty good.

Ash wrote:

That's what I loved as an added bonus when I bought the '99. Popped the trunk and all three GM manuals for it were sitting in there.

For the most part, the GM manuals are pretty good.

GM made some improvements with them in '96 compared to the manuals I had for the '90 Riv, and my '92 Park Ave.
But they are still pretty vague at times compared to the older manuals such as the '70 manual I have for my older Riv.
Far more detailed exploded diagrams in the older manuals.

I pirated this info from another forum...

http://www.oplin.org/databases/proxy2/proxy.php?qurl=http%3a%2f%2farrc.epnet.com%2fautoasp%2findex.asp%3fsid%3d23252206%26uid%3ds9180484.main.autorefctr

For library card #, enter: "library"

scroll down and select:

Auto Repair and Reference Center

then you can select the year, make, model, engine, etc.. of your vehicle and access the full repair manuals, wire diagrams, service bulletins, specifications, etc as you need them

TONS of great repair info for LOTS of vehicles!


Enjoy!

Forgive me if this is already posted on here somewhere, I used the search function but it did not turn up...


Bert

that is really fantastic info. I hope it stays accessible for a long time.

hrm, i couldn't seem to get in....

Type "library" where it asks for your library card number then submit and submit again.
Then scroll down to "Auto Repair Reference Center"
Worked for me.

after hitting the submit button the second time it jets me back to the first page again, i wonder if its filtering out CAD IP addresses?

EDIT: yup, thats it, i tried through a state-side proxy and it worked. So us canadian guys will have to use a free proxy like www.the-cloak.com

EDIt of the edit: and the cloak won't allow normal users to access interactive content, so much for that, CAD people will have to use something like TOR...

I can get in without any problems without a proxy

odd... when I get the chance i'll try different service providers... cause for sure here I can't access it without using a proxy...

Edit: ah n/m all that got it all worked out. it was a work thing.

Thanks for posting Bert just what I have been looking for.

That's sweet! Thanks!
I notice on some of the service bulletin files I had to rename them as a pdf for them to work. But that is easy enough to do.
They were named with the extension .asp.

Jason wrote:

that is really fantastic info. I hope it stays accessible for a long time.

I'm thinking about saving all of the service bulletins for the Riv on my computer!?!

99Rivman wrote:

Jason wrote:

that is really fantastic info. I hope it stays accessible for a long time.

I'm thinking about saving all of the service bulletins for the Riv on my computer!?!

haha, i *might* have done just that for all the spec sheets

The link you posted worked well for me if you follow the "two" click process. I can't believe the amount of service and other information available from this source. Excellent! Thanks.

I tell you, I have set of GM shop manuals and I'm very dissapointed with them. First thing I used them for was for some help with the rear brakes because I couldn't figure out how to get the cylinder back in to fit the new pads in.
Well it tells you in there to use a c-clamp of some sort which of course doesn't work because you have to turn them for them go in. That's just dumb.
I wish there was a haynes or chilton manual we could use for these things.
Hey that's a good question. Is there a Haynes or Chilton manual for another GM car with similar engine and other components that could be used for our cars?

The buick park avenue shares a lot of engine/suspension components.

I have the FSMs and find them extremely helpful.