1.0 out of 5 stars
Incomplete and inaccurate., July 16 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Volvo 740 & 760: 1982 thru 1988 (Paperback)
I've owned 2 Haynes books. This one for a Volvo 740 GLE, and another for a Mercedes 240D. Bought both used, and must say that niether was worth their corresponding 5 or 6 bucks.
Use the brickboard instead. Their information is much more complete, and it's free.
The front of this book says based on the teardown of a car. Well, not sure what they tore down but it sure as heck wasn't anything remotely resembling my Volvo.
What is in this book talks mostly about the V6 models, rather than the B230 derivatives. ( Which probably makes up 90% of all the volvos supposedly covered )
After initially attempting to use this book as a reference for changing my water pump, its pages are now reserved for sopping up spilled coolant. It is sufficiently inaccurate, that taking detailed notes and just 'winging it would have probably yielded better results.
For example, no mention of removing the timing belt cover to get access to the last bolt on the water pump. No mention that if you happen to drop that nut, it goes straight into the lower shroud, and can not be retrieved without hours of additional work. -Yep- did it.
The brickboard, does mention these things. So, the fact that a branded HowTo book doesn't is kind of telling as to what actually goes into creating their books. I can't emagine they used a Volvo certified mechanic, because he/she would have made sure these things were mentioned.
Another example is changing the belts. Try detensioning the A/C unit and get the belts off the way they suggest. Notice anything missing?
I am sincerely glad, that my local EMT's don't have their ambulances maintained with books from these people.
I had a toyota and spent $75 on the factory manual. It was worth it. I eventually got the 123 body Mercedes factory guide on CD. It was exceptional. I will be using the brickboard for this car, and will spring for the factory manual if I ever get to the point where I need it.
But I never, again will waste money on a haynes product.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Incomplete, but pretty good, Nov 2 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Volvo 740 & 760: 1982 thru 1988 (Paperback)
Although there have been a few things that I was interested in that were not included in the book, for the most part it's a sufficient repair manual. I'm a very inexperienced mechanically, but I've been able to do quite a bit of work on my 740s using this book. It does cover stuff that I wouldn't even think of doing though---including pulling the tranny apart...
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Helpfull, but not a complete reference., July 22 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Volvo 740 & 760: 1982 thru 1988 (Paperback)
Trying to follow the electrical diagrams in this book will reveal its limitations. Other sections seem a bit brief also. However, with the exception of the Volvo factory books, this is the best general reference that I have found. The factory books are purchased seperately, and are meant to go into a binder. To buy all the factory books for the 740 would cost over $3000, making this book a bargin!
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