C5 Service Manual
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Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Cape Coral, Florida
Go to Auto-Repair-Manuals.com…the 2 volume- 3000 page FSM for an ‘04 is $435.95…OUCH !!…or you can get a 1 month subscription on Alldata (my favorite) for $19.99, 1 year for $59.99 or 3 year for $129.99 !!
Last edited by C5 Diag; Nov 26, 2022 at 07:02 PM.
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I believe Helms makes the factory service manuals and they are year specific. You might get lucky and find one for sale in the C5 Parts for Sale/Wanted section. You can also post a wanted to buy thread there to let other members know you are looking for a set of the manuals.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Southeast Missouri
They're not cheap as has been stated, but I find them indispensable if you plan on doing any serious upkeep to your car yourself. Mine have paid for themselves, times over. I've tried working from the manuals available on CD or DVD, but it's so much more difficult for me than having a hard copy available.
Melting Slicks
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From: West Virginia
My '98 set consists of two huge tomes a third volume only about 1" thick.
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Can't beat $Free.99 as a price for it.
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On my 2000 set, all 3 covers are all red. 2 of the 3 are same thickness, 3rd one is maybe just 1/2" thinner. ONE THING TO LOOK FOR:
Inside on the first page, give or take, is a printing date, an info cutoff date. If I knew then what I know now, I'd have waited a bit longer. Mine says something like "all data after September 20, 1999, is not included in this manual," or some such blabbering. My car was built in March of 2000, so some things weren't included. For instance, late 2000 models (later than mine) have a provision on the console to shut off the passenger side airbag. Mine does not, and even if it did, the info wouldn't be included in my manuals. I realize that nowadays they are probably of print, so beggers can't be choosers. Still, it never hurts to know your cars "born on" date.........
Inside on the first page, give or take, is a printing date, an info cutoff date. If I knew then what I know now, I'd have waited a bit longer. Mine says something like "all data after September 20, 1999, is not included in this manual," or some such blabbering. My car was built in March of 2000, so some things weren't included. For instance, late 2000 models (later than mine) have a provision on the console to shut off the passenger side airbag. Mine does not, and even if it did, the info wouldn't be included in my manuals. I realize that nowadays they are probably of print, so beggers can't be choosers. Still, it never hurts to know your cars "born on" date.........
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,016
Likes: 331
From: Southeast Missouri
Tried that too, before I wound up buying a set. I found myself always running back an forth between the pages I'd already printed to a new section needing printing. Quite frustrating if you're into a complicated repair that cross references between volumes. Nothing like having the printed manuals even at that expense. Only takes about one involved repair to recoup the price of a used set.
My 2004 manuals are 8 1/2 x 11 sized, one manual is 2" thick and the second is 2 1/4" thick. With printing on both sides of each of the pages it doesn't take long to eat up a respectable amount of printer ink, paper, and most importantly to me, time. My experience, but I probably get into more involved procedures that many do.