Wanted: Source for Passat manuals

[Don G]

Just got our '96 TDI and love it. No manuals though. Books4cars wants $129. Haven't check w/dealer. Any other sources?
Thanks much, Don in Oregon

 

[Metalnerd]

I bought mine some time ago for $99, I seem to recall it being out of the JCWhitney catalog. www.jcwhitney.com and the P/N was 81RY5552X ($99) JC WHitney usually hammers you on shipping charges.

Check with the guys at Adirondac Auto Brokers: www.germanautoparts.com

Another source is the parts place (248) 373-2300 but I think they were $129.

 

[christi]

There is a guy you sells the Bentley CD Rom manual regularly for $70 on www.ebay.com

In the UK we also have a Haynes manual which is under $20, though it is Europe specific, from memory it is book 3498 on www.haynes.co.uk

For simple jobs the EU and US Passats are very similar.

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SuperChipped 96 Passat TDI wagon
See my Peugeot / Passat site

 

[ProgMuscle]

Thanks christi...

I just ordered the Haynes manual too. I have the Bentley CD and have ordered the manual from VW (which is also a Bentley manual, which is disappointing). I firmly believe in having multiple information sources for any endeavour.

I am not happy with the CD manual and I doubt that the printed version will be any better. But I was only recently complaining, on this forum, that there appeared to be a lack of competition among publications of this sort.

I am hoping for pictures.

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'96 Passat TDI
1 GHz Athlon Thunderbird

 

[Karl Roenick]

This link might be worth a shot: http://forums.tdiclub.com/NonCGI/Forum3/HTML/004272.html

 

[Don G]

Thanks to all for the manual sourcing info. Ended up ordering from books4cars. I was in a hurry and they're just up now in Seattle. All the prices seemed to be in the $120 to $129 range.
Don in Oregon

 

[diesel fan]

Just got an email back from Mark at Adirondack and was told that the manuals for the Passat are out of print! Arghhhh!!! I really wanted a manual and not a CD. From what he told me it looks like Bentley might no longer print the manuals.

Does anybody know who might have this printed manual still in stock? I really don't like the idea of the CD.

 

[VW Derf]

Try Brain Harison (http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/roseland)

Fred

 

[ProgMuscle]

diesel fan:

You might try the dealership as well... I understand that the manuals are printed by Bentley. I ordered mine (and paid for it) about 4 weeks ago and still have not received it.

I am still hoping that the dealership manual is not a copy of the CD one.

 

[Don G]

well books4cars didn't have them either and said they couldn't get them.

 

[GANZGUT]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by christi:
In the UK we also have a Haynes manual which is under $20, though it is Europe specific, from memory it is book 3498 on www.haynes.co.uk

For simple jobs the EU and US Passats are very similar.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Christi:

I went to the Haynes site you mentioned, and they list a manual covering:

"Volkswagen Passat Petrol & Diesel (May 88 - 96) E to P Reg., covering Saloon & Estate 1781 & 1984cc 4-cylinder SOHC petrol engines (not 16-valve DOHC or 2.8 litre VR6 engines). 1896cc turbo-diesel engines (not 1.6 litre diesel engines)
May 88 - 96"

Is this the manual you're speaking of? The car looks the same as mine on the cover, does it cover the TDI? If so, it costs 20 Quid (about $29 USD) for the book and its shipping to the USA. You can pay with VISA on the Haynes site.

Assuming SOME of the repair procedures would be the same (brakes, shock absorbers, etc.), I can't imagine why this would not be a viable more cost effective alternative to the spendy Bentley manual. I'm primarily interested in the proper tightening torques for various bolts. I'll work on brakes, shocks and perhaps a clutch, but would probably leave things like timing belts to a professional (not necessarily a dealer)

.

Any chance you could go by Halfords or something and see if this is reasonably close?

-Jim (1996 Passat TDI)

 

[christi]

Yes, I have that manual, and it is the correct one.

It does cover the TDI, and the Ecodiesel too, even though it doesn't say so on the cover.

It actually lists some fairly complex things, like tearing the engine down and rebuilding it, transmission removal etc.

But it is for European spec cars. (As I said, they seem very similar to me, the biggest difference is electrics).

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SuperChipped 96 Passat TDI wagon
See my Peugeot / Passat site