Workshop manuals - where to buy?

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Shibal

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I'm searching for a workshop manual for the 2006 Opel Corsa I've just bought, but none of the local parts stores or book stores stock this these.

The only place that I can find is http://www.motorbooks.co.za/ , but their ordering and order processing is backward - you can't place your order and payment online - they send an email with the order detail and a promise to get back soon to finalize the payment etc. , but still not heard back.
 
Check out motor forums in the US. I joined a Beemer forum and got a workshop manual free on download
 
Haynes Manual

51Ag%2BPD7vEL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
 
satanboy said:
Haynes Manual

51Ag%2BPD7vEL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
Click to expand...
That's the one that is in the process of being ordered.


That would work out to around R250 without shipping - WTF must the SA'n always rip each other off with pricing?


Product Code Product Name Quantity Price (ea.)
4617 Vauxhall/Opel Corsa Petrol & Diesel 2003 - 2006 (4617) 1 R445.00
Delivery method: Courier (24 hours) R75.00
Order Total: R520.00
 
chrisc4290 said:
Check out motor forums in the US. I joined a Beemer forum and got a workshop manual free on download
Click to expand...

I don't think that the Opel's are available in mass in the US.

I found a local Opel forum, did the registration, but never received the confirmation email to finalise the registration, and get a delivery error from the web admin address.
 
Shibal said:
That's the one that is in the process of being ordered.


That would work out to around R250 without shipping - WTF must the SA'n always rip each other off with pricing?


Product Code Product Name Quantity Price (ea.)
4617 Vauxhall/Opel Corsa Petrol & Diesel 2003 - 2006 (4617) 1 R445.00
Delivery method: Courier (24 hours) R75.00
Order Total: R520.00
Click to expand...

Order it direct from Amazon ffs = Price: £15.76 = R204.00!!
 
Or you could always just download it...

Haynes or Factory workshop manuals are out there.
 
I received the manual from amazon.co.uk and had to pay import duties of R60

I'm still well under the price from the local web site, http://www.motorbooks.co.za/ , and wasn't such a long wait, but I always thought that books were exempt from import duties.
 
Having consulted Haynes manuals at times of specialised applications on my car, I have to say get the actual workshop manual instead. Haynes is a diy manual and will let you down, badly. Some of the pictures in the VW book are not even of VW's !!!!
 
Haynes manuals these days are not worth the paper they are written on. Some years ago they were quite good and you could fix problems and maintain most cars with them.

Today it's only for elementary stuff like normal servicing and maintenance. The moment the problems are electric/electronic or even deeper mechanical you are told it is beyond the normal scope of owner repairable items and you should take it to a workshop. Who are they to decide what I can fix or repair, just give me the specs, that's all I want and need.
 
I have used their manuals many years ago, and can confirm that the one I've just received is pretty poor.

It covers a few different versions and engines, lacking sufficient detail on all.

I wanted it to confirm the strip down needed just to get at the thermostat thats stuck open - got to remove the timing belt !

I've also used the electrical schematic section to track down the reason why the rear window washer is not working - it uses the same pump as the windscreen (direction changes dependent on which window it needs to spray).

Theres the main fuse/relay box in the engine compartment - where's the other relay box ?

Why the hell are we importing the engines from Brazil - didn't we have this capability ?
 
Last edited:
Exactly ! And I paid R400.00 at Adams&Greggs some years ago. Was very disappointed, not enough in depth trouble shooting at all.
 
Shibal said:
I wanted it to confirm the strip down needed just to get at the thermostat thats stuck open - got to remove the timing belt !
Click to expand...
Its best to replace the thermostat when you do you second cambelt service on 150,000km along with the waterpump. I did the waterpump but not the thermostat and had to pay R1600 just to replace the thermostat on 175,000km
Shibal said:
Why the hell are we importing the engines from Brazil - didn't we have this capability ?
Click to expand...
The new Corsa Mk4 does not use the thirsty Brazilian petrol engines found in the Mk2 (lite) and Mk3 you have. I have no idea why GMSA used those crappy 1.4s from Brazil.
 
Rouxenator said:
Its best to replace the thermostat when you do you second cambelt service on 150,000km along with the waterpump. I did the waterpump but not the thermostat and had to pay R1600 just to replace the thermostat on 175,000km
Click to expand...
I plan to replace the thermostat, water pump, timing belt tensioner at around the 150,000km mark, but in the interim I plan to use a thermostat ordered from the UK that goes in the top radiator hose.
The new Corsa Mk4 does not use the thirsty Brazilian petrol engines found in the Mk2 (lite) and Mk3 you have. I have no idea why GMSA used those crappy 1.4s from Brazil.
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This 1.4 has 114,000km on the clock and is running well, but the thermostat buried inside the workings of the engine is a sign of poor design and engineering.

Another minor issue we found is that my son shifts it into reverse too fast, and this causes the gears to thump and jolt the engine - I have taught him to gently ease it into all gears.
 
Shibal said:
I plan to replace the thermostat, water pump, timing belt tensioner at around the 150,000km mark, but in the interim I plan to use a thermostat ordered from the UK that goes in the top radiator hose.

This 1.4 has 114,000km on the clock and is running well, but the thermostat buried inside the workings of the engine is a sign of poor design and engineering.

Another minor issue we found is that my son shifts it into reverse too fast, and this causes the gears to thump and jolt the engine - I have taught him to gently ease it into all gears.
Click to expand...

Hi there, isn't there's a reason why manufacturers place the thermostat at the bottom, rather than at the top? What temperature rating would you use, if you put the thermostat at the top hose of the radiator ? I'm just curious...
 
MrPost said:
Hi there, isn't there's a reason why manufacturers place the thermostat at the bottom, rather than at the top? What temperature rating would you use, if you put the thermostat at the top hose of the radiator ? I'm just curious...
Click to expand...
Thermostats are typically positioned near the top of the engine, mounted where the top radiator hose attaches to the cylinder head.

The thermostat will go at the point where the top radiator hose attaches to the the original thermostat aluminium housing - effectively about 4 inches from the original thermostat - the Fix thermostat is 88 degC and there's no reason it should not work in this location - the coolant temp will be exactly the same at point in the hose where this thermostat will be installed, compared to the location of the original thermostat.
 
Oh okay cool. My Golf has it at the bottom so I was just wondering, thanks!
 
Just out of interest, have you replaced the O2 sensor yet? I had to replace mine at about 120,000km. Also, have the fake leather around the gear stick and handbrake started to break up? Seems to be a classic Opel thing...

Oh, the car I am talking about is a 2001 Astra G 1.6 16v.
 
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