Why has the Haynes Book of Lies got it's reputation?

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MisterH
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Why has the Haynes Book of Lies got it's reputation?

Post by MisterH » Thu Dec 03, 2020 8:29 pm

I know that amongst other car cultures, the Haynes manual is almost holy in its ability to provide detailed analysis of every automotive rebuild issue, or so perceived, but I cannot help but notice that amongst our 480 clan, the man is known as St Haynes, Patron of Lies and Misery

Why is this moniker deserved? I know the haynes manual for the 400 is based off of a 440 rebuild, and is not exactly clear when the 480 is essentially a different car when it comes to everything but the mechanicals. However is it really that bad? :crazy:
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

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dcwalker
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Re: Why has the Haynes Book of Lies got it's reputation?

Post by dcwalker » Thu Dec 03, 2020 9:19 pm

No, it's not that bad, really.

The thing is that it was written around an early 440. The later edition took account of the 440 facelift - but, as I am discovering, only to a certain degree.

The 480 is something of an afterthought in it - sometimes Haynes quotes straight from the Volvo books, other times it completely forgets that the 480 is different to the 440/460 and so is no help at all.

Personally, I refer to it a lot as a starting point, but am always ready to discover that life under the bonnet if a later 480 in particular can be quite different to life in Haynes land...

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

jifflemon
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Re: Why has the Haynes Book of Lies got it's reputation?

Post by jifflemon » Thu Dec 03, 2020 9:30 pm

Is it better than nothing? Slightly......

For me the biggest lies are usually "refitting is the reversal of removal" :angry:

malkontent
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Re: Why has the Haynes Book of Lies got it's reputation?

Post by malkontent » Thu Dec 03, 2020 9:53 pm

I have some kilograms of Volvo Factory Green Manuals and ......some informations are Top Secret ?

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dcwalker
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Re: Why has the Haynes Book of Lies got it's reputation?

Post by dcwalker » Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:32 am

jifflemon wrote:
Thu Dec 03, 2020 9:30 pm
Is it better than nothing? Slightly......

For me the biggest lies are usually "refitting is the reversal of removal" :angry:
Completely agree - but in fairness, that applies to all Haynes manuals, not just the 400 one. And if only it were always that simple... :lol:

It's the same with the C70 - the S70/V70/C70 manual is pretty good, but only covers the coupe C70, not the convertible. So again, anything that's different you have to work out for yourself as Haynes guides you along and suddenly dumps you mid-job!

Obviously the other generic flaw is that when Haynes dismantled their car it was nice and new and clean: they weren't battling with rounded bolts, parts that have never been shifted in 25 years, deteriorating wiring looms, etc etc.... But again, that applies to any workshop manual.

I have the Volvo DVD containing the old green books, and that I find very helpful. The one down side of that is that there were no new green books apparently after 1994, just a different format of service bulletins. It's no problem with the 480, but it makes using them on a facelift 440 a tad difficult because certain things (like the diabolical central locking/immobiliser/courtesy light system) are therefore missing.

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

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MisterH
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Re: Why has the Haynes Book of Lies got it's reputation?

Post by MisterH » Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:36 am

dcwalker wrote:
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:32 am


(like the diabolical central locking/immobiliser/courtesy light system) are therefore missing.

David


The Rover has a similar issue, but add to it the draining battery and every time the car is powered up its a game of Rubik's cube with the Manual key override :rofl: :boom:
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

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dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1522
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: York

Re: Why has the Haynes Book of Lies got it's reputation?

Post by dcwalker » Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:39 am

MisterH wrote:
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:36 am
dcwalker wrote:
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:32 am


(like the diabolical central locking/immobiliser/courtesy light system) are therefore missing.

David


The Rover has a similar issue, but add to it the draining battery and every time the car is powered up its a game of Rubik's cube with the Manual key override :rofl: :boom:
:rofl:

I have made considerable progress since I got the 440 - when I got it it just unlocked manually the driver's door or passenger door with the key, no central locking, no courtesy lights at all. I then managed to somehow trip the immobiliser (which can only be disarmed using the fob, which of course I don't have!). I managed to track through and bypass all the necessary extra relays etc to overcome that, and have also got central locking now working from the driver's door. Courtesy light still only from driver's door though...

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

Alan 480
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Re: Why has the Haynes Book of Lies got it's reputation?

Post by Alan 480 » Fri Dec 04, 2020 12:57 pm

I use it as a 'starting point'

it says 'clutch removal needs gearbox removed', it doesn't :-)

at least there is a version, the SS1 is my own home brewed affair with multiple trips to the local library to 'possibly photocopy' the relevant pages from all the 'donor cars' :- :hopping: about five, and there are the special Reliant changes to bu88er you up , like putting bolts in that can only be reached after drive shaft removed, on the Sierra (donor) the bolts are in from the outside!!!!
oh and to totally flumox users the front calipers are from a Metro on Vauxhall (sort of) hubs, and the N/S Metro is on the O/S on the SS1 :shock:
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

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