Tedanddenise

I have always done most of my maintanance on all cars and motorcycles. I feel most service done on our cars is stuff that any person with reasonable mechanical ability can do him or herself. I include oil changes, tire rotations, other fluid checks, air pressure checks, vacuuming interiors, etc, etc. It's really hard for my to justify paying someone to do the same thing I could do - and I will do it correctly. My question - should I buy the '04 TL sevice manual to get the torque specs and other info? What does the service manual cost and has anyone else purchased it? Delivery is set for Tuesday morning (June 29) at 10 AM. I am getting quite anxious.

Ron A

It costs $$69.00 + 6.95 handling charge, from Helm, Inc, at www.helminc.com or 1-800-782-4356. This information will also be in the back of your Owner's Manual when you get it.

It is 2,159 pages long.

I bought it and I think it is worth it, even though I won't be doing a lot of maintenance myself, but it is interesting to find out how to do things.

When you tell us you are getting your TL next week, you only whet our appetites. You should tell us color, navi or not, 5AT or 6MT, etc. I looked in your profile after I sent this and found it, but you should tell us anyway.

leeherman

I bought the manuals before I took delivery of the car. They're definitely worth owning if you think you'll want to do ANY work on your car.

I got the main manual and the electrical supplement from Helm. Ordered 'em online, got 'em both in less than a week for around $120 with shipping.

I got the car today! It's fantastic. I'm sure you'll enjoy yours when it arrives.

Good luck!

Tedanddenise

Thanks Ron and Lee and I have added some info to my signature. I'll order the main manual this evening.

Tedanddenise

Thanks Ron and Lee and thanks for the signature advice. Didn't bother with that but I've put one together to help with the ID. I'll order my manual this evening.

hokietl

The Helm site has the 04 TL service manual as 3.2/2.5. Did they provide the latest manual since there are no 2.5 TL for 2004.

leeherman

Your observation is correct. Despite the somewhat misleading menu on the Helms site, if your order the 2004 TL manuals you will get the correct ones.

I ordered the service and electrical supplement manuals a week ago this past Wednesday and got them last Saturday.

hokietl

Thx...I'm planning to get a service manual also

JT3

Hey... you think there's any possibility of a group buy for these items? I know other group buys have resulted in some pretty good discounts. This is a great price for these books as they are, but every little bit helps, right?

Ron A

If you are planning a group buy, see this link http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showp...64&postcount=7

I don't think you would have much success getting Helm to participate in a group buy for service manuals, but you could try if you wanted to.

SouthernBoy

My last car was a 2002 Altima SE. The shop manual for that was a 4-volume set at over $300! The TL shop manual is a single volume and in my opinion, better than the 4-volume Altima set. Even though they use drawings and not pictures (haven't seen pictures in a shop manual since my '96 Contour SE), it is good with decent text to boot.

Buy it.. you won't regret it.

carcar

I think working on your own car is great!!!! Especially for oil changes/tire rotations. First of all, they're not worth paying $75 or more at the dealer for, and if you do them yourself, besides saving the money, you get to know your car.
:gheywave:

Good Lcuk everyone!!
carcar

JT3

Actually, I wasn't OFFERING to set this up, although I could if people were interested. I haven't been on here long, but I remember seeing one of the moderators sets a lot of these things up, and I was really just trying to see if there was interest, then I would have contacted him (hehe... I'd have to look up WHICH moderator it was, since I really don't have a clue) if he didn't pipe in himself.

Sorry if I was cracking, if not actually breaking, a few rules by asking the question. That definitely wasn't my intention.

Ron A

JT3-you weren't cracking or breaking any rules yet. That is why I posted the link, so you would know what to do if you wanted to go further, and also as info for anyone else contemplating a group buy.

The moderator you were thinking of may have been smitty, who is the author of the post in the link I gave. If you checked it out, you could see he has very good reasons for closely monitoring group buys, foremost of which is protection of our members.

You can also check the Group Buy and Sponsored Sales forum to see how things work there.