I was thinking of purchasing the set of toyota manuals for my new Highlander (I guess about $275).  I never regretted buying the Honda manual for my 1989 civic (~$75 back in 1989).  Great for troubleshooting. Does anyone use these toyota manuals?  Are they appropriate for the weekend mechanic?  Can you retrieve error codes with a simple diagnostic scanner?  I don't want to buy them if in every second sentence it says ...attach Toyota diagnostic tool #12356... . Thanks a bunch, Bill

Bill wrote, Does anyone use these toyota manuals? Are they appropriate for the weekend mechanic? Can you retrieve error codes with a simple diagnostic scanner? I don't want to buy them if in every second sentence it says ...attach Toyota diagnostic tool #12356... . Thanks a bunch, Bill ============================== I use 'em every day at work.  Any problem you may encounter using them will stem more from poor translation than anything else, but this isn't too bad in most sections.  If you can understand the manual for your vcr or stereo receiver, you shouldn't have any trouble. You can use any OBDII capable scantool, and the newer manuals describe how to use both the Toyota scantool and a generic one. The Toyota scantool can retreive codes for some systems like Vehicle Skid control and such that you may not be able to access with a generic scantool, but there are usually alternate methods of retreiving these symptom codes described in the manual that do not require a scantool. Japlish notwithstanding, you can't beat the factory manuals for accuracy.  If you're going any further than routine maintenance, I'd recommend the investment. Dammit Jim!  I'm an Automotive Service Technician, not a mechanic!! But Capt'n, the ethylene glycol solution is almost exhausted! The combustion pods 'r' abou' t' explode, an' ah d' na how much longer ah can hold 'er! Steve S.