2008 MX-5 factory workshop manual doesn't explain how stuff works?

This is my first Mazda; what a sweet little car. As I do with every
car I buy, new or used, I bought the service manual and wiring
diagram. Compared to the GM or Ford service manuals, though, there's
virtually nothing in there about how the systems work. For instance I
was hoping to learn about the Xenon headlamps, the variable valve
timing, but there's nothing except what bolts to take off in what
order. Seems pretty lame to me. Is this kind of info in another
manual?

In article
>,
hillpc > wrote:

> For instance I
> was hoping to learn about the Xenon headlamps, the variable valve
> timing, but there's nothing except what bolts to take off in what
> order. Seems pretty lame to me. Is this kind of info in another
> manual?

I doubt it. Dealership mechanics don't have to know how stuff works,
just how to diagnose and repair it. It's just a cookbook, not a treatise
on food chemistry.

--
Lanny Chambers
St. Louis, MO
'94C

I agree w/ the OP, on my '99 shop manual there's very little helpful /
insightful info. The Chilton's manuals that I have (on many cars) are much
better even if they might not give you direction as to how to do every last
thing, it tends to be the stuff that you really need and a bit of an
overview on the particular part of the car your working on.

Chris
99BBB

"Lanny Chambers" > wrote in message
...
> In article
> >,
> hillpc > wrote:
>
>> For instance I
>> was hoping to learn about the Xenon headlamps, the variable valve
>> timing, but there's nothing except what bolts to take off in what
>> order. Seems pretty lame to me. Is this kind of info in another
>> manual?
>
> I doubt it. Dealership mechanics don't have to know how stuff works,
> just how to diagnose and repair it. It's just a cookbook, not a treatise
> on food chemistry.
>
> --
> Lanny Chambers
> St. Louis, MO
> '94C

On Mar 6, 3:23*pm, "Chris D'Agnolo" > wrote:
> I agree w/ the OP, on my '99 shop manual there's very little helpful /
> insightful info. The Chilton's manuals that I have (on many cars) are much
> better even if they might not give you direction as to how to do every last
> thing, it tends to be the stuff that you really need and a bit of an
> overview on the particular part of the car your working on.
>
> Chris
> 99BBB
>
> "Lanny Chambers" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
> > In article
> > >,
> > hillpc > wrote:
>
> >> For instance I
> >> was hoping to learn about the Xenon headlamps, the variable valve
> >> timing, but there's nothing except what bolts to take off in what
> >> order. *Seems pretty lame to me. *Is this kind of info in another
> >> manual?
>
> > I doubt it. Dealership mechanics don't have to know how stuff works,
> > just how to diagnose and repair it. It's just a cookbook, not a treatise
> > on food chemistry.
>
> > --
> > Lanny Chambers
> > St. Louis, MO
> > '94C- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Fwiw, I think the Mazda manuals are written for the Mazda mechanic
that knows what he is working with. Not belittle you, but I think they
asume you have been trained on the Mazda cars and are not new to the
workings. The VVT section in my 2003 manual explains how to remove,
test and replace the unit, not how how it works. Chilton manuals,
expect to be able to repair the car that is owned by the homeowner in
his yard or garage, not in a dealers shop. In the past, when I started
out on Miatas, I used the two manuals for my '91 Miata. You just can't
have enough info. at your finger tips when you start working on
something that is new for you.

Bruce Bing '03 LS

Bruce, I agree with you completely. We weren't saying they were improperly
done just, not the most helpful. I think your explanation is probably
exactly right.

Chris
99BBB

Fwiw, I think the Mazda manuals are written for the Mazda mechanic
that knows what he is working with. Not belittle you, but I think they
asume you have been trained on the Mazda cars and are not new to the
workings. The VVT section in my 2003 manual explains how to remove,
test and replace the unit, not how how it works. Chilton manuals,
expect to be able to repair the car that is owned by the homeowner in
his yard or garage, not in a dealers shop. In the past, when I started
out on Miatas, I used the two manuals for my '91 Miata. You just can't
have enough info. at your finger tips when you start working on
something that is new for you.

Bruce Bing '03 LS

Interesting difference in approach between GM and Mazda, with GM
starting every section with a "Description and Operation" subsection.
So where do the Mazda dealership mechanics learn how the stuff works?
>

"hillpc" > wrote in message
...
> Interesting difference in approach between GM and Mazda, with GM
> starting every section with a "Description and Operation" subsection.
> So where do the Mazda dealership mechanics learn how the stuff works?
>>
>
By working in GM dealerships?

LOL! that's a good one. Might even be some truth to it. I'm sure the guys do
get schooling for all that stuff but I like GM's approach to include a brief
overview (refresher) on the system in question, right there before you dive
in.

See, GM doesn't do EVERYTHING wrong!

Chris
99BBB
"Chas Hurst" > wrote in message
m...
>
> "hillpc" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Interesting difference in approach between GM and Mazda, with GM
>> starting every section with a "Description and Operation" subsection.
>> So where do the Mazda dealership mechanics learn how the stuff works?
>>>
>>
> By working in GM dealerships?
>

Chris D'Agnolo wrote:
> I agree w/ the OP, on my '99 shop manual there's very little helpful /
> insightful info. The Chilton's manuals that I have (on many cars) are
> much better even if they might not give you direction as to how to do
> every last thing, it tends to be the stuff that you really need and a
> bit of an overview on the particular part of the car your working on.
>
> Chris
> 99BBB

That's why I sold mine, all 5 of them now.

The enthusiasts manual covers everything I do on the car in a way that
is much easier to understand and reference, at least to a shade-tree
parts-swapper like myself.

My last Miata came with factory manuals for 1991, 1994, 1999 & 2001 in
the trunk. I had a 1996 manual for my first Miata.
Those all sold nicely, I could not find anything useful, (to me), in
them that was not available with a better explanation online for free.

Actually, with the resources available at Miata.net, I don't really need
the enthusiasts manual either, at least not for anything that I have
done to the car for over 4 years.

Pat

hillpc wrote:
> Interesting difference in approach between GM and Mazda, with GM
> starting every section with a "Description and Operation" subsection.
> So where do the Mazda dealership mechanics learn how the stuff works?
>
as i remember, in every fix-it section of the GM manual, the first thing
they say to do it "verify the complaint". i have carried this over into
many other areas of life, (e.g. UNIX)
\peter