Is there a preferred service manual?

[rick3000]

The Bentley is great to have on hand, it covers a lot of less common things you will not be able to find online. That said it can lack detail and clarity, but nothing else comes close to competing with it. The Bentley is a must have in my opinion.

Almost all of the information in the 101 Projects books is available online from the books website, and has additional pictures. Between the Bentley manual and a google search you should be covered 90% of the time.

The service manual PDF's available online can be a good a resource, but you have to be aware that they are constantly updated and a lot of the copies floating around the net are incomplete or outdated. That said they contain some diagrams you won't find anywhere else. Now if only someone would release a book with every torque spec.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by rick3000

The service manual PDF's available online can be a good a resource, but you have to be aware that they are constantly updated and a lot of the copies floating around the net are incomplete or outdated. That said they contain some diagrams you won't find anywhere else.

I have the Bentley, 101 Projects, and a set of electronic manuals that I bought from eBay. As you mention, they haven't been updated but there is a lot of info that is helpful.

And for $7.95, its hard to go wrong.

PORSCHE BOXSTER 1996-2004 ( 986 ) FACTORY SERVICE REPAIR OEM WORKSHOP FSM MANUAL | eBay

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by rick3000

The Bentley is great to have on hand, it covers a lot of less common things you will not be able to find online. That said it can lack detail and clarity, but nothing else comes close to competing with it. The Bentley is a must have in my opinion.

Almost all of the information in the 101 Projects books is available online from the books website, and has additional pictures. Between the Bentley manual and a google search you should be covered 90% of the time.

The service manual PDF's available online can be a good a resource, but you have to be aware that they are constantly updated and a lot of the copies floating around the net are incomplete or outdated. That said they contain some diagrams you won't find anywhere else. Now if only someone would release a book with every torque spec.

Flat6innovations has a torque spec book for 996's which should cover 90% of 986.