Our anonymous blogger pays tribute to the creator of the iconic Haynes maintenance manual
Even if you didn’t know his Christian name, chances are that the mere mention of John Haynes will bring one of his eponymous maintenance manuals to mind. Such is the far reaching influence of the man who passed away earlier this month, at the age of 80.
If, by some fluke, you remain ignorant of them then let me tell you that they are a series of hard backed books, A4 in size with each giving a step by step guide to maintaining a particular car. They came about when, in the late 1950s, Mr Haynes realised that the factory manuals were only suitable for trained mechanics and therefore of little use to the growing number of people running older vehicles on a shoe string. Reliant only upon their own wits and skills to keep them on the road.
I remember being aware of this extensive polychromatic self-help library whilst growing up, but of course bought my first book (second hand) when I got my first car – a 1300 Vauxhall Viva (also second hand). Part of the excitement of fledgling car ownership was digging through the manual to understand how it all worked.
These indispensable tomes have given who knows how many people the confidence to take their first steps into the world of practical engineering
Although I’ve never reached the dizzy heights of full rebuilds I have carried out my fair share of oil changes, suspension fixes and replacement of head gaskets. These were carried out on the drive and on the road side, the latter having the added thrill of passing cars ruffling your hair whilst you were lying flat out reaching up into the nether regions of the engine bay. Such is their worth that it is very rare to find a Haynes manual, other than a brand new one, that is not covered in oily finger prints.
The whole culture of DIY car maintenance was, and is, engineering in one of its most accessible and enjoyable forms. Whether it is an activity undertaken through choice or (as was more often the case “back in the day”) financial necessity this is a way of understanding basic, and not so basic, principles in real terms. Apart from how an internal combustion engine works there’s also gear boxes, springs and dampers, electric circuitry, hydraulic systems, standardisation of parts and so on. In later years the remit for the publications has expanded with numerous volumes on, amongst other things, various1980s Grand Prix cars and WW2 aircraft; but crucially they still focus very much on the technical aspects of the subject matter.
I suspect that the growing general affluence of society coupled to the increased sophistication of cars is eroding the traditional Haynes business model, which no doubt goes some way to explaining the need for the company to start pushing into different markets. Perhaps there will be a small redress as more folk are able to indulge their dream of owning a classic car and, as a hobby rather than a necessity, seek out the chance to cherish the increasingly rare opportunity of experiencing the satisfaction that comes with fixing something yourself. We shall see.
I think that the legacy of the Haynes manual reaches further though. These indispensable tomes have given – who knows how many people – the confidence to take their first steps into the world of practical engineering. Odds are that there will be someone who can trace their career back to tackling a job armed with their trusty Haynes but the more likely scenario is that it helped a nascent engineer to clarify what they wanted to do with their life. The joy of making something work opening their eyes to a potential future within our industry. John Haynes may not have revolutionised our profession but through his books he did have an influence on a great many of us. Enough cause then, I would suggest, to take a moment to mark his passing.
John H Haynes OBE (25th March 1938 – 8th February 2019) was the creator of the famous Haynes manual, founder of the Haynes Publishing Group and the Haynes International Motor Museum.
This was a standard purchase with any ‘new’ car. Many a sweaty moment at 4.30pm on a Saturday afternoon begging for a lift from your Mum to the Motor Factors that shut at 5 for the missing part…
Sadly time constraints, reliable cars, and being able to afford to pay someone else to service my car mean I haven’t bought one for a while. But the hope of a classic or a kit car in the next few years means an anticipated purchase is again in sight.
RIP
Ah a car with a service history, consisting of oily pages in the Haynes manual it came with.
If the pages were oily then you knew which bits had been fiddled with.
I still have my complete history of car ownership in Haynes manuals on a book shelf. Recently I opened the Ford Capri 2.0 manual and the memories of the camshaft replacement came flooding back. Judging by the amount of smudged oil finger prints it was a lengthy task.
The ex-wife nearly made me throw them away when we moved house, the new wife lets stand proud on the book shelf as part of my own history.
There are now not only Haynes guides for vehicles, but actually or in prospect for wives, teenagers, grandparents, dogs, lawyers, accountants, and even editors. [Well if there aren’t yet there should be!]
I was given the A380 one for Christmas, the Space Shuttle/International Space Station is close. Presumably there will be a glut of old A380s needing servicing soon!
This is a man who deserved to be awarded and honour for services to the country. We happily give them to sports people for winning a medal, but he has helped thousands of us who maintain our own cars. My Rover 2000 manual has greasy marks in all sections and will continue to get dirty!
My first Auto Repair Manual was not a Haynes, nor a Chilton, but a Ford manual originally printed in Australia. in the 60’s… and was a tremendous help in keeping my old 1967 Falcon running flawlessly for perhaps 40 years as a daily driver!
Then I had the ENORMOUS pleasure of finding several Haynes manuals together with some Chilton’s. Those have polished my progress towards a full DIY auto maintenance and most repairs done at home (perhaps over 95% of all the repairs in more than 45 years of tinkering and suceeding!). Thanks to Haynes and similar manuals, not one of my cars have had to be towed or have visited the dealer’s shop ever!
Too sad to know about the death of Mr. Haynes. We are already suffering the over complicated and difficult to repair designs of recent year cars, that pretend to make even the most straightforward and simple things through the computer. Take for example the extremely stupid way to turn on the brake lights of some recent VW’s: Their absolutely over-brilliant “designers” decided that the old and proven dual filament bulbs were just too simple… So, they devised a kind of Rube Goldberg approach: Make the computer reduce the 12VDC normal filament voltaje to about half, so that when the driver touches the brake pedal, the computer allows the full 12V to reach the bulbs indicating that the car is braking. Not only this approach makes a critical safety system LESS reliable, but much more complicated to diagnose and repair… all in the name of “modernity” and to give some jobs to overly “creative” software writers that know nothing about cars and that would not identify a wrench from an screwdriver!
Thanks to Haynes, auto mechanics has been a pleasure to do at home, and has certainly helped me to become a better “hands-on” engineer, along with increasing my appreciation of both good and bad designs.
John Haynes will be sadly missed. I have a bookshelf of these bibles for cars I have owned which have helped me retain most of my sanity and knuckles. Unfortunately he never dismembered and published a Toyota Starlet manual, so I am left to my own devices on that one.
Unfortunately modern cars are very reliable, but modular and based on electronics, so the private owner hasn’t much of a chance of changing just a bearing or valve.
RIP ; repair to Upstairs where there must be many winged chariots to fettle.
This guy was well respected by many for his workshop manuals on popular cars and the timeless phrase ‘reassembly is a reverse of the above procedure’…
Sadly in recent years, and as a reflection of increasing car complexity, the one detailed manuals have become overburdened with ‘safety advice/warnings’ and ‘refer to dealership’ comments that replace the useful guidance that we all knew and love.
Sign of the times or just dumbing down because people these days are not so mechanically or technically minded…. Or can’t be bothered…
RIP Mr Haynes.
I too have an extensive collection of battered, oily Haynes manuals and have spent many hours tinkering, repairing and returning some piece of old junk into a thing of questionable beauty once more. Thanks for your help Mr Haynes.
RIP
Not sure if thats Rest or Rust? You decide?
Many cars have passed through my hands over the years but the Haynes Manual Library remains as a reminder. Some remain live for the classics that are my hobby just in case I have to tackle a job not previously visited or as a gentle reminder. In all the years that they have been a faithful companion I have only ever had one occasion where a manual wasn’t available sadly.
Let’s have him back – the world’s a much depleted place without him.
Surely reassembly is just the reverse of . . . … !
GET THE MANUAL OUT!
I was amazed, when I came to Canada, to find Haynes manuals for North American models. Still written in that very personal UK-style. Very reassuring.
I recall changing the head gasket of my Mini by the light of a street lamp outside my flat in Oldham!
I recently purchased a Haynes Manual for my wifes’ Toyota Aygo and last Christmas my son bought me one on D-Day which proved to be absolutely fascinating.
Back in my younger days, when first became involved in sport cars, specially at first the MGB and then Spitfires, these manuals were the go to bible for each make of car. I joined forces with several other people and worked for a full service garage specializing in imports. I established the machine shop for the owner and performed all the engine rebuilds. We all relied on these manuals when we had certain vehicles or tasks that were outside the norm of the average import. We sold these manuals to customers and offered advise to the home mechanic trying to do their own service (we also sold parts). I still have all my manuals packed away; memories of a bygone time in my life and career, and the cars I owned, rebuilt and raced.
Echo all comments above, dozens of these manuals on my garage shelf, (I wrap mine in cling film, stops damp etc) As a member of the Morgan Sports car Club we are visiting the museum in May and looking forward to it ! (no, Haynes never did Morgan specific manuals but the Rover 620 had all the engine detail for the T16 Rover lump for example installed in some Plus 4 models. – Thinking about it Morgan don’t do a full range of manuals either)
Haynes is a great British institution, so sad to see the founder pass away, a real unsung hero!
Agreed .. I’ve bought the Haynes manual for every car I’ve owned. Unfortunately , the current one was only available in paperback & printed on what feels/looks like recycled kitchen paper … so the photos are almost indecipherable! Please bring back the “real” Haynes manuals.
The manual which the UK desperately needs but was never written is “How to conduct successful BREXIT negotiations”.