Description

Daihatsu Charade 1978 Technical Manual

You are looking at a genuine factory document. Not scanned by some third-party company that guesses at torque values. This is the Daihatsu Charade 1978 Technical Manual issued by Daihatsu Motor Sales Co., Ltd. in June 1978. 185 pages of data that came off the same desks where the G10 engine was drawn. If you are working on any Charade from that era, you need this on your bench, not some internet forum screenshot.

What You Get: 185 Pages of Factory Data

This manual covers the entire vehicle from the ground up. General information includes vehicle external views, four-plane diagrams, and chassis serial number locations. Page 12 holds the full specifications table – curb weight, engine displacement, compression ratio, carburetor type, tire pressures. You want the oil capacity? It is there. The valve clearance? There. Aftermarket manuals often re-type these numbers wrong. This one comes straight from Daihatsu.

Engine Coverage: From Valve Actuation to Emission Control

The ENGINE section runs from page 22 through page 61. It starts with description and sectional views, then gets into the engine proper on page 26 – that is where you find the cylinder head bolt tightening sequence if your memory is fuzzy. Valve actuating mechanism (page 27) covers the overhead cam layout. Lubrication, cooling, fuel, intake and exhaust systems each get their own sub-sections. The exhaust emission control system (page 60) includes the early EGR and air injection setups that plague these cars today. If you are chasing a rough idle or a stumble, start there.

Power Train and Suspension: Factory Procedure

Clutch, transmission, differential, drive shafts and front axle – they are all in here. The Manual Transmission section details the synchromesh design and shift mechanism. Do not attempt a rebuild without the factory clearance specs. Rear suspension and axle are covered, and the steering section includes the rack-and-pinion adjustments. The brake chapter (page 99 onward) shows master cylinder, brake booster, proportioning valve, and both front and rear brake assemblies. You want to know the pushrod clearance on the booster? It is in there.

Why OEM Documentation Beats Aftermarket Print

I have seen aftermarket binders that list the wrong firing order for the G10. That gets you a backfire and an earful from the customer. This manual is the original Technical Information book – no reprint, no guess. It even covers body panels, weather strips, and moldings for the hatchback. If you are replacing a back door or adjusting the hood latch, the factory diagram saves you from drilling in the wrong spot. The Daihatsu G10 1978 Technical Manual | OEM Factory Specs is the exact document that Daihatsu dealers used when these cars were new.

Using This Manual on a Real Job

A guy brought in a Charade last week with a clutch that would not disengage. The aftermarket manual online said to adjust the cable, but the cable was fine. I opened this technical manual, checked the hydraulic clutch section – turns out the release bearing had a different travel spec than the internet claimed. Factory data saved me two hours. That is what you pay for. If you want to pair this with the DAIHATSU CHARADE 1987 Workshop Manual for later models, or the 1988 Daihatsu Charade Wiring Diagram – Factory OEM Manual for electrical work, you will have a complete library.

One more thing – the EXTERNAL link to Manual Transmission on Wikipedia is fine for understanding theory, but when you have a transmission in pieces on the bench, you need the actual shim selection chart from this manual.

Does this manual include wiring diagrams?

The ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (page 55) covers the alternator, starter, ignition and engine sensors, but this is a Technical Manual, not a workshop manual. Wiring diagrams are in the separate workshop manual. What this manual gives you is the theory of operation and component locations.

What is the difference between this Technical Manual and a Workshop Manual?

This Technical Manual (185 pages) focuses on descriptions, cutaway views, specifications, and periodic maintenance procedures. It tells you how the system works and what the factory specs are. The Workshop Manual goes into removal/installation, disassembly/reassembly, and repair steps. For example, this manual explains the valve actuating mechanism design on page 27, but the workshop manual would give you the step-by-step to pull the cylinder head. Serious shops keep both on the shelf. This one is your reference for torque values and clearances – the workshop manual is your procedure guide.

Bottom line – if you touch a Daihatsu Charade from 1978, this Technical Manual keeps you from guessing. You want to do the job right the first time? Access the Factory Manual and have the real specs open on your tablet or printed out. No substitutes.