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Sedans Cadillac Catera Cadillac Catera Maintenance & Repair
1216 messages, Last post on Nov 25, 2009 at 3:38 PM
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My mom bought this catera new in '99. We've had a few problems, some were fixed under warranty and some not. Car now has 48K on it. Most recently we went on a 250 mile one way trip. On the way home we had to slow to a crawl for some construction. I noticed the oil light came on and the oil pressure got real low when the engine was idling (but not quite into the red). When you go faster speeds the pressure increases somewhat and the light goes off. Oil level is full and we have always changed the oil and oil filter at 5K max but mostly at 3K. Now whenever I stop the car in the garage, you can smell oil burning off the exhaust headers and there is a small amount of leaking on the garage floor but it is minimal. Sometimes when you first start the car up and put it in reverse, it doesn't want to move without racing the engine up. Also, when driving, it doesn't always shift consistently at the same RPM's and will downshift while driving on a level road for no reason at all. I personally have a Lexus and when I drive my mom's Catera, I feel like I am driving a stylish garbage truck. I suppose the oil smell is the valve cover gaskets going bad. After reading some of the other posts, I am wondering if we shouldn't dump the car before the required repairs get worse. Of course for what the market value of the car is, it would be better to just drive it til it doesn't run and then junk it. Or we could sell it to a relative for a decent price as they love the car, but I hate to do that. The oil pressure light and actual pressure could be a sign of major repairs to come or could just be a faulty sending unit?? Anyone have any thoughts on this. I have a few classic cars and am a excellent car detailer so needless to say, Mom's Catera looks as good as the day it came off the assembly line. It just doesn't run like it. Thoughts please?? Thanx, Rick
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I bought a 2000 cadillac catera two years ago w/49,000 miles and has been a HUGE problem ever since. It had a clean CARFAX when I bought it. Since then, I've spent close to $2,000 as a result of damages. Below summarizes my problems. 1: car leaks water when it rains on right passenger side , driver door broke, will not stay open. Car also smokes periodically, smells like oil. 2. Heater Valve part 90566947 replaced 63K miles due to coolant leak ($300) 3. timing belt tension pulley broke off few months later ($400, car had to be towed to firestone) 4. 78K need to replace UPPER/LOWER intake manifold gaskets coolant as a result of coolant leak AGAIN!! (close to $800) Also told heater valve needs to be replaced a year after 2nd one put in due to leak. ***I have all left over pieces of old gaskets and reciepts for all work done in case claims can be filed. I'm soo upset about this I can't even begin to explain. I've had the car two years and did everything possible to ensure this car wasn't a LEMON but it is..and still owe $6, 000 on it.
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Replying to: rcorbe1 (Jun 12, 2006 5:21 pm) Randy |
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Replying to: golfchic (Apr 13, 2006 9:58 am) |
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Replying to: azton (Jun 15, 2006 10:39 am)
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Replying to: golfchic (Jun 15, 2006 5:25 pm)
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| You're right as far as shuddering when one finds out what their Catera is now worth. Catera values plummeted when the CTS came out. However, I don't know how old you are but I can assure you that even if you were living when the Titanic sunk, your Catera is going to die long before you do. If you had a place to store it though, after it's death, it would make a great casket. That's where most of them belong anyway - six feet under... Good luck. | |
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Replying to: merckx (Jun 16, 2006 5:48 pm) |
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Replying to: golfchic (Apr 13, 2006 9:58 am) 
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