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Cadillac Catera Maintenance & Repair

1431 messages,  Last post on Mar 20, 2013 at 11:45 PM

You are in the Cadillac Catera Forum.

What is this discussion about? Cadillac Catera, Auto Repair, Sedan

Messages Page 11 of 144

#94 of 1431 1998 CADILLAC CATERA PROBLEMS by lynn8

Oct 21, 2005 (5:33 pm)

i was given this car by a good friend a few months ago, and now i think i know why he gave it away, he did tell me the car had problems, when we first start driving the car we noticed white smoke out of tailpipe, and temperture gauge very high, we took the car to a mechanic who then told us the car needed head gasket
replaced which cost $1300 when car was picked up from shop after being told it was fixed, we drove around and notice still white smoke, took car back mechanic attempt to do more work on car. well three days later we pick car up and still white smoke. after threatning to take mechanic to court for not fixing my car, i drove it around for few weeks and smoke cleared up, but noticed when air conditiong is running temperture gauge very high, well last week car started fluttering like wants to cut off when idle, and check engine light on, took car to advance auto he says needs mass air flow sensor that cost $299 after locating part at local salvage yard for $65 we put it on and car still doing same thing, idling very high, transmission seems to be shifting funny. can anyone help me im about to give up on this car i own a volvo and never had these kind of problems. everyone i talk with says i need to get rid of it, but i would really like to keep car, very nice i just dont wont to spend fortune. HELP!!!

#95 of 1431 by savageatl

Oct 25, 2005 (9:54 am)

Hi, I'm having problems with my local (Atlanta) Cadillac dealer, Hennessy;
 
Long story short: My car was due for an oil change, so I brought it in, after calling ahead, to have the oil changed. The service writer (Joey Davidson) came back shortly thereafter to tell me that “The drain plug is stripped so we can’t do it, you’ll have to bring it back Monday.” “What do you mean, the drain plug is stripped?” I asked, “Do you mean that you stripped the drain plug? The car’s never been serviced anywhere but here since it was new.” He went to check on this and then returned to confirm this. “We can’t do anything with it now,” he told me, “It’s stripped and we can’t get it out.”
 
At this point I've driven 45 minutes to the damn dealer from Decatur to discover they can't do a simple oil change. I'm really, REALLY not happy, and no, I don't have time to bring it back on Monday, I WORK. This is after the car has had a problem with overheating on the freeway with the A/C on, and they cannot find it after it's been sitting there three times. I want to call/write the local office and complain, does anyone know how to do that? I don't want to waste any time talking to some call centre peon who is going to mouth platitudes at me. (I apologise to all call centre peons because I was one once and so know how much power they have.) So if anyone knows how I can get in touch with someone who might care please let me know.

#97 of 1431 Re: 98 Catera Trans, etc. [hulacatera] by e041643

Nov 04, 2005 (5:02 pm)

Replying to: hulacatera (Sep 14, 2005 7:59 pm)
I have a 1997 Catera, owned for 7 years. My current problem is the transmission. It will shift from 1st to 2nd OK then you have to coax it into third. It won't go into 4th and easily drops out of third (to nothing) unless it locks into third (the transmission light will come on when it locks), if locked, it won't down shift after coming to a stop without turning the car off and restarting. The dealership says it needs a new transmission ($4500 at the dealer, maybe $2500 for a used one by a private installer. How did you get GM and the Dealership to help?

#98 of 1431 Drain battery cadillac catera 1998 by stci

Nov 09, 2005 (5:00 pm)

Hi,
 
Fist, excuse my bad english cause I'm french.
 
I have a cadillac catera 1998 and it has an intermitent problem. It happens regularly that I cannot start because the battery was completely emptied. I changed the battery once but the problem is always present. The dealer does not find any solution with my problem. Would you have an idea where the problem come from please?
 
Thank's in advance for your help.
 
Sylvie

#100 of 1431 tford by tford2

Nov 11, 2005 (5:13 pm)

Has anyone experienced a problem with their extended warranty co. not wanting to pay for a covered part? I don't know what to do I have a spun bearing to piston #3. Inspectors report says starved for oil, all fluids are found to be good in car including oil. I had oil changes done on the side by a friend he wrote me reciepts but the warranty co wants an exact cause of this if not lack of oil in the engine.Repair center unable to find exact cause of failure. Does any one have any suggestions??? What could cause the oil not to get to the piston other than no oil in the car?

#101 of 1431 Head Gasket needs replacement by tburhani

Nov 14, 2005 (4:01 pm)

I bougth 98 Catera from used car dealer on Nov 1, 2004 with 90,000kms on it, no problems at all until End of Oct this year. Engine coolant leaking, it has 125,000 kms on it and haven't even changed the timing belt. I like the car, lots of goody features on it. It might cost me about $3500.00 to fix all this. Should I keep it or get rid of it? Please advice guys!
Thanks for your help.

#102 of 1431 Re: [savageatl] by kushnir8295

Nov 19, 2005 (9:23 am)

Replying to: savageatl (Oct 25, 2005 9:54 am)
I had a problem with a local GM dealer years ago, that went on for over 2 years (very frustrating). During that time I when up the chain of the company. The one who helped me most, was the Regional rep. (state level). That person reprimanded the dealer and got the work done.

#103 of 1431 97 Catera Shifting Problems by kushnir8295

Nov 19, 2005 (10:25 am)

I recently purchased a 97 Catera with 88k miles. The car was rough, but is cleaning up nicely. My major problem with the car is the transmission, it won't change gears on its own and the shift indicator lights in the center column don't work. I read a lot online that the one code, P1700 usually means that the fluid level is low and could cause this condition, so I just had the fluid and filter changed, yet it is still not shifting automatically. The codes that came up are P1700 (Manufaturer Control Transmission), P0705 (Trans Range Sensor Curcuit Malfunction), and P0455 (EVAP Emission Control System Leak (Large)) If P0705 indicates that there is sensor malfunction, where is that sensor or where do I begin? Could the EVAP Emission Control System leak have anything to do with the shifting? HELP!!!

Messages Page 11 of 144

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