Who owns a Catera?

[bramos & my caddy]

Did you get it fixed? I just had a similar problem which is posted on another thread & i was told it was the crank sensors. In the past, my car used to idle BADLY & found it was the O2 sensors. I can't remember correctly but the car has either 4 or 6 of them~ which have all gone out at different times! You are definetly right on the cost of repairs!

[dpligocki]

I own a 2001 Catera Sport!

I love it, everything about the car I find amazing and I have always wanted a car that has leather, xenon headlights, BOSE with 2 subs!! and so much more including recaro seats.. I think this european built caddy is amazing and a great sports sedan. I mostly use if for trips as its a dream on the highway. I also own a new beetle and I find my Catera Sport more german than the beetle LOL. Heck the beetle was made in mexico and my caddy was built in GERMANY!

Its still under warranty and havent had any problems yet, I assume there wont be much as the 2000 and 2001s had everything resolved that was a problem in the past.

I also love how the ZJ1 suspension handles, one article said it is one of GMs best handling vehicles ever.

Is it true that out of the 25000 manufactured every year in 2000 and 2001 that only 2000cars were the sport models. I rarely see a car just like mine!

Dave,

[Catera97_Guy]

Jeff I recently bought a 1997 Catera with 79000 miles. It's a nice looking car, rides and handles great, but came with some common problems. I noticed an oil leak first. I took it to a Caddy dealer and was told it was a rear main seal. $654.00 later and repair done, there was still leaking oil. I took the car back to the Caddy dealer and was told that there was another leak from the oil pan gasket, and guess what....... that would cost another $600.00 plus to fix! I said no thank you and went to my local repair shop. I got the oil pan gasket replaced at a cost of $260.00, only to find there was still an oil leak! Now I'm told I need valve cover gaskets....... and I haven't even gotten up the courage to ask what that's going to cost, and who knows if that will even fix the oil leak!!!! Besides the oil leak I have occasional antilock brake/traction control light that stays on at times for awhile. After reading these forums I'm thinking "what have I gotten myself into"???? Is there anyway I can tell if the timing belt/tensioner problem has been taken care of, or do I just have to worry about blowing the engine at anytime? Just to put the iceing on the cake, I had one of the wheel center caps come off today, can't wait to see what one of those cost to replace! A new fellow Catera owner, Vic

[Vesicant]

Catera97 guy... heres the rundown:

1. As for the oil leak, it may just be the valve covers... all i can say for now.


2. That maybe a fault in the module that controls the ABS and/or Traction Control (they are the same unit). Best bet is to go get it the car scanned for codes. You could try disconnecting the battery for a while and connecting it back up, that may clear some faults.


3. The wheel center cap... go to Ebay or see if you can inquire this website about getting just the center cap instead of the wheel (they sell your wheel style there pictured with a center cap on it); hopefully it shouldnt be anymore than 40 dollars: http://www.aaarims.com/


4. Also, reguarding the timing belt situation; if it was fixed by a Cadillac dealer then it should be on their network of systems. SO when you show up to get it checked out, they will look it up. Since it was and still is a very big problem. Plus there might be documentation (a sticker) saying that a recall was done or a sticker relating to it- you could try looking around the engine compartment.


Dont give up hope yet!!!

[mhvfd]

own a 97 just bought it a week ago. 73000 miles, seems very nice right not, had a few minor problems. seems to have a driver side vavle cover gasket leak, will fix in time. anyone had to do that? if so how much $. am considering a extended service plan, 1575.00 suposedly bumper to bumper. would yall advise doing so?

[_hp_]

I own one. A '98 Catera (obviously) with 66xxx miles on it. Black with black leather interior, Bose stereo, sunroof.

[ashe91596]

yeah i just bought my 98 catera in sept. so far i have had ony misfire issues but i still love the car. mmmmmm leather heated seats....

[mytmous]

Just got an 01 Catera, with everything but a sunroof. I love this car, after driving it for 2 weeks I told the wife I was keeping it and I'd get her another one, after I sell my Firebird. I traded her Caviler in for this one with 60K miles.

I love this car, now to work on making it better.

I hear alot about the valve covers leaking, I'll take a look at this on mine but it doesn't look like anything is leaking or has leaked, the engine looks brand new.

Has anyone tried just using RTV on the valve covers? I've built racecars for awhile and that's all I use.
Also on that subject is there anything stopping you from changing the oil cooler to a better one, I but them on my race cars and they cost like $50 for a great one. I'll have to look to see if there is room to mount it but should be an easy swap.

I'll put the catera up on the rack and get some pictures,
Does anyone have a performace webpage about doing mods to the Catera?
If not I may start one.
I'll start a new thread to ask what all people have done to theres and where we can get some more performance out of these.

Just to let you know, I've looked at the Omaga S/C that they have in Germany, but at close to $4000 it's a bit much. I may tear it down and build the bottom end so I can Turbo charge it.

I'm sick like that.
Matt

[Vesicant]

Ive posted other things on here about performance parts... and just recently ive found that because Saab uses the same engine, their's is turbocharged and i bet if you used the same turbo setup it would work. Maybe then change out the turbo for a higher performing one if you wanted.

General Catera info:
http://media.gm.com/division/cadilla.../catera00.html

General Performance parts from Europe:

http://www.mantzel.co.uk/omega/index.htm (most parts)

Info on what this engine can really do!

http://www.valvers.com/v6/x30xe.html

Apparently weak spots are the rods, bearings and cooling. Shouldnt take much for it to be ready for extreme stuff like superchargers etc. Yes you can have it be cooled externally for the oil. As for there being no superchargers available at the moment, there is one company making (not out yet) one for the CTS and that might fit if they make it for its base 3.2 engine which is just a larger version of our 3.0. On that site they say that the engine could handle up to 400 hp... hmmm.

Im not willing to do anything to mine yet since its in warranty and because of the models history it may be worth it to wait. IF i did, you bet there would be documentation up here on stuff. Then theres also the fact that money is going to soup'ing up the family truck.

[mytmous]

Hey do you know which Saab uses the same engine, maybe a good place to get turbo pistons and crank and rods to make it work.

I have a buddy that proto-types turbo setups on cars, he was 5 turbo cars and all are very fast.