97 Deville - Common Problems?

[lenny lincoln]

There is the point of terrrible resale values of Devilles in comparision to same year lincolns. I wonder why that is? Such great cars should demand higher resale values. Do a comparison of 8 yr old Devilles and lincolns to there Original sticker prices . I cruise the web, Ebay and craigslist and find constantly 97-99 devilles with 100k being sold with headgasket blown. I have yet found a lincoln of the same years being sold with any major malfunctions besides wrecked.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by JimHare

While you were there, how many drove by without stopping?

WTH does that mean?. So what you are saying is that there are Devilles driving around and that is a sign that they are reliable and will not have H/G issues?. The ones passing by maybe were fixed, or are in limp mode till the next gas station or maybe the owners got lucky and have one that will not give them any troubles?. Who knows?. But your logic is confusing to say the least.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by JimHare

They complain about H/Gs here because of two main characteristics:
1) They're f***ing expensive.
2) They're hard to do.

Add to that the fact that they are quite common.

Originally Posted by JimHare

H/Gs in many other cars do NOT have both of those characteristics. Therefore, the reason to complain about them is not as strong.

Yes there are other cars with known head gasket issues. Off hand I can think of the 3.8 Ford found in Mustangs and other cars. Lets take the V6 Mustang for example. 6 hours and new gaskets and the car is fixed, no time serts required, easy access to both heads and in all maybe $600 repair. I freigin paid $830 just for a water pump change on the Deville!. Yes we can complain because a head gasket issue should not cost $2500-$3500 no matter what. It all comes down to money Jim and not many take solice saying "Oh well, geeee, its not the Northstars fault, its just the way it was put in the car". Because of the way everything was packaged in the N* powered cars it makes them difficult to work on which in turn makes them very expensive to have fixed which, in the end, makes them disposable and a bad choice for a used car.

[JimHare]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

WTH does that mean?. So what you are saying is that there are Devilles driving around and that is a sign that they are reliable and will not have H/G issues?. The ones passing by maybe were fixed, or are in limp mode till the next gas station or maybe the owners got lucky and have one that will not give them any troubles?. Who knows?. But your logic is confusing to say the least.

No more confusing than the logic that said "two Caddys came in the shop both with coolant issues" , with the inference that ALL Caddys thus have coolant issues.

While I was in the local Munro getting brakes the other day, two Camry's came in, both needing rotors and pads. Does that mean that Camry's eat rotors and pads? No. That's my point.

Until you look at a SIGNIFICANT portion of a population, you can't draw meaningful conclusions. I don't care what you're looking at, whether it's Caddys or Creamsicles. And by significant I mean at least 15 to 20% of the population.

I'm sitting in an optometrists office. While I sit there, three blondes come in, all needing glasses. No brunettes come in.

It is logically incorrect to infer from that sample that ALL blondes need glasses, and brunettes don't.

I have never said that NS gaskets don't go. I've simply said that it is INCORRECT to say that ALL NS gaskets either will blow, or have blown. That's all.

And I agree - they crammed that mutha in there so tight that ANY expensive repair is usually not worth it, unless you do the labor yourself. But hell, even the guy that fixes your damn VCR charges 80 bucks an hour. I'm not sure what the correlation is between high labor and parts costs and depreciation - if it was a direct correlation, then Rolls'es and Ferraris would depreciate just as badly, but they don't.

In the end, most of us can only speak from personal experience. For some people, it seems that every Caddy they touch blows its head gasket. For others, they drive 300,000 miles or more and never have a problem. Based on those two premises, it's probably incorrect to draw ANY conclusion.

[misfit6794]

Does that mean that Camry's eat rotors and pads

Actually if they were 02's thru 07's yea, they actually do. Mine 02 goes thru brakes every 15-20,000 miles. (granted im very hard on them) Toyota made the brake package a little too small on that generation, I know from experience. Its not so much that caddys have more problems than any other 10 year an older car, its just how much repairs and parts costs. Its more complex compared to other used cars. The shear amount of electronics on board is more than most cars. I mean a 1000 dollar shock? 700 dollar starter replacement? 1000 dollar a/c compressor replacement? These are common problems with every used car, but the prices are insane. I loved my caddy, but the day I bought it I saw a smile on my mechanics face when he told me "They're expensive to keep on the road"

[Destroyer]

Now that you mention it. In 2000 I bought 2 new Camry's, one for me and one for the wife (what was I thinking?). Both of them went through brake pads pretty quick but otherwise they were reliable if nothing else and they were easy to work on (visually speaking, never had to do anything).

[Ranger]

I freigin paid $830 just for a water pump change on the Deville!.

Sounds like you paid about $700/hr for labor. You were taken. What's the point?

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Ranger

Sounds like you paid about $700/hr for labor. You were taken. What's the point?

Sooooo what should it have cost?

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

This is the best headgasket thread yet.

[Playdrv4me]

To the original poster...

Observe the heated discussion that is happening above, and admittedly about once a week here over headgasket problems on the car youre looking at... then use your best judgement based on what you read to determine whether you want to take a stab at it yourself.

I love them... but I am known for emotional purchases. Take from that what you will.

Good luck.

[Ranger]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

Sooooo what should it have cost?

Well, to be honest I really don't know as I do my own maintenance, but Rockauto sells the A/C Delco pump for $46. Assuming a 50% discount from dealer prices that would be $100 for the part. The Northstar water pump is one of the easiest to change and I would bet an experienced mechanic would be in and out in an hour. Now I don't know what the "book" time is, but assume it is double that at 2 hrs. and the rate is high at $100/hr. and they really screwed you at $200 for the part, your still only looking at a $400 job. To my way of thinking, for $830 they should have provided a VERY attractive young lady to keep you occupied while the job was being done .

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Ranger

To my way of thinking, for $830 they should have provided a VERY attractive young lady to keep you occupied while the job was being done .

Yeah, no kidding, instead they gave me Bubba and he didn't bring no vasoline!

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

This is the best headgasket thread yet.

Tough call, there are so damn MANY!!!

[Richardalex]

O.K. I've been a lurker here since I bought my '97 Base DeVille last August.

It had 99K

Did all the 100K recommended (transmission service, changed coolant added Bar's Gold, thermostat, plugs, wires, water pump belt, front brakes and rotors, Michelins all around with Road Force Balance)

I have put 12K on it so far and with the exception of the climate control fan I have enjoyed every mile.

Took a little 650 mile trip over the weekend and averaged 25.5 MPG driving between 72 & 85.

If at all possible I will always own a Cadillac from now on.

I hope your experience is as enjoyable.