1. I have 2005 STS V8.
2. Is there a quick way to clear the current error codes from the ECM?
3. The remote start on the 2005 STS will not work if there are any error codes detected in the history. Confirmed this with the Caddy dealership today,they wiped the codes and then the remote start worked.
4. I did the dumb thing by making it produce a code by opening the hood while the vehicle was on, this creates a Hood Ajar error code in the ECM,Now the remote start does not work again.
5. I do not feel like taking it back to the dealership again. Please Help.

FYI: The cost of a Hood Latch with Sensor for the 05 STS is around $80.00 - New Jersey Prices.If you are getting intermittent Hood Ajar Errors, the latch with the sensor is the culprit.

just remove negative battery cable for 15 min.

BMBSales, Thanks for the quick response.
Unplugged the battery's negative post for almost 1 hour, did not work after reconnection. I doubt that it cleared the codes, maybe older STS model but 2005 may be a bit more involved.
Anything else that I should try?
Would a OBDII Scanner, be able to reset the codes for me?

It will reset itself after so many cycles. Start car, Drive car, stop car. Just not sure how many. Normally goes away after a day or 2. Maybe 7-10 cycles ?

If your car is out of warranty this won't help but...

There is a bulletin to replace the hood switch for just such an occurence. Moisture can get inside of the early production latches and cause a false hood open message or remote start issues.
Opening the hood doesn't set the code, but it does disable the remote start. For some reason they don't want someone starting the car randomly while someone has the hood open servicing the car so it is disabled.
Many PCM codes will cause the remote start to be disabled also.
If disconnecting the battery won't clear it someone will need to use a scanner.
Some places will read codes for free and maybe clear them for you.

If the hood switch keeps acting up, you'll have little choice but to fix it... that is if you want your remote start to work.

I haven't had this problem with the 2008 but on the 2005 I was told to disconnect the positive cable from the battery and ground the cable to a metal part on the car or the negative post. This worked several times when the electronics went crazy.

Usually you just need to make 3 driving cycles for the code to go away. If you make 3 start, drive for 15-20 min, shut off and repeat, and the code the car doesn't see the same code it will clear it automatically. For it to be a whole cycle you have to drive it for a while and if my memory is correct it is 15-20 min but may be a little longer.

or get one of those obd11 readers from walmart for $60

Thanks for all the replies!
Went and bought a code clearing unit from Pep boys, does not work, cleared all codes and still nothing with the remote start.The lights just flash when I hold the remote start button after locking the car.

Cadillac must have a special way to remove all codes or a sub code menu embedded in the ECM.
I also tried waiting for the several start cycles of starting the car and driving for over 10-15 min intervals since my last post, nothing.. This does not work either.

I just want to be able to do something to wipe the codes for the ecm completely. This should not have to be done by the dealership all the time.

It must be me, because there should be lots of Caddy owners out there not able to start their car remotely if Cadillac makes it this hard to reset the ECM.
Any more suggestions or help is greatly appreciated.

the STS (like many other late-model vehicles) employs the CAN bus protocol for OBDII communication. so not just any scan tool will work, it must be CAN bus compatible

Even CAN vehicles are required by SAE regulations to maintain a Class 2 data link to the ECM on pin 2 of the OBD-II 16 pin DLC.
A code reader/clearing tool could be used if it is configured properly via the Class 2 data bus.

I don't have much experience with aftermarket scan tools these days. I sold the last one I had because I didn't use it and it was too expensive to buy the software updates to justify keeping it.
I sold it for less than 1/4 of what I paid for it.

Try Disconnecting both the Postive and Negative Battery Cable from the battery and touch the cables together briefly to totally discharge the system.

BarryNS, have you tried this yourself? I just don't want to cause any electrical problems with any spikes in the system, with all the electronics on this car.

BarryNS, have you tried this yourself? I just don't want to cause any electrical problems with any spikes in the system, with all the electronics on this car.

I used this method (as suggested by the caddy electronic tech) when everything went screwy on my prev 2005 STS. I don't remember all that was wrong but one thing was that the gas tank showed empty when full and the radio wouldn't turn on. I don't want to imply that I know this method will clear the codes, but I did use it for the above reason and it corrected all the things that were wrong.

I think your question is a good one. My experience, at minimum, is that it didn't hurt my car.....but would suggest you ask the technician that services the ECM at Caddy to be sure.

I don't know if you have ever worked on an old TV set, but one of the things that you do is ground the anode to ground to drain the capacitors so that you can get thru the rest of the procedure alive. Doesn't seem to hurt the TV set.

It is something we use often, we call it "clearing the caps".
It discharges any capacitors that are used to maintain power reserves. It will do no damage.
Once the battery is disconnected from the system the potential for damage is really gone.
Touching the cables together when disconnected from the battery is completely harmless and sometimes an easy way to reset everything.

Went out and bought a new CAN Compatible Code Scanner over $200, kept the receipt of course, this did not clear the codes either.

Tried disconnecting the battery and touched the positive and negative ends together. Did not work either, only reset my date and time and my 1 touch power windows settings.

Guess it's back to the Cadillac dealership.
I think the Cadillac dealership tell their technicians to NOT disclose information/fixes for things such this so they can make money off the public, but I can't blame them I guess.You buy a Cadillac you should be spending the money to get more service, I mean ripped off.

I don't believe that their isn't one current or ex cadillac technician/mechanic on this forum that doesn't know how to do this.

Went out and bought a new CAN Compatible Code Scanner over $200, kept the receipt of course, this did not clear the codes either.

Tried disconnecting the battery and touched the positive and negative ends together. Did not work either, only reset my date and time and my 1 touch power windows settings.

Guess it's back to the Cadillac dealership.
I think the Cadillac dealership tell their technicians to NOT disclose information/fixes for things such this so they can make money off the public, but I can't blame them I guess.You buy a Cadillac you should be spending the money to get more service, I mean ripped off.

I don't believe that their isn't one current or ex Cadillac technician/mechanic on this forum that doesn't know how to do this.
Be very careful of the tone you use when criticizing the help you're getting. It may come back to bite you when you realize that you are the one lacking in knowledge. What has been told you so far is the complete God's honest truth and your trouble must have nothing to do with clearing codes but lies elsewhere. ewill3rd is one of the most knowledgeable and capable Cadillac techs in the entire U.S. If he tells you something you can take it to the bank. Are you sure you're not mishandling the fob?

The problem you might be up against is an advancement of technology.
Updated memory chips are more resilient at maintaining memory than the computers of the 80's and 90's.
Today's cars are designed to keep things like your radio presets, transmission shift adapting values and some engine operating parameters. Unhooking the battery MIGHT have worked but I am not surprised that it did not.

Opening the hood while you are trying to use the remote start will disable it, until you close the hood, then it will work fine again.
It doesn't have to be reset everytime you open the hood. There are lots of other things that can keep the remote start from working. Maybe your car actually has a problem? Are you getting any other indicator lights or messages on the DIC? There was a bulletin on '05's for a faulty hood latch switch that could cause a "hood open" message and disable the remote start. It is an easy fix.

I know the news has told you we are all crooks, and I know how much fun it can be to buy into unsubstantiated rumors and celebrate the diversity of conspiracy theories, but sometimes things just get broken and need to be fixed.
Take it in to your local "scammers" and have them look it over. Maybe they will actually fix it.
:lol:

At any rate, I think the issue here is related to a real problem.

Thanks for your warning dkozloski, forum police.
I guess you don't have this problem, so you are fortunate, if you don't have anything knowledgeable to my question to add then keep it to yourself.
Forums are for people with knowledge to contribute and people with lack or knowledge to gain something.
Thanks for the heads up though. I didn't know that.

Welcome to the forum. You'll get good advice here if you'll take time to listen before you rant.

dkozloski, Like I said, nothing to add, looked at the previous posts and don't see any suggestions from you except your warning.
My Warning to U Genius- Your time is up soon, BE NICE.
Thanks for wasting my time and your time, make sure you use your time wisely, you don't look like you have much time in this world based on your age in your forum listing.
Thanks for answering my questions too, I know you don't have anything to do but answer blogs and emails. Some people have real jobs and some people are too old for jobs and need to make themselves feel good by being forum police. OLD IDIOT. Thanks for getting my heart rate up, didn't fix my STS problem though. MUCH THANKS, THANKS

Wow, that was uncalled for.
Welcome to the forums.
After you have been here a while you'll realize that people all have a right to say what they want and that Koz is a pretty nice guy despite his wit and sarcastic delivery methods.

Sorry no one has the magical answer you are looking for.
You can buy a factory scan tool lots of places online and do it yourself with a set of factory service manuals.
Here is a link to purchase a scan tool.
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/OTC-3646.html

Here is a link to purchase a FSM (factory service manual)
http://www.helminc.com/helm/product2.asp?class%5F2=CAD&mk=Cadillac&yr=2005&md=STS&dt=Shop%2FService+Information&module=&from=result&Style=&Sku=GMP05DS&itemtype=N&mscsid=85CL64M33P198LTS6RS5XT0VQ9B6CCTF

Looks like your pricetag will be about $4,200. But at least that way you can do it yourself.

Nothing personal bro, but have you might consider not lashing out at people who are trying to help you, whether they are smart alecs or not.
;)

dkozloski, Like I said, nothing to add, looked at the previous posts and don't see any suggestions from you except your warning.
My Warning to U Genius- Your time is up soon, BE NICE.
Thanks for wasting my time and your time, make sure you use your time wisely, you don't look like you have much time in this world based on your age in your forum listing.
Thanks for answering my questions too, I know you don't have anything to do but answer blogs and emails. Some people have real jobs and some people are too old for jobs and need to make themselves feel good by being forum police. OLD IDIOT. Thanks for getting my heart rate up, didn't fix my STS problem though. MUCH THANKS, THANKS
This OLD IDIOT can start his car just fine with the remote start. You cannot. What's that make you, grasshopper?

You might try reading the owners manual.

I guess I am the bad guy for defending myself.
Who threw the first punch?
I guess I can't say what I want, ewill3rd? but Koz can, I can do this all day. Thanks for your help Koz, but I fixed it without your OLD wisdom, try giving your Great Grandkids my age advice about how to fix caddys, and maybe they will listen to you, but I doubt you have any kids with your wit and sarcastic delivery methods - signing off, Grasshopper.

I guess I am the bad guy for defending myself.
Who threw the first punch?
I guess I can't say what I want, ewill3rd? but Koz can, I can do this all day. Thanks for your help Koz, but I fixed it without your OLD wisdom, try giving your Great Grandkids my age advice about how to fix caddys, and maybe they will listen to you, but I doubt you have any kids with your wit and sarcastic delivery methods - signing off, Grasshopper.
How about telling us what was wrong so we can help the next guy with the same problem, if it isn't too embarrassing for you. If you don't we can assume the worst.

I've got eight kids, nine grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Thank you very much.

A wise person once told me, if you feel like you have to defend yourself, you have already lost.

Not sure why you have to attack the guy based on his age, heck I hope to be old someday!

At any rate I don't see much except a few people trying to help. Not everyone's advice will work.
Just because you feel someone is taking a swing at you doesn't mean you have to swing back.
Just relax, I used to react the same way.
You can say what you want, but it seems to me like what you are saying here is not really going to get you anywhere.

I'd be curious to learn what you did to "fix" this issue also.
No one is picking on you, really.

I guess I am the bad guy for defending myself.
Who threw the first punch?


you did, post 16, bye.