Introduction and Inquiry

ZeroOctane · #1 (**permalink**) 09-25-07, 04:57 PM

Hey,

It seems like you guys have a pretty large and orderly house here, 60,000 members online is nothing to shirk off. I'm willing to bet there is a lot of knowledge and know-how here as well.

Anyhow, my name is Marc and I own a 1993 Seville (Not STS). It's been in the family for 12 year's now and I acquired it from my ailing grandfather back in December of '06. It's truly a great car and I love it. Fast (generally speaking), has that old style and class (in my opinion) and it's god damn comfortable. It's like riding on your sofa according to some of my friends. I won't lie though, it has had it's fair amount of problems, but I give it credit for being 14 years old. Transmission problems, Vacuum Modulator, small electrical details and the many fancy things that Cadillac put on their cars back then (pull down trunk for example). I did the Vacuum modulator and most of the electrical work myself, but I'm no car mechanic or expert, I just do what I can to save money and ensure quality (sounds funny "ensure quality" from someone like myself, but I've had bad luck with a few repair shops and dealer's lately). I go to junk yard's a lot for parts and such to save cash and to further improve the overall image of the car (wood trim instead of plastic, new working cup holder, nicer emblem on the hood etc.). I'm not strapped for cash at all, but I'm sure most of you can agree that with an old car with a lot of small and a few large thing's breaking it can get quite expensive even for someone with a decent amount of cash.

Anyhow, I'm not here for any one particular reason, just to gather knowledge on my car in general. I also like Cadillac's as well though. My Grandfather always considered them the epitome of success and I kind of carry that ideology now too. Especially the Deville, I've always liked that car and would love to get one in the future if they weren't phasing it out for a STS/DTS hybrid.

It just so happens at the moment I do have a little project I'm working on and I'm a bit lost. I have a Beltronics Vector 940 (not the best one out there, but for the price it's pretty damn good) and I recently ordered a Direct Wire for it so I could free up the cigarette lighter for my new GPS setup. To be honest I don't know the first place to start with this. I have no idea where to look for a suitable wire or even if I can plug this into the car somewhere. I've built maybe half a dozen computers in my lifetime but I can't figure out where to plug in a wire on a car, lol. I've asked a lot of people but everyone gives me a different answer, that's one of the reasons why I'm so lost. There doesn't seem to be much info on the Internet either for direct wiring such as this, let alone for my car in particular. I guess what I'm looking for is someone with a Seville from around the same time as mine who has done this before or is absolutely sure how to do this, because I don't want to screw something up and present a bigger problem.

Anyhow, I look forward to speaking with you guys on this and other Cadillac topics in the further.

Thanks for reading, take care,
Marc

ROGER L · #2 (**permalink**) 09-25-07, 05:02 PM

So you have a 4.9 engine because it is not a STS - right

CadillacSTS2003 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-25-07, 05:03 PM

welcome~!
and roger he COULD have an SLS with the 270 HP N*

ZeroOctane · #4 (**permalink**) 09-25-07, 05:04 PM

That's correct. I have the 4.9L V8 200bhp engine. I hear it's better performance between 0-45 than the NorthStar too.

CadillacSTS2003 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-25-07, 05:08 PM

off the line the 4.9 will take any n/a N* due to its greater torque (its a torque monster) after about 15 feet or so, the 4.9 will get a nice view of northstar pipes

ROGER L · #6 (**permalink**) 09-25-07, 05:11 PM

You will be happy with the 4.9 Seville I had a 1993 4.9 Seville! I sold it to a friend in 2006 Feb. I Love that car. Then I got a 2006 sts v-6 i hate this car. and I just got a 1992 4.9 Seville

I love it I guess I am getting old because I only like the 4.9! Are you near Wisconsin ? I live west of Milwaukee by 25 minutes.

CadillacSTS2003 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-25-07, 05:17 PM

the STS V-6 is a dog
the V8 is soooooo much nicer...

ROGER L · #8 (**permalink**) 09-25-07, 05:21 PM

Yes i know but I liked my friends CTS with that 255 hp v-6 and while these dealership people looked for my new car 3 weeks they let me drive a brand new cts.

ZeroOctane · #9 (**permalink**) 09-25-07, 05:28 PM

My friends are usually able to pass me from the get go, but when I hit 25-30 mph it seems like by stepping on the gas I get a burst of power which puts me ahead at a considerable speed. I've beaten a 1992 Dodge Stealth base model and a 2000 Nissan Maxima and a few other not really notable ones all in the last year or so with the Seville. Those two were both standards though and my friends aren't exactly F1 drivers so that played into it, lol. One of my friends fathers had a Lamborghini Countach from the late 70's/early 80's which sounded, looked and drove (I got to ride in it once) incredible and I'm sure that would have beaten my car though, haha. He got rid of it a few years ago though because of maintenance cost's and labor.

The gas milage isn't great though. I go through a tank a week at best and I figure the milage to be 14-15 around town and 20 at best on the highway. My buddy's Durango with a 5.7L engine meant for towing get's less than 10 around town though, haha.

Anyhow, does anyone have any light to shed on my Direct Wiring Delimna?

cadillac_tech · #10 (**permalink**) 09-26-07, 12:30 AM

Maybe I'm a bit slow, but what are you direct wiring (not the Beltronics Vector 940). What does it need to be wired to?
Welcome... by the way.

chubbyranger · #11 (**permalink**) 09-26-07, 07:04 AM

If I read the post correctly you are looking to splice into the car wiring for the Beltronics, which is currently occupying the lighter socket so you can use the socket for your GPS. Starting with that assumption, there are a number of places you can tap into; a radar detector should not really overload any circuit you put it on. The only rule I go by in these situations is to always use accessory circuits - never ECM, PCM, ABS, airbag, brake, etc. power. The first question is where do you have/want it mounted? If it lives on a visor you may be able to tap into overhead console power (if you have one). On my Dodge pickup I run mine off the compass feed in the overhead console because its the closest switched 12 volts I could find. If you have it down low on the dash I would pop the dash pad (if you can - I'm not familiar with your specific car) and find either radio power or grab the lighter circuit before the socket.