1998 STS buy?

[SwissSteve]

Hello Caddy-Family.

Today I was going take a look for a '98 STS with 90'000 KM (or ca. 56'000miles). For the first sight a awesome car! The price more than ok so my opinion. But I've got 2 special questions. The car dealer had no answer, he doesn't know...

The exhaust end tips. They are in a little bit different high. The right one is lower as the left one. Maybe a damage? At the left rear side the STS had a little damage, not a big problem. And the CD-changer dont work...







2. The dashboard with the vent slots. At the rightside the lowest slot look like broken



Hope you know what I mean...;-)

Is the message "EXP ID 140" important?



And now the whole car with my '91 Seville together.









What you mean about this STS? Buy or no buy...? Any bad or good things about a STS? Btw. My wife love that car!

Hope, a few of you "Caddy friends" can help an European (Switzerland) Caddylover. Many, many thank you!

Steve, Switzerland

[chazglenn3]

Hi Steve;

The biggest issue with the '98 STS is the possible failure of the head gaskets or head bolts. This is lessened if the coolant has been changed regularly. The "EXP ID 140" means "drivers door open". CD changers can be bought on eBay. Looks like a nice car to me!

[creeker]

The car is 11 years old, I think it looks super clean,I wouldn't be concerned about those minor flaws,it definetly hasn't been abused.

[SwissSteve]

Thanks a lot Creeker and Chazglenn3! At the left rear side the Caddy had a crash, I don't know how many hard. Maybe the owner before made a mistake as he try to park the vehicle, or a motocycle hit the STS. Who knows...

At the pics you can't really see what the result of the repair is. Other question. The '98 STS year consums "more than normal" oils for the engine? And I can use fuel with 95 octan?

Again, many thanks for the help!

Steve

[chazglenn3]

All Northstar engines consume oil...some more than others depending on how they are driven. The manual calls for 93 octane, so 95 should be fine. If it was hit, it sure looks like a good repair! The sterling silver with black interior is one of my favorite color combos...my '99 was that color. Is that a 1989 Turbo Trans Am in the background?

[Ranger]

Steve, it probably will use some oil, but that is no a big deal. Go to the top left of this page and click on Technical Archives. Read up on "Oil Consumption".

Sure you can use 95 octane. It will even run well on 87 due to very efficient knock detector which will retard the timing if it detects a spark knock.

[SPreston2001]

Looks like a very nice automobile. I wouldnt worry too much about the muffler tips not being level, maybe some of the hardware was replaced on the drivers side muffler when it was hit, so its higher (tighter) than other muffler with the old stock hardware on it. Like others have said cd changers can be easily found on ebay so I wouldnt worry about that either. The main thing is the engine maintnance. How well the motor has been cared for (coolant changes) should determine if you should buy the car. But for a car thats 11 years old it sure does look nice!! I'd say go for it!

[submariner409]

If the owner's manual is printed in English, the section on personalization and Driver Information Center warnings will have the "EXP codes" for the equivalent English text messages.

The entire original exhaust system is welded into one unit from the front catalytic convertor flange to the pipe tips and is hung on 4 rubber vibration isolation "cookies". One may be stretched or kinked. Very simple fix and easy to slide on and off with dishwashing liquid solution for lubricant.

IF you can find a friendly GM dealer have them run the VIN (Vehicle ID number) through the GM service system....this will tell you everything that GM has done to the car, warranty and recall-wise. Normal local service and repair will not show up in any computer search, even our CARFAX, as it is a voluntary service, and very few people will voluntarily reveal damage or accident.

[97EldoCoupe]

I see quite a few other american vehicles in those pictures as well... a 96-99 Oldsmobile LSS, Jeep Cherokee, Chrysler LHS, older Sedan DeVille,etc. Do you have quite a few North American vehicles on the streets there in Switzerland?,

[creeker]

Originally Posted by Ranger

Steve, it probably will use some oil, but that is no a big deal. Go to the top left of this page and click on Technical Archives. Read up on "Oil Consumption".

Sure you can use 95 octane. It will even run well on 87 due to very efficient knock detector which will retard the timing if it detects a spark knock.

I use 87 octane in my 97 sts,it runs fine, I noticed both your cars have a small amber reflector (light) on the front fender panel,is this required by
law?.

[submariner409]

European parking/clearance lights. and probably rear fog light, too.

[SwissSteve]

You guys are AWESOME! It's so great to read all your comments about my "problem" with the STS! Many many thank you, really!

@ Creeker

Yes, the Euro models have had the small amber turnsignal at the side fender. Btw. the newest Corvette too.... But it's not law in CH, you can drive US cars without that. My Corvette and my Lightning don't have a amber signal, and that is good.

@ 97EldoCoupe

The Sedan Deville was the car I get take a look with my buddies today. But to much things are wrong with it. Then said me the dealer; how it would be with this STS? I've got it since 30 minutes...
And yes, we've got a huge US car scene here in Switzerland. I think the biggest in Europe.

The webside from the dealer: www.usa-autos.ch

Now it's time to go sleep, it's late in Europe *smile*. Let's see tomorrow what could buy. Maybe a '98 STS... ?

Once again, many thank you all for the help!

Steve

Btw. Our '91 Seville don't need the littlest drop of engine oil between the services schedules.

[ryannel2003]

That car looks pristine! What color is it? Looks like sterling silver, but it has a blue tint to it. If the engine maintenance checks out, I'd go for it!

[N*Caddy]

Btw. Our '91 Seville don't need the littlest drop of engine oil between the services schedules.

The cylinders in the Northstar engine are loose by design, Northstar is a performance engine. Is not a bad thing the car uses oil, in fact is a good thing, looser cylinder less friction more HP output. And toping up with fresh oil is only good for the engine. Just make sure you check the oil level every time you stop for gas and keep the oil halfway between the min and max. Although oil is essential for the engine, and low oil level is a bad thing, too much oil is also a bad thing. Never overfill, in fact try not to add all the way to max, the car tends to use the oil quicker. Always stay between half way and minimum.
You got to get over this conception a good car is one witch is not burning oil a bad car does burns oil. On very few engines you can still see the factory honing on the cylinder walls after 300.000 Km like in a Northstar.

[chubbyranger]

Not sure if export spec cars had the alternator recall for 98-99 but you should be able to check with a dealer, perhaps even by e-mailing a dealer here or having one of the board members who works at a dealership run your VIN. From www.nhtsa.gov:

ON APRIL 1, 1999, GM FILES A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT FOR APPROXIMATELY 1,500 1999 MODEL YEAR CADILLAC SEVILLE CARS CARS EQUIPPED WITH COLLANT COOLED ALTERNATORS AND BUILT DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 1999. THE ALTERNATOR OF THESE CARS CAN DEVELOP AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORT, EVEN WHEN THE ENGINE IS OFF. THE SHORT CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, WHICH CAN EXPAND TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE AND TO THE SURROUNDING VEHICLES OR STRUCTURES. THE CAUSE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A PRODUCTION CHANGE IN A TORGUE OPERATION DURING FINAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ALTERNATOR BY THE SUPPLIER, DM DELPHI ELECTRONICS. SUBSEQUENTLY, ON MAY 26, 1999, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WAS RECALLING AN ADDITIONAL 28,141 SEVILLE CARS MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1998 THROUGH AN UNDETERMINED DATE FOR APPARENTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATORS OF THE AFFECTED SEVILLE CARS. GM'S RECALL NUMBER IS 99013. THE PURPOSE OF THIS RQ IS TO INVESTIGATE THE SCOPE, CAUSE AND NATURE OF THE DEFECT, AND THE TIMELINESS OF GM'S ACTIONS.