~Cadillac Deville Concours 59,000 A DISASTER??~

Cadillac_Cutie · #1 (**permalink**) 04-28-08, 07:55 PM

~I just purchased my first Cadillac 3 weeks ago and its been a complete disaster ever since. Within the first week the car started failing to start on the first try....sometimes taking 2-3 trys to start up. Took her to the shop and they replaced the fuel relay switch. Was okay for about a week or so and then 2 days ago it started doing the same thing...hard to start...taking a couple times. Before I could take it back to have it rechecked for that I ran into yet another problem.~

~While sitting at the school waiting to pick up my kids I was running the AC as it was pretty humid outside. I only live 4-5 blocks from the school so once I picked up my girls I headed home. About half way home the car started to overheat. The Engine Coolant light came on, the check oil light came on, check engine light came on and the car started cutting out and being hard to steer. I pulled over to let the car cool off. It was in the 270's so I let it cool and tried to make it block by block home. I stoped 3 times to allow it to cool down but I finally made it home.~

~Popped the hood to find the (I believe) serpentine belt torn to shreds. Called the shop and they towed it in. I just picked the car up and was told my water pump belt was broke and they fixed it. Yet its still hard to start at times and the 0% oil life light is on still. Just a week ago the oil life said 80% so could the light be wrong? Also it's making this slow missing noise at idle.~

~What does it sound like is still wrong with my new Caddy? I was so excited to get my new baby but Im now ready to drop it off at the nearest doorstep haha! Im not great with cars and things like that and being a female the local shop tends to take advantage that I dont know what's going on with my car. Please if anybody can help me out with why such a low mileage car is having so many problems....Id greatly appreciate it!~

**Ranger** · #2 (**permalink**) 04-28-08, 08:51 PM

Ok cutie, first tell us what year it is so we know if it is a 4.9 or a Northstar. Add that info to your profile so we don't have to ask and it will always be available. Wait a minute, did the Concourse have the Northstar? I forget. The Northstar has a separate water pump belt. If it broke you would loose cooling and thus overheat. The overheating is why you oil life went to zero. The oil was cooked. Get it changed immediately, if not sooner. i suspect you may have a 4.9 though, because the serpentine belt operates the P/S pump as well as the water pump, which would explain the hard steering. Now the question is, what caused the belt to go. Have the belt tensioner and idler pulleys checked. A bearing may have seized. Not sure what to say about the "missing noise".

As far as the starting goes. The fuel pump relay sounds like it was the problem. Not sure why it would fail again, but have them check the spade contacts where it plugs in for corrosion.

Let us know how you make out.

misfit6794 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-28-08, 10:12 PM

All years of the concours had the northstar, including 94-96. Chances are with that low of mileage it was your orginal belt, and there are probably alot of original parts on the car. Your starting problem sounds alot like a fuel pressure regulator, its about a 70 dollar part and 5-10 minutes of labor. Definetly have the oil changed as it has been cooked.

**Ranger** · #4 (**permalink**) 04-28-08, 10:35 PM

OK, if it is a Northstar, you have 2 belts. The big serpentine belt on the front of the motor drives the P/S pump, alternator & A/C compressor. The water pump is driven by a small belt on the rear of the engine. Which belt went?

ejguillot · #5 (**permalink**) 04-28-08, 11:08 PM

As to the idle miss, I would suggest a change of spark plug wires and spark plugs as well (you're in there already). The mileage on the car is low, but the wires (depending on the age of the car) are anywhere from 9 to 14 years old. If most of the 59,000 miles were city miles, those wires have a lot of hours on them.

Ranger, what do you think?

Also, if you have any mechanical ability at all I encourage you (if you're able) to learn to fix the Caddy yourself. You'll understand what's going on under the hood better, and as such are much less likely to be misled by a dishonest mechanic (for those jobs you can't handle).

Besides, there's a satisfaction in fixing it yourself!

**Ranger** · #6 (**permalink**) 04-28-08, 11:35 PM

If cutie is talking about a misfire, then yes, could be plugs or more so wires. Could also be a vacuum leak or EGR pintle valve not closing completely.

**Ranger** · #7 (**permalink**) 04-28-08, 11:44 PM

Quote:

being a female the local shop tends to take advantage that I don't know what's going on with my car.

Check with us first. If nothing else, we can educate you a little or at least give you intelligent questions to ask. They may not be so quick to try to take advantage of you if they think you know what you're talking about.

Cadillac_Cutie · #8 (**permalink**) 04-30-08, 12:05 PM

~Thanks for all the great comments. Sure helps when you know more about whats going on under the hood when you talk to the mechanic. Yes it does have the Northstar. Also the belt immediatly to the right side of the moter was the one that broke but Im confused now because you say the water pump belt is in the back? They told me they replaced the water pump belt. Im not too happy with the mechanic that did my car because he completely didnt even check the fuel relay switch like I asked him to and I wasnt aware that he didnt until I already picked my car up. Now I have to make another appointment and Im assuming will cost more because its another trip instead of while they are already under the hood.~

~I havent changed the oil yet....he didnt even check all the lights that were coming on because I just called him to ask him about the oil lights coming on and he said "I didnt even check that...just changed the water pump belt".~

~So I will go IMMEDIATLY and have the oil changed. It still isnt running 100% like it should. Nothing in particular just not as smooth as it was before. Since they replaced the fuel relay it worked fine for a few days starting up immediatly but then started back being hard to start shortly after that. There isnt any way the part they just put on has already gone bad is it? So I need to tell them to check the spades contacts for corrosion? Im going to check with another shop because this one doesnt seem to take me seriously when I tell them to check for certain things. Sounds like they just fixed what they needed to get it back running...but not running right. Maybe trying to ENSURE I will need to use them again real soon when something else goes wrong.~

submariner409 · #9 (**permalink**) 04-30-08, 02:28 PM

If you have a Northstar V-8 the water pump belt is the small 3-rib belt under the guard at the top right (from the front of the car) of the engine area. The main drive belt is the 6-rib, long one wrapped around everything at the end of the engine on the passenger side. The water pump belt costs around $5 - $8, while the main belt is around $30 +.

What year is your car......? Look in your owner's manual for the correct grade of oil to use, and stick to that in a name brand oil. You won't need any additives or supplements so don't get talked into snake oil. Don't let the shop overfill the oil. The engine takes 7.5 quarts TOTAL with a filter change. 8 quarts is too much

There should be instructions in your manual on how to reset the oil life monitor.

**Ranger** · #10 (**permalink**) 04-30-08, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Also the belt immediatly to the right side of the moter was the one that broke but Im confused now because you say the water pump belt is in the back?

Cutie, remember the engine is a "sidewinder" (transverse mounted). The front of the engine faces the passengers side and the rear of the engine faces the drivers side. The "right side of the motor" would be up against the firewall. No belts there. Right and left is always as seen from the drivers seat, unless you are talking about the engine itself as I mentioned above. Do I have you totally confused yet?

Cadillac_Cutie · #11 (**permalink**) 05-01-08, 03:46 PM

~Well I had the oil changed bright and early this morning. They told me they put in 7 quarts. Also they had to send out for the oil filter as they didnt have the type my car has on hand. Was there about an hour but finally they finished. They reset the oil indicator. I still have to take it back next week for them to try and figure out what's causing the car to not crank right up ont he first try sometimes. It doesnt do it all the time. Usually first thing in the morning and anytime the car has been sitting for over an hour. If you have started it within the last 30 minutes or so it cranks right up but other times takes a couple trys and you can smell gas when it does.~

~Not sure what kind of oil they put in it. They didnt tell me~

~Hmm I get you on the sidewinding moter thing. Took me a second but I got it. So the belt they replaced was on the BACK of the engine as it was on the RIGHT side if you are standing in front of my hood. They charged me $170.00 to do the belt....with labor. Seem's quite high now that I find out the part isnt all that expensive. GRRRR

~

submariner409 · #12 (**permalink**) 05-01-08, 04:39 PM

CC, I'm gonna ruin your day. The rate (labor) for replacing the water pump belt on a late Northstar is 0.4 hour and a dealer belt cost of $14.47, so at an $80 labor rate, that's $55 maximum.