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'96 Deville Flashing SES, Missing On Acceleration


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Hi, All -- my first post.

I have a 1996 Deville -- 96,000 miles -- showroom. Love it to pieces. Recently, it starting missing -- once in a while on idle, always when accelerating. Nice jerking motion accompanied by flashing SES. I gather I could replace the coil packs, wires, dist cap, rotor, sparks, fuel filter, etc . . . spend maybe $750 looking for the "easy" fixes. If these don't work, will I have to junk my baby??? From your collective experiences, how often is this actual engine trouble requiring repairing / rebuilding engine and the associated $3,000 price tag? I don't want to lose my baby!!!

Thanks!

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First thing would be to read the diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). If you don't have a scanner you can check with local autoparts stores and see if they can scan it for you and see what the DTCs are; that would point you at a solution.

Bruce

2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing

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A flashing check engine light is usually a P0300 misfire, but check your codes. See the bottom of my post here on how to check for DTC codes and follow the directions and post your codes here

It could simply be a bad ignition wire, coil, spark plug etc. or even a loose ignition wire. On the 96, it should be an easy fix. If you buy spark plugs, I would stay with AC DELCO

Post your codes

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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Yes sorry - I misread this as a Fleetwood somehow; you can use BBF's links to read your onboard diagnostics.

Bruce

2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing

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Thanks, everyone.

My shop didn't give me a good feeling on their Caddy knowledge, so I took it to a dealer. Misfire on 5 due ot bad coil pack; also letting them clean the throttle body, flush, etc. $550 and I drive it home today. Relieved.

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Next time be patient we could have saved you a bundle of money on this, $550 is a bundle, a coil pack from an auto supply is probably about $50. These cars are easy to work on, many of us including me have had your vintage and could have been a lot of help. But I am glad you got it fixed.

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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Not everyone is (or should be) a mechanic, but usually as you read through the instructions and parts cost you can either decide it might be within your capabilities to do, or that it might be something you can bring to an independent mechanic to do, or that it is really something you want to take to the Cadillac dealer to do.

I like having my dealer do maintenance and repairs on my Cadillac when it makes sense -- they are trained and I know they will do it to a standard.

Other times I like to try doing stuff myself -- as when I changed the fuel injectors on the 4.9L or doing my heat exchanger on the V. You have to think about how to value your time also however -- I spent a lot more hours on the HX change than it would have cost to have someone else do it. But every time you do something yourself, you get more skills and confidence at doing more yourself.

Good that you got the car repaired and back on the road.

Bruce

2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing

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By the way, welcome aboard, let us know how we can help you in thee future, I miss my 96

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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welcome to caddyinfo. Never junk your cadillac.Especially not a 1996. It is the best ever. And they arent bad at all to work on. you just need to be patient and make sure the people working on them know what they are doing

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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  • 2 weeks later...

Glad you got it fixed but $550 for a coil and the installation is pretty steep.

Kevin
'93 Fleetwood Brougham
'05 Deville
'04 Deville
2013 Silverado Z71

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OK, so, since I won't make the mistake of failling to consult everyone here again, what do I do about an antenna that won't go up and down anymore? Keep in mind that I'm about as mechanically inclined as a dead salamander . . .

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OK, so, since I won't make the mistake of failling to consult everyone here again, what do I do about an antenna that won't go up and down anymore? Keep in mind that I'm about as mechanically inclined as a dead salamander . . .

Does it make any noise at all?

Sometimes the mast snaps off and the motor still runs

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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Hi, All -- my first post.

I have a 1996 Deville -- 96,000 miles -- showroom. Love it to pieces. Recently, it starting missing -- once in a while on idle, always when accelerating. Nice jerking motion accompanied by flashing SES. I gather I could replace the coil packs, wires, dist cap, rotor, sparks, fuel filter, etc . . . spend maybe $750 looking for the "easy" fixes. If these don't work, will I have to junk my baby??? From your collective experiences, how often is this actual engine trouble requiring repairing / rebuilding engine and the associated $3,000 price tag? I don't want to lose my baby!!!

Thanks!

Mine did the same thing I changed the plug wires and spark plugs and now it runs silky smooth. Alot of these high mileage Caddys have the original plug wires on them, and therein lies rough running problems. I would have a look at these first. Of course you really cant tell by looking. I know you can use a ohm meter but I didnt want to screw around with that.So I just replaced the old wires and now its running sweet..I had my mechanic do the work because any work on these NS engines is a royal PITA..But I love this engine. I just wish the engineers hadnt screwed up on the hg problem otherwise we would have a perfect (as you can get) engine.I mean mine has 158000 miles and so far no hg problems but i understand its not far away..When that happens I may go for a Jasper engine.Good luck with your problem..
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Let me put this into perspective for you.

You are driving a car that has AT LEAST 158,000 miles on it, assuming that at some point in its life it was not turned back, a very common practice.

When I was a kid, when a car hit 100,000 miles you towed it to the JUNKYARD as it was a mess, probably needed a transmission, the rocker panels were rusted, the suspension was shot, the engine was burning oil, knocking or tapping and it got 12 miles to the gallon and less, 429, 472, 500 cu inches and the emissions were terrible

A dragster engine is rebuilt after every run. Multi-million dollar INDY cars don't even finish the engine race with some dying in the first few laps. I inspected the New York Hotel and they have four 400 cubic inch Ford engines running full time at 3500 rpm producing electricity for the hotel, they are rebuilt annually, while the oil is changed constantly.

Your engine is 14 years old with 158,000 miles on it, I think its doing pretty good as many other Northstars have done. You should stop acting like you are driving a time bomb and stop making the statement that the engineers screwed up. This engine is 279 cu inches and puts out 300 HP or more than one HP per cubic inch, and emissions are excellent. This is an excellent engine, excellent and I don't know where you got the idea that its hard to work on but that is total BS, it is NOT hard to work on, JUST different. Example many mechanics think that changing a Northstar starter is hard, we hear it all the time, its a piece of cake to change, mechanics are lazy and they use rhetoric to charge you big money to work on it.

If the engine goes bad?, rebuilt it properly and drive it for another 158,000 miles. I know you stated you love it, but if you don't trust it, buy a Hyundai like my wife, WE JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE SHORT BLOCK at 38,000 miles due to LOW OIL PRESSURE that wiped out the bearings but did NOT set off the LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT.

Relax and drive the car, we love the engine and quite frankly every engine EVER built will eventually need a rebuild.

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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Donald,

You worry too much... :):)

You said it runs great...

Good grief man, just drive it and enjoy it.

Not trying to bust your chops... just making an observation...

Mine isn't quite as old as yours, but I have over 114,000 miles on it.

Had to do a 600 mile trip this past Saturday to take my brother home from the hospital after back surgery.

Of course I took it easy for the 300 miles to his house, but coming back home, it was seldom below 90 and very often it was in the triple digit range.

I enjoy my Cadillac immensely and plan on driving it for a long time, but if I worried about it every time I got in it, I would trade it for something else.

I have a 10,000 mile trip planned for it this summer.

I'll drive it till something major breaks and then decide on fixing it or trading it.

Until that happens... I'll just drive it and enjoy it... :) ) :)

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dont even get me started on hyundai. I havee a good friend with a 06 sonata.. 24000 miles and the crank pulley sheared off the engine and wedged between the wheelwell. I was shocked. Hyundai would not cover it. 650 to fix it and no gaurantee it wont do it again, Thats only one of the tons of the problems.

The engineers definately didnt mess up on the northstar. It perform to the max and even messed up still runs and drives. How many cars can do that. I have yet to be stranded by a cadillac no matter how messed up it is. I will drive mine till the wheels fall off :yupi3ti:

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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I have 185000 on my (daughters) 95 SLS, it smells of burning oil, egr pintle is messed up, unknown coolant/ radiator condition, bad hubs and sway bar end links, service ride control message as well as a thrashed interior.......

That being said, I still prefer driving it to any of my cars/ trucks and is still stupid fast and handles like a dream

Quit worrying, and start driving is what I always say!

Don't let your first ride be your last ride in a Cadillac!

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