cyrez00 Posted September 10, 2006 Report Share Posted September 10, 2006 Hi all, I previous owned a 1992 Caddy STS (4.9) and after 4 years cheating on Cadillac with a BMW5 and a Pontiac Trans Sport the itch has come back to me. (cheated on Cadillac but was still checking into this website once in a while though! On the internet i stumbled by accident into an ad for a 1998 STS, i thought that the car looks so brilliant in the pictures that i decided to go and take a look. The website is in Dutch but for those who want to practise this language here's the link : http://www.speurders.nl/autos/cadillac/231...dan_4_drs_.html? Anyway, talked to this guy on the phone and he is willing to trade in the Pontiac Trans Sport which never proved to be really my type of car and i will be going there monday evening for the testride etc. Obviously i brought myself up to speed again on how to check the trouble codes on this (for me) newer model. What are the weaknesses of this model? I read on Logan's site that there is a 100% failure on the 3rd braking light? Do you guys have any other particulars i MUST take a look at and double check etc.? Any specific driving test (for the shocks or something) to perform? Any standard common tests you can suggest? Looking forward to hear your comments and suggestions. Best regards, Marc. If you are in complete control..... you are not going fast enough.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted September 10, 2006 Report Share Posted September 10, 2006 .... Obviously i brought myself up to speed again on how to check the trouble codes on this (for me) newer model. What are the weaknesses of this model? I read on Logan's site that there is a 100% failure on the 3rd braking light? Do you guys have any other particulars i MUST take a look at and double check etc.? Any specific driving test (for the shocks or something) to perform? Any standard common tests you can suggest? Looking forward to hear your comments and suggestions. Best regards, Marc. Certainly pay attention to the trouble codes as well as any messages that appear when the car is started. We had a person who bought a used STS only to find someone had covered the message display (from the inside) with tape to hide a suspension message. I'm not aware of any pattern of 'weakness' based on my experience; 8 years and 150,000 miles. The single most important scheduled maintanence item on that engine is regular coolant changes. If the seller cannot document that this service has been performed on schedule, walk away from the car before you get emotionally involved. The rest is driving impressions and feel for how the powertrain is behaving. You have experience dealing with American iron where there is no dealer or parts support. Same deal applies to Cadillac. It is after all an 8+ year old car. Jim Drive your car. Use your cell phone. CHOOSE ONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted September 10, 2006 Report Share Posted September 10, 2006 Be sure that the cooling system has been maintained. It uses orange Dex-Cool and should have been changed about 2003. That is imparative in preventing head gasket failure. That's the biggest thing. Anything else can be dealt with. Take it for a good long ride and give it a few WOT's or a drive up a steep grade if on is available. See if it overheats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted tcb Posted September 10, 2006 Report Share Posted September 10, 2006 Definitely spend some time at a constant highway speed, looking for a 65mph vibration. Mine popped up at 110/kph - 120. Some have success with road force balancing, while others never get rid of their vibrations. Do a search for "Ruby's Vibrator" to research a common issue. Re the LED brake light ... I've seen very few burnt out ... what you will notice in 100% of them is a moisture leak. Mine had it, but the lights still worked. Good luck ... if you get the right car, nothing else compares to an STS. 1989 FWD Fleetwood, Silver 1995 STS Crimson Pearl on Black leather 1997 STS Diamond White 1999 STS Crimson Pearl 2001 STS Silver 2003 STS, Crimson Pearl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyrez00 Posted September 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2006 Thank for the responses guys, really appreciated. Will be going there in about 4 hours, will most certainly let you guys know how it turns out. If i buy it no doubt you will see a lot of me here again Marc. If you are in complete control..... you are not going fast enough.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyrez00 Posted September 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2006 Ok, so proud of myself, i actually used my common sense and walked away from the car telling the guy i will let him know later what i will do. Basically i did not buy the car so if that's all you what you want to know you can stop reading now. Car looks absolutely brilliant and the interior was perfect. He however told me that the roof had a water leakkage because of clogged drains and it poored all into the interior. He bought it in that state and completely dismantled the interior and made it all dry. He said the only thing that didn't work after the exercise was the heated seats in the front but he would fix it if i was interested. There was no maintenance history whatsoever although everything looked fine. Couldn't check the color of the coolant because we meeted up somewhere and the car was already warm. The front brake disks where warped like you wouldn't believe, so much that i was afraid to apply the brakes. This was already a sign for me to stop my interest for the car, although easily fixable it is a sign of a bad maintenance history, personally i would never let my discs be warped to that extend (slight vibe ok but not to this extend) When i ended up with checking the codes i found a load of them USM B2119 USM B2120 USM B2121 Couldn't find above codes in the list anywhere so no idea what they are. DTC P0502 Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) Circuit Low Input DTC P0503 Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) Circuit Intermittent DTC P0603 Control Module Long Term Memory Reset DTC U1064 Loss of Communications with DIM DTC U1300 Class 2 Short to Ground DTC C1783 ICCS2 DL Left Output Short CKT to GND DTC C1785 ICCS2 DL Right Output Short CKT to GND DTC B1134 Passenger Pretensioner Loop Open DTC B1146 Driver Pretensioner Loop Open DTC B1147 Driver Side Air Bag System Malfunction DTC B1148 Pass. Side Air Bag System Malfunction Where the last 4 probably have to do with the removal of the complete interior, no idea what the other codes mean though but i'm sure it mean no good. Anyway, all in all, car is well taken care off on the outside, *smurf* underneath (such is life?) Do have to say the moment i heard the Bose sound system and the improvement it made since the 1992 model.... i REALLY missed that!!! Thanks for your responses and pointing out the tips and hints to me guys. And the hunt continues... Marc. If you are in complete control..... you are not going fast enough.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted September 11, 2006 Report Share Posted September 11, 2006 Couldn't check the color of the coolant because we meeted up somewhere and the car was already warm. For future reference, the color of the coolant will not change on an aluminum engine. Aluminum will corrode, but does not rust if neglected like on a cast iron engine, so the coolant will still "look" good in 10 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHE Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Another thing to consider is that the cooling system sealer pellets will make the coolant appear dirty. Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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