mattd Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Hey Guys. I've sort of been looking at getting a newer car but I'm starting to lean towards keeping mine for at least another year. If I do though I would really like to get a couple of things done. 1) Passenger seat heater not working. I know that there's a number of things that could be wrong there but has anyone had to have the heat element replaced? If so how much was it do get that done? Just wondering 2) Front end rattle. I have tried to read up on this on this page for a while, and like my other problem it could be any of many possibillites. I had a 94 STS before and I dropped like $1000 and couldn't get rid of the rattle. I think the only thing I haven't tried was the strut mounts. I think this is the exact same sound. It can be heard not only over pot holes but any road unevenness. It's temperature sensitive meaning louder when it get's cold outside. From what I know the mounts are rubber which would explain the temp thing. Is there anyway to confirm that it is the strut mounts before I get this done? How much labor is involved in it? I don't need struts, the car drives fine. In my mind it's just a matter of dropping the suspension and replacing them. Could be wrong though. Anyways, thanks for any info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 What have you replaced so far? Strut rod bushings? Stabilizer bar bushings? Stabilizer links? The photo in the middle on the bottom row is the strut mount, the strut must be REMOVED, disassembled and the mount installed, then install the strut and have the car aligned. I would use a machine shop to disassemble the strut assembly, if I did it again.. 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattd Posted February 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 So far on this car I haven't replaced anything on my old one I had the stabilizer bar bushings and links replaced with no help and the sound is exactly the same on this car. It's always there even at highway speeds. Which leads me to believe it's the strut mounts. So based on your post the entire strut essembly has to come out and get dissessembled? spring everything has to come apart to replace the mount? So what am I looking at about 2-3 hours labor per side plus allignment + parts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Its a big job, if I were you I would look at the stabilizer bar bushings and links first that is EASY... and cheap Removing the struts is easy if you ask me I probably could remove the strut assembly in less than an hour, there is NOT a lot to it..read the manual so that you dont put the car out of alighment badly you will need to mark its location. The strut mount sits atop the spring... A machine shop can do the strut mount easily without the proper press this is a dangerous job.. Here is a link to my Front End rebuild http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?sho...hl=front+struts The strut mounts were about $80 each if I recall. Here us a picture of the strut assembly. 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickster Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 The elusive rattle. Been chasin it for 4 years. Under warrentry had the strut bushings replaced. No worky. Had many things repalced. Still no worky. Had intermediate steering shaft greased. Rattle gone. 6 months later rattle back. Had shaft replaced, rattle gone. 1 year later, rattle back. Been living with it ever since. Will replace it again when I have time. This has been an issue with latter model Cadillacs and many GM cars. Maybe thats the problem. 2001 STS Mettalic Otter Grey, Black Leather, 213,000 kilometers - miles - ? Still running strong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 The elusive rattle. Been chasin it for 4 years. Under warrentry had the strut bushings replaced. No worky. Had many things repalced. Still no worky. Had intermediate steering shaft greased. Rattle gone. 6 months later rattle back. Had shaft replaced, rattle gone. 1 year later, rattle back. Been living with it ever since. Will replace it again when I have time. This has been an issue with latter model Cadillacs and many GM cars. Maybe thats the problem. Very good point Rickster..... The intermediate steering shaft was a problem on my wifes car also, but hers radiated through the steering wheel, did yours? 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickster Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Yes. Can also feel it in the brake pedal when braking. 2001 STS Mettalic Otter Grey, Black Leather, 213,000 kilometers - miles - ? Still running strong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Yes. Can also feel it in the brake pedal when braking. yep, but that is very different than a stabilizer bar bushing or a stabilizer link being bad, you dont feel that through the steering wheel My wife had a bad intermediate steering shaft in a 2002 monte carlo and you are right I felt it in the steering wheel and brake pedal...and I dont think it was bump induced.. 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickster Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Bump induced or not , this rattle is there most of the time, bump or not. I feel it in most all driving conditions. It is the one and only complaint I have with my car. When it is warmer out, the problem is much less. If it get to me after a while, a few WOT"s makes me feel better. 2001 STS Mettalic Otter Grey, Black Leather, 213,000 kilometers - miles - ? Still running strong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Bump induced or not , this rattle is there most of the time, bump or not. I feel it in most all driving conditions. It is the one and only complaint I have with my car. When it is warmer out, the problem is much less. If it get to me after a while, a few WOT"s makes me feel better. You may have nailed this guys problem with that idea.... Its funny, when I first came to this site, I used to ask, do you feel it in your seat or your steering wheel..... time to start asking that again.... 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadillac Jim Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 I was looking in the 1997 FSM and it appears that you have an intermediate steering shaft when you don't have a tilt wheel. The intermediate shaft with its two universal joints appears to provide a significant position and slant angle offset between the steering column axis and the rack and pinion input shaft. In the tilt wheel, the tilt point provides this offset. My question is, does the rattle occur with steering columns that don't have the adjustable tilt steering wheel? -- Click Here for CaddyInfo page on "How To" Read Your OBD Codes-- Click Here for my personal page to download my OBD code list as an Excel file, plus other Cadillac data -- See my CaddyInfo car blogs: 2011 CTS-V, 1997 ETC Yes, I was Jims_97_ETC before I changed cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 I was looking in the 1997 FSM and it appears that you have an intermediate steering shaft when you don't have a tilt wheel. The intermediate shaft with its two universal joints appears to provide a significant position and slant angle offset between the steering column axis and the rack and pinion input shaft. In the tilt wheel, the tilt point provides this offset. My question is, does the rattle occur with steering columns that don't have the adjustable tilt steering wheel? Jim, the intermediate shaft is near the rack I think it connects the end of the steering shaft to the rack I believe, and I doubt very much that is has to do with the tilt steering wheel.. maybe its just a coincidence.. 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kens96 Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 My 2001 Suburban has had the intermediate shaft issue starting at around 26k and has been in to the dealer 4 more times for the same problem the last being last weekend at 83K. They finally stopped pulling it and using the lube kit and replaced the shaft and the connector to the steering rack with updated part numbers. No Charge each time. Drives like brand new without telegraphing the road through the steering wheel and brake pedal. Service advisor said they were covering this through 100K on the odometer but there is no formal recall. Maybe Cadillac as something in a TSB that you can link to to get the issue looked at and replaced. Just a thought. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadillac Jim Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 BodybyFisher -- the steering column between the rack and the steering wheel is completely different between the tilt wheel and the non-tilt wheel in the 1997 FSM. Without the tilt wheel, there are three sections, and the intermediate shaft is short and has a universal joint at both ends. With the tilt wheel, there is a long shaft out of the rack to a ball-centered universal joint about which the tilt wheel pivots, and no intermediate shaft. -- Click Here for CaddyInfo page on "How To" Read Your OBD Codes-- Click Here for my personal page to download my OBD code list as an Excel file, plus other Cadillac data -- See my CaddyInfo car blogs: 2011 CTS-V, 1997 ETC Yes, I was Jims_97_ETC before I changed cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Just wondering -- were these cars even available withOUT a tilt steering wheel? I thought that'd have been standard on every Cadillac. Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadillac Jim Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 I thought that tilt wheel was standard for Cadillacs, too, until I found non-tilt steering wheels in the FSM. Perhaps the commercial chassis? In any case, the steering column doesn't have an intermediate shaft with the tilt wheels so far as I can tell. If BodybyFisher or other knowledgeable source tells me that they all have intermediate shafts, I will take another look and find it. -- Click Here for CaddyInfo page on "How To" Read Your OBD Codes-- Click Here for my personal page to download my OBD code list as an Excel file, plus other Cadillac data -- See my CaddyInfo car blogs: 2011 CTS-V, 1997 ETC Yes, I was Jims_97_ETC before I changed cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.