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Road Trip


Ranger

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Monday morning before leaving for Northern Wisconsin to do some snowmobiling I call a salvage yard on a tip I received from someone over at cadillacowners.com on a DTS center console. They still have the car and only wanted $75 for the console & shifter. :yupi3ti: So I gave him my credit card info and placed the order. Ten minutes later he calls back to say that the console had been sold. :( The search continues.

So my buddy shows up and off we go. The trip is uneventful and the Caddy performs flawlessly. The next morning we head out for some breakfast before hitting the trails and low and behold, CHECK COOLANT LEVEL :angry: So I obediently do. Sure enough it is a tad low. Off to the local Napa we go where I get raped for an $18+ bottle of Dex (what are ya gonna do). Then to the local grocery store for some distilled water. $20 later, top her off and all is well, but I do some checking, wondering where it went. Wouldn't you know it, there is coolant on the trans below the EGR valve. Leaky crossover .......again. As you may recall, this was fixed under warranty on Oct. '06 (she is still covered under the extended warranty).

That night after running some 90 miles of trails we go out for dinner and a few drinks. On the way home we get to the last 1/2 mile from the cabin on a small road leading to it winding through the woods and out of nowhere we see a brown blur flashes across the windshield. Yup, damned vermin again. It was so fast that we could not tell if it was a buck or a doe, but if it passed a foot in front of the car it was a lot. All I saw was it leaping out of the way from dead in front of me. Fortunately I was only going about 20 MPH, but it was waaay too close for comfort. I suppose if I were going any faster it would have broad sided me.

So we get home about 1630 today and I drop her off at the dealer again. I'm now driving a new CTS with 6k on it. Will get the diagnosis tomorrow. I can't imagine anything other than a crossover gasket.

Otherwise the trip was uneventful, pleasant and fun, as usual. :rolleyes:

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Monday morning before leaving for Northern Wisconsin to do some snowmobiling I call a salvage yard on a tip I received from someone over at cadillacowners.com on a DTS center console. They still have the car and only wanted $75 for the console & shifter. :yupi3ti: So I gave him my credit card info and placed the order. Ten minutes later he calls back to say that the console had been sold. :( The search continues.

So my buddy shows up and off we go. The trip is uneventful and the Caddy performs flawlessly. The next morning we head out for some breakfast before hitting the trails and low and behold, CHECK COOLANT LEVEL :angry: So I obediently do. Sure enough it is a tad low. Off to the local Napa we go where I get raped for an $18+ bottle of Dex (what are ya gonna do). Then to the local grocery store for some distilled water. $20 later, top her off and all is well, but I do some checking, wondering where it went. Wouldn't you know it, there is coolant on the trans below the EGR valve. Leaky crossover .......again. As you may recall, this was fixed under warranty on Oct. '06 (she is still covered under the extended warranty).

That night after running some 90 miles of trails we go out for dinner and a few drinks. On the way home we get to the last 1/2 mile from the cabin on a small road leading to it winding through the woods and out of nowhere we see a brown blur flashes across the windshield. Yup, damned vermin again. It was so fast that we could not tell if it was a buck or a doe, but if it passed a foot in front of the car it was a lot. All I saw was it leaping out of the way from dead in front of me. Fortunately I was only going about 20 MPH, but it was waaay too close for comfort. I suppose if I were going any faster it would have broad sided me.

So we get home about 1630 today and I drop her off at the dealer again. I'm now driving a new CTS with 6k on it. Will get the diagnosis tomorrow. I can't imagine anything other than a crossover gasket.

Otherwise the trip was uneventful, pleasant and fun, as usual. :rolleyes:

Maybe the water pump is starting to go.

GD deer - there are WAY too many of them everywhere. They need to let the hunters take as many as they want for a few years to reduce the herd...

Where in Wisconsin do you snowmobile? I've put a lot of miles on this season - the snow has been great so I haven't had to go to the UP. I'm taking the day off work tomorrow and some buddies and I are going snowmobiling - we'll probably log 125 - 150 miles for the day. I prefer to snowmobile during the week - the trails are usually in better shape and the idiots aren't out there like they are on Saturdays...

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

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Kevin,

We ride up around Eagle River. Riding during the week is always our preference as well for the very same reasons.

My buddy has been getting the itch to upgrade and he found a couple of newer machines so I have the feeling that there may be some new(er) iron in the garage shortly.

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Its amazing that the crossover gasket could be bad again, I don't understand that.

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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Kevin,

We ride up around Eagle River. Riding during the week is always our preference as well for the very same reasons.

My buddy has been getting the itch to upgrade and he found a couple of newer machines so I have the feeling that there may be some new(er) iron in the garage shortly.

I bought a 2003 Ski-Doo MXZ-600 with 1200 miles on it three years ago at a Ski-Doo dealer. I lowballed my offer and was almost embarrased at the offer but the dealer accepted it... Late February/Early March is when the deals are to be had on used snowmobiles.

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

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Sounds like this (Feb/Mar) may be deal time Kevin. Thanks.

Well got the car back today. Mechanic said he saw the coolant spot I mentioned, but could find not leaks after pressurizing it hot & cold. He said there have been 2 crossover gasket updates and I have the latest. Put some dye in it and I'll keep an eye on it.

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Ranger,

While it was the crossover that leaked in the past, could it be one of the silicone heater hoses leaking now?

They are located up next to the crossover pipe.

I had one leak for about a month before I finally was finally able to see where it was coming from. I caught it on a hot day, when I came off of the freeway. The coolant was accumulating below the coolant crossover. The leak would sometimes produce a small spray, at other times just steam. So the accumulation amount and location, would vary. Depending on which end relieved the pressure, it could spray to the front, or the rear areas, as well as drip straight down.

The two silicone hoses are about 4" long, with four screw clamps. A little awkward to get at, but try tightening them. If they feel loose, they just might be your leak.

-George

Drive'em like you own 'em. - ....................04 DTS............................

DTS_Signature.jpg

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Thanks George, I'll keep an eye on it. I don't know when it started leaking, but it has been 16 months since the crossover repair, so if it has been leaking since then, it is a very very very small leak.

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To anyone else, I would suggest adding two tube of the Bar's Leak powder. But knowing how you feel about cooling system additives....

Jim

Drive your car.

Use your cell phone.

CHOOSE ONE !

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Sounds like this (Feb/Mar) may be deal time Kevin. Thanks.

Well got the car back today. Mechanic said he saw the coolant spot I mentioned, but could find not leaks after pressurizing it hot & cold. He said there have been 2 crossover gasket updates and I have the latest. Put some dye in it and I'll keep an eye on it.

Larry,

Whenever I upgrade my snowmobiles, I start shopping in mid February - the dealers all want to move out the old inventory. The later in the season, the lower the prices are. My rule of thumb is: If you're not embarrased at your offer, you're offering too much.

On the coolant leak in the car, sometimes, if the coolant is drained out and the system is pressurized, a leak may be evident. Sometimes a full system will mask a leak.

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

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I'm not looking to buy new Kevin. Thinking of an '02 ZL600 EFI Cat maybe.

How would you find a leak if you pressurize an empty system?

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....How would you find a leak if you pressurize an empty system?
I would use the natural gas utility method and spritz soapy water on every part you can reach (and observe). Presence of soap bubbles will identify a suspect location.

Jim

Drive your car.

Use your cell phone.

CHOOSE ONE !

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I'm not very worried about it. It is obviously minuscule. I'll just keep an eye on the coolant and if it goes down, I'll let them find it since it is still under warranty.

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That night after running some 90 miles of trails we go out for dinner and a few drinks. On the way home we get to the last 1/2 mile from the cabin on a small road leading to it winding through the woods and out of nowhere we see a brown blur flashes across the windshield. Yup, damned vermin again. It was so fast that we could not tell if it was a buck or a doe, but if it passed a foot in front of the car it was a lot. All I saw was it leaping out of the way from dead in front of me. Fortunately I was only going about 20 MPH, but it was waaay too close for comfort. I suppose if I were going any faster it would have broad sided me.

Otherwise the trip was uneventful, pleasant and fun, as usual. :rolleyes:

Did that deer have your heart beating 100mph in your ear. Did you say, WTF was that? :lol:

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Wait till one of these days you get the deer jumping out in front of you while SNOWMOBILING, if you think you get nervous in a car.....

Doing that on a sled one day going through a corn field about 80 mph... all of a sudden I got a deer staring at me in the trail.. i'm glad it moved.

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Did that deer have your heart beating 100mph in your ear. Did you say, WTF was that? laugh

Yes & Yes.

Wait till one of these days you get the deer jumping out in front of you while SNOWMOBILING, if you think you get nervous in a car.....

Been there, done that (more than once).

Last year I rounded a curve and saw a big timber wolf standing right in the middle of the trail. He looked at me and leapt off the trail. Ran about 20' into the woods and then stopped to watch us go by. Now THAT was something to see. What a beautiful animal.

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Kevin,

We ride up around Eagle River. Riding during the week is always our preference as well for the very same reasons.

My buddy has been getting the itch to upgrade and he found a couple of newer machines so I have the feeling that there may be some new(er) iron in the garage shortly.

I bought a 2003 Ski-Doo MXZ-600 with 1200 miles on it three years ago at a Ski-Doo dealer. I lowballed my offer and was almost embarrased at the offer but the dealer accepted it... Late February/Early March is when the deals are to be had on used snowmobiles.

Well, my buddy calls me this morning and tells me that he found an '02 ZL500 Cat with only 2K on it in like new condition (he likes spending my money :lol: ). Guy wants $2895. After some Email pics, research and discussion we call him back and I am the new owner for $2550. :yupi3ti: My buddy will pick it up tomorrow and I will probably get a look at it Thursday. The only bad part is that unless it stays cold up north for another 2 weeks I may not get to ride it this year. :(

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Kevin,

We ride up around Eagle River. Riding during the week is always our preference as well for the very same reasons.

My buddy has been getting the itch to upgrade and he found a couple of newer machines so I have the feeling that there may be some new(er) iron in the garage shortly.

I bought a 2003 Ski-Doo MXZ-600 with 1200 miles on it three years ago at a Ski-Doo dealer. I lowballed my offer and was almost embarrased at the offer but the dealer accepted it... Late February/Early March is when the deals are to be had on used snowmobiles.

Well, my buddy calls me this morning and tells me that he found an '02 ZL500 Cat with only 2K on it in like new condition (he likes spending my money :lol: ). Guy wants $2895. After some Email pics, research and discussion we call him back and I am the new owner for $2550. :yupi3ti: My buddy will pick it up tomorrow and I will probably get a look at it Thursday. The only bad part is that unless it stays cold up north for another 2 weeks I may not get to ride it this year. :(

We'll get another blast of winter in March - it will most likely be a one-day window for snowmobiling. I paid $3000 out the door for my '03 ski-doo MXZ-600 in Feb. 2005. That was the best deal i ever made!

Back to the cooling system - when it is drained, do as JimD sugessted - spray all the connectons with soap-water and the leak shound be obvious.

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

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You guys keep forgetting, it's under warranty. If the coolant gets low, they can find and fix the leak. I'm not worried about it .............yet.

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Nice ranger, I actually bought a 98 zl500 back in January, it needed some work though, previous owner hit a tree with it, driveable but missing a chunk of hood. Got it for $800 though(I love great deals!!) Unfortunately its been broken for most of the winter, I have had the stator fail.. TWICE :( Its nice to drive though, when it hasnt been broken.

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