97 deville overheating...

[BodybyFisher]

Wow so in addition to the head bolts ripping themselves out the holes turn into powder and that .means what it can't be fixed? So illl make payments for 3 month and it will just do this again? Honestly should I just junk this thing and save up for something else? I know the net exagerates problems like this but even here on the forum a lot of others have gone through this so regardless of whether you say its a design flaw or not it certainly isn't a fluke either. EBay and Craigslist is full of them with overheating issues. And yes body by fisher we have established I was an idiot I bought a 13 year old car with 135 grand on it. I needed a car I trusted the name I didn't go armed with the knowledge I should have. I can't afford to pay these guys to pull this thing apart only to find out the block is turned into powder. everyone keeps saying they are well built Except for this one thing with the bolts ripping out and the block turning into powder. in my case from my stand point sorry but that's not unlike saying the titanic was well built too cept for that one thing.

You need to chill out, you came for help, and part of helping is having to hear the potential for problems that COULD arise. For you to go off at this point is WRONG, or would your rather I say NOTHING about potential issues and problems so you don't waste your money? KHE told you things that needed to be done also.

#1, I did NOT say or imply you were an idiot, YOU DID.

#2, with ANY 13 year old car that has 135,000 miles on it, there is a potential for problems, so you need to have ANY car checked out by someone that is familiar with it, unless you have the experience to do so. You don't know the history of the car, if it was maintained, abused, etc. I myself would be VERY reluctant to buy that car, without testing and knowing the maintenance history, and I DO have a lot of experience.

The multi-billion dollar space shuttle (can't get a better reputation than NASA) WAS grounded TODAY due to ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS!!!!

#3, you don't buy USED cars, boats, planes, appliances because of their trusted NAME, you are looking for trouble if you do that, you keep saying that, any trusted name can need maintenance and repairs. Example, my friend bought a house with a SUB ZERO built in refrigerator in it, SUB ZERO is a great name, it has cost him $2000 to fix.

I asked you a simple question and yet you RANT ON, is the mechanic experienced with the Northstar and how many has he done? Please answer that question.

We will be glad to help, we have a LOT of info, but keep the frustration in check, the problem you are having is unfortunate, whoever sold you the car screwed you, that is NOT our fault or CADILLACS fault or GMs fault, take your anger back to the seller!!!!!

How much did you pay for this car?

and

Is the mechanic experienced with the Northstar and how many has he done?

[BodybyFisher]

Let me give you a little perspective.

I owned a 96 Deville since it had 56,000 miles on it.

I knew the prior owner and had the coolant changed at 46,000 miles when the car was just about 5 years old. It had prior water pumps and radiator work done.

I changed the coolant regularly

I NEVER saw my temp rise to above 245

My head gasket went bad and I started overheating

During that time, I had a miss, and the temps in traffic would hit 234 and on the highway, it would drop to 217-219, not good, but not 260 to 265 either

I NEVER seriously overheated my engine during the time I drove it with a bad head gasket

About that time, AJ a GM tech came here, and showed us blocks that when they were drilled the material was not filings but dust, the material had deteriorated and was weak...

That idea made me nervous about fixing my own block, as the block material might be bad

I called the techs from TIMESERT and spoke to them at LENGTH

When blocks are overheated badly, the material degrades, but this degrading only happens on blocks that have been abused (high temps) after the head gasket went bad or on a block that was continuously driven at high temps. Anotherwords abused but someone who did not know or care about the seriousness of doing so...

Because I knew the history of my block, my concerns were put to rest

BUT, you do not know the history of your block, you do not know if it was overheating long, or how badly it has overheated, you have driven it and it has gotten up there pretty high. Hell you said you have SMOKE coming out of the coolant tank.. SMOKE not STEAM were your words, who knows what you will find on a car that you DO NOT know the history on, it could have a cracked sleeve, etc.... You don't know if someone tried to seal it with a "head gasket fix in a can". Has some prior owner put only water in it and it froze in the winter, who knows

Because of these unknowns you have, it would be unethical for me NOT to mention my concerns... I hope you understand, but if I sugar coated it, it would serve you no purpose but to throw good money down the drain. Given:

1) the unknown history

2) the smoke coming out of the coolant tank

Please answer my prior questions, it matters who works on this car and how much experience they have with it. How much did you pay for it? How long have you owned it?

What are they charging you for the head gasket fix?

[BodybyFisher]

Also, can you go back to the seller and return it,

How long have you owned it?

Did he know it was overheating?

Was anything regarding overheating mentioned before the buy?

Did he say why he was selling it?

[97pearl]

Also, can you go back to the seller and return it,

How long have you owned it?

Did he know it was overheating?

Was anything regarding overheating mentioned before the buy?

Did he say why he was selling it?

i appreciate the advice. i truly do and i know you didn't say i was an idiot i said it and i was. thanks for everything. the garage had a 2000 ford focus that they had gotten on a mechanics lien because the owner didn't pay for the work. they traded even up for the caddy. we just swapped title and all it cost me was the plate transfer. it doesn't have nice seats and its not very comfortable but i can make it to work. i got a 90 day warranty with it as well. thanks again for the help and im glad i found this forum or who knows how much money i would have dumped into a hole.

[BodybyFisher]

Well good luck with the new car, its too bad that the Caddy did not work out, but there were far too many unknowns.

Good luck to you and I am sorry for your stressful experience, Mike