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Question
I have a 99 Cadillac Deville with individual climate control for passenger and driver sides. The passenger side does not respond and blows only cold air. Do you know what the problem with it might be? Is this something I could in my shop or is it only for professionals?
Hi Shawn,
There are many things that require the "professionals." I may sound like a broken record, but for those that have standard tools and some mechanical knowledge, the best thing to do to save money and fix these vehicles is to obtain the service manual. GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota owners can google "helm", the makers of these manuals. You can also search Ebay and Craig's list for the manual(s) you need for your vehicle.
You will find diagnostic charts, electrical schematics, vacuum routings etc. Not all repairs require special equipment.
Besides, it might give the car owner a little pride in being able to fix some of these problems on their own.
Not trying to promote Ebay, but the reality is that you can get quality replacement reparts there.
Power window motors used to cost hundreds. They can be found new, not rebuilt for under $50.
A/C compressors were $500 and now they can be purchased for $150.00.
In fact, when my inboard boat engine blew up, I was quoted thousands. I went through Ebay, found a company that supplied rebuilt crate engines for my boat for $1,000 delivered. Put it in three years ago and runs great!
There is very little you can't find for your vehicle there. Once you diagnose the problem by use of the service manual, you can get the parts you need with a dramatic difference from what the dealer will charge you.
Rob
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Rob Painter
Expertise
Alarm system questions cannot be answered on this forum. These systems are not what I can answer. Without being physically at the vehicle and not knowing what kind of electrical service has been done on the vehicle, there is no possible way to give an accurate answer over the internet. My expertise is in Ignition/key based anti-theft systems. These issues include GM VATS (resistor chip in key blade) PASSLOCK (MRD)-ignition lock rotation based, no special ignition key and the PKIII Transponder (computer chip in key) systems. These systems are not alarm based and are integral with the starting of the engine. This is why I cannot diagnose alarm problems without physically looking at the vehicle: Alarm systems are a completely different annimal than ignition key/lock based anti-theft system. Many alarm questions come from vehicles 10 years old, and since older, many hands that had been involved over the years.I am an expert in all GM factory (ignition/key based)systems. Alarm system questions pose to many situations beyond my knowledge as to what has been done to the vehicle over the years. Some guy may have actually wired the stereo into the alarm system. Who knows? Over my past 30 years in vehicle wiring repair, I have seen unbelievable wiring disaters done by guys that consider themselves "mechanics." I have seen stereos and alarms intalled using surgical tape. I have seen modules burn up, un-fused circuits, wiring jambed between the doors and even lamp cord used for a starter kill. To answer alarm questions over the internet without examining the vehicle is like asking; What does it take to remove a dent?
Experience
Education/Credentials-ASE certified. 11 years with a GM dealer and 17 years with a repair facility dealing with only the repair of theft recovered vehicles.
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