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Expert: - 2/13/2009


Question
Hi, I'm thinking about buying a 1997 Cadillac Catera from a used car dealership. I test drove it earlier today and I notice the check engine light was on. I asked the salesman and he said it just came on the other day. The car has 78,472 miles on it. Do you have any idea why that light would come on?

Answer
Hi Joe,

My comical answer is open the hood and see if the engine is there!

Now, being serious--The check engine light tells you there is a problem with the emmision system. Could be a major or minor repair.

The codes must be checked with a scanner. GM uses a tech II. There are hundreds of problems that can set this light off and before buying the car, you really need it fixed.

Even if the light goes out does not mean the problem is no longer there. It is just when the light comes on, it will set a trouble code.

This will cause running, performance and economy problems. If your area requires emmisions testing, the car will not pass.

Rob

Cadillac Repair

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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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