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Cadillac Repair/Cadillac Eldorado 1999
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Question
QUESTION: I have a 1999 4.6 liter 32 value V-8 Cadillac Eldorado. The car runs perfectly. Unfortunately about 4 months ago the "service engine soon" light went on and stayed on. I use only midgrade and hightest fuel in the car and never use regular gas. I brought my car to be inspected recently and they were able to get the light off, but it keeps coming back on. They tell me the car cannot be inspected with the light on. They recommended taking a look at the gasket or the switch on the transmission which will cost $1000. What do you think? Any solutions? I did put new tires on the car about 4 months ago. It has 60,000 original miles.
ANSWER: Hello,
GM changed the check engine light to service engine soon. The purpose for the light going on is only a symptom with 50 or more causes due to something malfunctioning in the emission system.
In stead of guessing what the problem is, take your car to a service center that can scan the computer. Dealers can do it to however they are out of their minds on cost to repair.
Just getting the light out means nothing. It will come back on like it did for you. It could be a cheap fix or it could be something major, both of which you mentioned are not the problem. Obviously whoever gave you that answer has no clue as to what they are talking about.
Once scanned, they can pick up the error codes that tell the technician what the problem is in the emission system.
Good Luck!
Rob
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: The scan pulled up PO 741 which is the torque converter clutch. However, there is absolutely no sign of shifting or gear problems with the car. Does this make any sense to you? As I stated, the light has been on for some time now.
Hello,
Something in that circuit causing the light to come on and it does not have to be a bad torque converter clutch, but something associated with it.
I do not have a manual for the vehicle and you may want to get one just so it can be worked on in the future too. They are relatively cheap and can be found on Ebay or Craig's list.
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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