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Cadillac Repair/intermitent no starter engagment
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Question
2001 Seville SLS. Good running condition.110,000 miles.Good battery. I'm thinking a sensor problem?
Every week or two when I most need it, I turn the key, all sounds and looks normal except starter does not go. Get out,rock the car, take it in and out of park,it will usually go. Worse than ever yesterday-backed up an inclined driveway,parked with back end up the hill. Next morning, about 25 degrees F. No go,rock or not. Rolled it done to level ground, it started right up. I do some work on vehicles because I am able to and I enjoy it but this Caddy,the beauty that she is, is almost too much fun for me!
Hello,
Intermittent problems are almost impossible to find. I don't think rocking the car has anything to do with the quick fix and may be coincindental to something else you are doing at the same time.
When diagnosing an intermittent problem, one is looking for some type of common denominator. Not being at the car when it is doing this makes it absolutely impossible to even guess at.
I don't want to see you chasing ghosts and changing out good parts on a guess. You are going to need more frequency, but if I were you, I might think this may be an intermitent starter problem.
Rob
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Thankyou very much for the quick answer. What you have explained makes perfect sense to me. As an old experienced mechanic, my uncle, once said, I guess I'll leave it hatch! | ||
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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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