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Cadillac Repair/1996 Cadillac STS Northstar engine

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Expert: - 1/20/2011


Question
Our '96 Caddy STS is giving us some frustration. At times, the engine appears to hesitate, and then the gas peddle will lock. The message on the dash is 'emmissions 104', and then sometimes the 'check engine' light will come on, and sometimes we even have to pull over because it actually stalls. Usually after it sits over night, all is well. I've changed the plugs , air filter etc, but hasn't seem to have helped. Any ideas?

Answer
Hello,

You need to take the car to a service center (not Cadillac) and have them check the diagnostic codes telling you something is wrong with the emission/computer system. The check engine light will go out, but leaves a diagnostic code. This will explain your running issues.

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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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