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Cadillac Repair/Should be easy

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Expert: - 1/15/2011


Question
Two questions, #1 I cant seem to locate the Transmission fill cap, where is it? #2 I do my own oil changes, how do I make the "change engine oil" message disappear from the banner?

Thank you very much

Answer
Hello,

You need to tell me the year, make and model. I do not know how to reset the oil change "flag." I know it is not a big deal, it's just something I have not done for over 20 years. If I were you, I would call a local oil change facility like Valvoline and I am sure they will tell you over the phone.

As for the transmission, if you do not have a dip stick, you have a closed system and you cannot service the transmission. To service, it requires special equipment and needs to be flushed with a machine. Many oil change facilities do not have the fittings and adapters to do this and sometimes you are stuck going to the dealer. While you are asking about resetting the oil change flag, ask them if they have the equipment to flush the transmission in your car.

GM did this on purpose where you could no longer check the transmission level requiring service at the dealer.

It's a scam, but so much work has gone away from the over priced dealerships that this is a small way sticking it to the owners of their cars. Ford and Chrysler rip one off other ways by using front end suspension parts that can't be lubed so the end result is they fail. Always in your car and others, go after market if possible to replace suspension parts. In my opinion they are better and at least on tie rods and ball joints, they can be lubed.

You are eventually going to need suspension parts. Don't buy the Cadillac components. Buy Moog after market. Much better than the Cadillac stuff!



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Thank you for your great rating. I learned the transmission dip stick tube the hard way on my ex-wife's Grand Am with a sealed transmission as well as finding the oil change places did not have the adapters to flush the transmission. Unfortunately, I got stuck going to a dealer to have it serviced. What a scam!!! That was the last time I went to a dealer! Hope it all works out for you.  

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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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