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Cadillac Repair/2000 Cadillac Seville Coolant Problem.

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Expert: - 3/13/2011


Question
I just bought this car from a private seller about a week ago. The light was on to check coolant. So I went to Walmart and filled the fluids. About a day later it said the same, went under the hood and it was empty. Refilled. Had a mechanic replace the hose because he saw a small leak. Stopped it for about two days. Dont know what I should do. Should I keep replacing parts or return the car?

Answer
Hello,

Usually private sales are as is, and don't know if you can return it. If you can, do it. These are aluminum engines used by Cadillac for 39 years. Great engine as long as you can keep oil in it (these engines can be oil burners) and never over heat it. By the time the hot light comes on, its too late and you are looking at thousands for repairs. Most people from my experience will run these engines hot and then state they need head gaskets. In fact, I would be concerned about that right now in your car. If you have white smoke, you need a head gasket or two. Could run you $1,500 to $2,000 right there.

If you pull the engine oil dip stick and it is a milky color, you need a head gasket or two. If you find a coolant leak between the head and the block, it needs a cylinder head or gasket.

If you look at my archives, you will see these engines can go to junk in seconds. No used engines around because most of them were overheated as well. New engine from Cadillac will run you more than the value of the car at $5k.

These engines are notorious for over heating issues and even a coolant leak will spark this.

I use an example that when you throw an aluminum can into a fire, it melts instantly. Picture this can being your engine.

These engines are lightwieght. They make the car quick and good on gas.

If I was to buy a Cadillac, I would not touch one with a coolant leak. Could be the reason the car was for sale. If you can get out from under this, do it! If you can't sell it and never buy an old Cadillac leaking coolant!!

Good luck!

Let me know how it works out.

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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