Expert: Rob Painter - 5/17/2011

Question
Hi Rob:
Missed you while you were on Vacation.
My rear suspension is sagging. I brought it to Monroe Muffler/Brake/Suspension shop and it was evident that the rear sub frame had deteriorated over time from corrosion. Monroe recommended I replace the sub frame fist As it was weighing on the air pump. The shocks are leaking and the leveling light doesn't come on.  The car has 82,000 mile on it. You aware if Cadillac had a call back on the inferior sub frame design? It's a big job to replace the sub frame. Also My interior dash lights stay on continuously once the ignition is off and is draining the
battery when the car is parked overnight? Any suggestions as to the sub frame and the interior neon dash lights staying on? I look forward to your reply. Dave

Answer
Hi Dave,

I am not aware of such a recall, but you can check for recalls and consumer complaints at the scroll down menu at http://www.nhtsa.gov

I don't look to blame any manufacturer for rust issues. In my case I blame the states in the rust belt that feel they must use salt and calcium chloride that just destroys every car.
i am from Wisconsin where they have a bare road policy. They rarely plow and use chemicals to rot the cars. Colorado for years banned such chemicals and road salt and they got a lot more snow than we did. In Wisconsin in the 70's studded tires were banned as were chains, even though I ran them on my truck. My thought was, since law enforcement could not get around on days of heavy snow, it's not like they could catch my 4wd Suburban with chains! LOL

Supposedly, chains and studs ruined the roads. Excuse me? Salt and chemicals do what to well water, Lake Michigan water (some of us drank) as well as vehicles and the roads? Nothing like having a black car that is all white and being out of windshield washer fluid and trying to see at about 3 pm with the sun. Idiots!!!!!!

Now, I do not know if you reside in one of those fine states with cities like Chicago where a car owner would watch his vehicle start to rot in the first 2 years before he is even done paying the car note!

I believe the manufacturers were behind this dumb behavior, because it was necessary to replace the car in less than 5 years. If nothing else it is something to think about with the corrupt politicians in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. These are just my thoughts and one of many of  the reasons I said 50 years of living in Wisconsin was enough! I am in Texas now where it doesn't matter how old the car is or what the mileage is, the body and suspension are like new! When I need to use a port a power (jaws of life), to remove my wheels from my truck, that is a little much!

Another common reason for frame rot is condensation. Sitting on a humid garage floor or in the grass, and very rarely do I see recalls on suspension. The last recall I remember recently was Toyota trucks where they were dropping the spare tire assembly while going down the road!
Check the NHTSA site out and see if you can find something.

As for your dash lights--this could be diagnosed, but will take some time, but since you have a suspension problem, I would start there to make sure there are no wiring issues in the tail light harness in the area.
There are many situations that can cause those lights to be on. A short, a ground as in feed back.
I would suggest you see if you can get the factory service manual for this car at http://www.alldata.com I do not know if they go that far back, but you have what I call the little Eldo. You are limited to the models that are basically the same. 1988-1991 Eldo and Seville. If you can get it, it costs $30 for a download good for a year from any computer on line. This is a cheap investment that will save so much trouble in diagnoses.

Thank you for your allegiance to my pages here. It makes me feel good that I have such wonderful followers.

Good luck!

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