Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

1

Omega General Help / Serpentine Belt

« on: 24 September 2014, 00:00:14 »

My Catera has been sidelined while I worked on my Lincoln Mark VIII project. Today, I returned to the scene of the crime to install a new belt and chase the dark climate control gremlin. As usual, your well defined search and sound advice helped me find that #@&* torx nut keeping me from getting the new belt over the A/C and power steering pump. You have been the best source for these cars - hell, this is the most concise and sarcasm-free forum, as your Top Gear guys say - In The World. I appreciate everything, and want to add my thanks yet one more time for an excellent website. Too bad I cannot buy an Omega with a stick and Eco engine here. The Catera is a well balanced chassis that has been over taxed by the extra 5-600 lbs. that Cadillac added. Again, thank you all.

2

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: How to fit a new MAF sensor?

« on: 15 June 2013, 16:19:04 »

I just went through this dilemma with my Catera. I changed O2 front sensors on both sides, then went after the MAF. The first one did not change anything, but after returning it, the second immediately made everything right. I had power and smoothness again. At the $270 price you would hope two trips to the store not necessary. I believe had I not been doing business with these men for 10 years, they could have opted to not exchange an electrical part. What is the policy in your area? I also did the work in their parking lot, as it is quick and easy with just a screwdriver.

3

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: Temp gauge not working.

« on: 15 June 2013, 16:06:35 »

I had the same problem on my Catera V6. While re-sealing the cam covers, I changed the connector, the sending unit and also the thermostat, since everything was already in pieces. Didn't help, so it has to be the dash gauge. I've got it about 6th on my current list of maintenance fixes. I always check my coolant while seeing to the oil (I actually never start it in the morning without checking the oil - I'm retired and am not looking forward to dash removal. I have found I always neglect to hook something up, no matter how fastidious I am. Is the 2.2 easier to access the head unit on the dash?

4

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: Cadillac climate control

« on: 15 June 2013, 15:52:38 »

Well the update on the climate control is that it's going to have to wait. My dear son, a young rookie driver, made the mistake of not allowing for the traction differential of wet pavement with some gravel. Now the car has a slight sag to the right and the hood, although seemingly undamaged, will not open. So body work is my priority now - something I am very uncomfortable doing. When faced with these problems in the past, I've always ended up using a saw or hammer when finesse would have worked equally well. The bumper cover is scratched, but intact, and aside from the hood latch snafu, a driving light and headlight bucket should have me in great shape. Any suggestions as to approaching the hood opening problem? The cable feels like it is connected, just not actuating the release. I assume the accident has jammed the down piece into the lower receiver, keeping it from letting go. I am planning on removing the grille, which is expendable, to give me access to the hood (bonnet) which I want to save, as it looks undamaged. I will post pictures and start a new subject as soon as the car returns from the store.

5

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: Cadillac climate control

« on: 31 May 2013, 21:21:20 »

They appear to be identical when removed from the cars, too. The differences are cosmetic. I'm just intimidated by the theft control, but I bought the car from the original owner, so re-activation should be simple, right? This is just another example of diving in and doing the damn job so I can drive. This isn't rocket science. The CEL was just plug and play, too, when I finally lined everything up, voila, return to normalcy. But this car has had two bizarre failures now, the climate control and the MAF, both fixable but unusual repairs. I was spoiled by the motor pool of my previous working life. What ever happened to the simple RAMCO valve?

6

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: Cadillac climate control

« on: 30 May 2013, 22:14:12 »

Thank you, Andy. I'm a little chagrined that I failed to fully avail myself of the "search" function. My fault. Again your excellent forum site comes to the aid of your foolish American cousins. It's our plan to come to your island this summer to see our Welsh relatives. I hope to meet some of you and buy you several of your favorite libations in gratitude for all the help. That will be my reward for saving money by keeping this car.

7

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Cadillac climate control

« on: 30 May 2013, 18:46:39 »

You guys have been invaluable to me in my ongoing quest keeping my Catera on the road. When this car is completely operational, it is unbeatable for the driving combination. Key word here- operational. Gremlins are my co-pilots. Phantom sunroof, leaking gaskets, DIS failure, "lifetime" transmission fluid, etc.etc. But, at the price point of used cars, anyone who believes that trouble-free and low cost are hand in hand will want to buy my ocean front property in Arizona. Now, I have encountered something that intimidates even this Hudson Hornet owner - my climate control has gone dark. There was a faint smell of burning electrics, then gone. Everything associated with the radio and remote trunk and fuel door are working fine. No obvious fuse failure. I have collected the module with the electro-luminescent screen from a donor car, but it looks like the innards of my computer - not a climate control. What should I be cognizant of when heading into these repairs? Does the radio come out with the regular fork used for other DIN models? Can I keep the radio connected to avoid the theft mechanism? Has anyone ever had to do this repair? Regardless of whether this is successful, I want to, again, thank you all for being able to keep this low-mileage vehicle on the road (mostly) these past two years. It would have been much more difficult - if not impossible - without your tips and guidance.

8

Omega General Help / Climate Control Gone

« on: 30 April 2013, 05:38:02 »

Yesterday, I was driving and noticed a slight burning smell in the cabin. I immediately pulled off the road and disconnected the negative battery cable. Had AAA tow it home. Today, I re-connected the battery and after starting, found the climate control panel was completely blank - no reading at all. No function of any kind. I went through all the fuses in the under-dash panel and all under the hood and none blown anywhere. Is this a common failure? My car is 1997 Catera with 76k miles. I have babied this car for two years now, and thanks to your advice, have gotten it to the point where its reliable and reasonably economical to run. It seems to run fine even without heat or defrost. What have you done when faced with this problem? I can get another dash panel at the local pick and pull. Is this the way to go? Thank you in advance for your help and advice.

9

Omega General Help / Gratitude

« on: 01 October 2012, 01:54:41 »

I've been quick to ask and drive the forum nuts asking stupid questions, so a little diversity is in order. Despite my lack of experience with these cars, you folks have allowed me to be the proud owner of an immaculate 97 Catera. This morning I checked my last gas mileage and it computed to 27.7 mpg. I was about to give up on this car, but your kindness and patience have allowed me to enjoy the drive for at least one more year. Thank you very much. I'll probably be bitching again tomorrow, but tonight all is well and I tip my hat to my European betters. By the way, outstanding comeback in the Ryder Cup competition. Your niblick wielders are far superior to ours.

10

Omega General Help / Re: 3.0 V6 Cadillac

« on: 09 September 2012, 12:01:30 »

By HT, you mean high tension, as in ignition wires, yes?

11

Omega General Help / Re: 3.0 V6 Cadillac

« on: 09 September 2012, 10:24:28 »

Would the failed crank sensor emulate the mis-fire the DIS initially exhibited? Or am I looking thru the looking glass at Alice? With no end in sight?

12

Omega General Help / Re: 3.0 V6 Cadillac

« on: 07 September 2012, 16:19:27 »

I'm starting to feel like the guy who longs for the days when he had "only" a broken leg. It appears DIS is failing. Car runs fine in a very narrow bandwidth - 24-3000 RPM. Even then, it feels like its trying to miss rather than free flow. However, apply ANY load i.e. uphill, pass or let the revs drop below 2500 and its immediately running on 4 - at best. It shudders like hitting roadside rub strips, at which point I turn it off, disconnect neg. cable, smoke a cig, then re-connect and start the process all over again. I managed to drive it 90 miles yesterday in 3 and half hours to get it home by using this technique. Well, my first line of attack is to dis-assemble my valve cover gasket repair and check if anything obvious was neglected, the replace the DIS ignition module, then? Should I replace the Crank Position sensor as a pre-emptive move? Should I replace the plug wires (they have only 200 miles on them) as they could possibly be the cause of the short. I should mention that my EGR valve on the intake plenum has RTV for a gasket as I broke the paper one and no-one had a replacement. Could that possibly be a detriment? I have traced the vacuum lines til blue-faced with frustrated tedium, looked at wires in the dark to see if I could detect electrical flashover, quixotically connected various 8 guage ground wires to various electrical devices hoping they needed more robust connecting.........with the expected non-result. I have found thoughts of parking it with the keys in the ignition in the "Felony Flats" area of town while innocently shopping with my significant other. I calculated that you guys have 10-20 of these for each one in America, ergo, your extensive experience with the cars is what I've been lucky to tao into for these past weeks. I, as always, thank you for any consideration and advice. Dave - the lost Yank - Peterson

13

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: Bose 2 ohm "questions".............

« on: 03 September 2012, 16:04:25 »

First, let me say that the Bose system in my car sounds great. But, in a home environment, I've always felt Bose sounds "gimmicky" to my ears. I owned a set of 901's way back when, but I found that after a time my head got listener fatigue. Just my opinion, but I have yet to hear a speaker that sounds better than my 40 year old Klipsch Cornerhorns. A design, I think, at least 70 years old. My2 cents - and overpriced at that.

14

Omega General Help / Re: Oil Cooler Change

« on: 03 September 2012, 15:50:14 »

I used Fel-Pro, but one side had a crack that wasn't visible until cleaned and torqued. Now after obtaining a good used cam cover all is well. One of the locals tried to steer me to V6 SAAB covers, claiming they work and are made out of metal. I didn't feel like being a guinea pig, so I went with Cadillac's parts. Anyone out there ever tried the SAAB pieces?

15

Omega General Help / Re: 3.0 V6 Cadillac

« on: 03 September 2012, 15:43:43 »

I cannot thank everyone enough for all your advice. I know how hard-won it is. Smooth as silk now. If I was so inclined, here is where I'd put up smiley faces. But I'm not so inclined. So, again, thanks.