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Cadillac DeVille

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  • boomer1bboomer1b Member Posts: 316
    I posted the cruise issue over a cadillac forums and have had no other owner complaints.

    Maybe we are just OLD BLUE HAIRS.....LOL!
    That can't operate these new fangled gadgets !

    Matbe its true we are not holding our foot steady on the gas pedal while trying to push all the buttons.............Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
  • sls002sls002 Member Posts: 2,788
    My experiments (post 1561) show than my Seville sets the speed when you release the set button. Once pushed and released the cruise is "set" until you hit the brake or turn off cruise. So, to get the right speed when accelerating, pushing the set button early and releasing will result in a lower than expected speed. However, pushing the set button early and holding it down while acclerating will result in the higher speed when you finally release.

    In any case, my seville generally is never off by more than about 1 MPH when I set it, and that is probably because it rounds off to the nearest whole MPH (no fractional MPH).
  • bremertongbremertong Member Posts: 436
    From my point of view, it's not us, it's the cruise system. The biggest problem is that it's intermittent and not every time. The failures often occur during the same trip. I'm not sure what to do about it, the dealership is aware that I'm not pleased with the cruise performance, they claim to have done everything they can and unable to locate source of malfunction (actually claim there is no malfunction). I am using as is for the moment. There is another Cadillac dealership about 125 miles away (round trip). I may resort to visiting their service department as a next resort. Cadillac customer service put me in touch with them so there is good logic to this. If there are other owners reading about this cruise malfunction for the first time please add your experiences, and advice(Cadillac De Ville 2000-2005 models). Many thanks to all who have shared your comments and advice so far.
  • boomer1bboomer1b Member Posts: 316
    The old fashioned cruise on the stalk controls in my 04 Chevy truck NEVER varies NO matter what. Towing, hauling, or loafing along.............

    BUT the 04 Taurus I rented a few weeks ago in Minn. had steering wheel controls worked as screwy as my Caddy losing and gaining mph.........Hmmmmm
  • sls002sls002 Member Posts: 2,788
    I find that I sometimes push on one of them by accident (usually the temperature control - decreasing). There is no reason why locating the controls on the steering wheel will make them erratic, except that it is easy to hit them by accident.

    With my cruise control, punching the accelerate/resume button 5 times will result in the Seville adding 5 MPH to the cruising speed. Hitting the set/coast button a few times will reduce speed by a few MPH. This is how it should work.
  • jimxojimxo Member Posts: 423
    I'm very car savvy but no little about the Caddy. Except the Deville I rented back in FL thats was really sweet to drive.

    I do plan on buying a 7/100k mile warranty just to be safe.

    What year should I buy 2000-2004?
  • boomer1bboomer1b Member Posts: 316
    Maybe its just US !

    No hits or complaints about the cruise problems post I put up over at cadillac forums....Hmmmmm
  • boomer1bboomer1b Member Posts: 316
    Any 00-04 used Deville purchase is a wise move.
    Heck 03 base Devilles in my area (ex rentals) are $25k. A extended GM warranty is a good idea.
     I Can supply you witha list dealers that sell them at discounted prices over the net. You have up till the end of the Caddy mfr. warranty to purchase a GMPP warranty.

    As with any used car. Shop carefully and have it checked out by a trusted mechanic before purchase!

    Good luck keep us posted.....................
  • jimxojimxo Member Posts: 423
    Thanks I think I'll go for a 03 or 04.

     I need a Nav system so I will have to look hard. What year did they offer Nav? Is the same 300 hp motor in all Deville thru 2004?
  • boomer1bboomer1b Member Posts: 316
    Base motor is 275 hp. The DTS has the 300 hp one.
    A Nav. system will be hard to find in a base model.
    Shop carefully.....Lots of used Devilles out there to choose from. A sunroof is a MUST !
    Look for one with A BOSE sound system....IT cranks !
  • 59cadillac59cadillac Member Posts: 5
    has anyone had any problems with a loose torque converter or flex plate on a 97 deville. If so, what noise did it make. I am trying to diagnose the problem. Dealer thinks its a bad bearing, but i think other wise.
  • homerkchomerkc Member Posts: 113
    Are recent DeVille's reliable? I have read about the complexity, and that electronic problems were common a few years ago. Is that past, or still haunting the marque? Used DeVilles seem to be a good deal, but only if reliable.

    Also, what kind of fuel mileage can I expect from a base DeVille?
  • boomer1bboomer1b Member Posts: 316
    89/90/96/ NEVER visited the shop except for oil changes, brakes, etc. and they all had 100k plus HARD miles on them. I tend to put my foot into that screaming V-8.

    ALL got better than 25 mpg plus cruising around !
    My 02 I only had 6 months. The boss said the dark blue interior was too hot.
    My 03 is just a year old with 17k miles and not a problem yet !
  • sls002sls002 Member Posts: 2,788
    The base deville EPA MPG rating is 18 city 26 highway. The DTS (with 300 hp engine and 3.71:1 axle ratio) is rated 17/24. But what you get depends on your driving habits. My seville on a recent long trip cruising at 70 MPH or less got 29 MPG for the trip.

    Some people here are having complaints about the cruise control. My seville has been trouble free thus far. One thing to watch out for are coolant leaks. They should be repaired quickly or bad problems may develope. If you keep an eye on the coolant level, you should be able to spot a water pump failure before it happens.
  • alston28alston28 Member Posts: 98
    I'm considering getting a Cadillac Deville. A friend mentioned that he thought some had reported problems with the Northstar engine. In checking this site I saw some discussion of an oil-burning problem, but otherwise all seem to have only glowing complements for the Northstar. I have a 1987 Buick Park Avenue, and I've been very happy with the fuel injected 6. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. Thanks.
  • walterm3walterm3 Member Posts: 8
    Alston28

    I bought a new 2000 DTS and experienced 1 qt/2000 miles oil burning during breakin - which was up to 15000 miles. Have been using synthetic 0W-30 and now use less than a quart in 5000 miles. Have 50000 miles on the DTS (all highway) and it is AWESOME> Only engine problems have been crankshaft sensor went out at 5000 miles and replaced under warranty. Service manager said they had some bad ones that were showing up in the 2000 model but I haven't heard of the problem in later model years.
  • walterm3walterm3 Member Posts: 8
    Alston28
     My 2000 DTS developed a "cold carbon knock" - loud clicking at cold startup much like a noisy lifter - which service manager said was caused by deposits from mid or premium fuel. This was at 35000 miles They ingested a GM product through the throttle body which corrected the problem under warranty. I was told to use regular or midgrade fuel and every 1500 or 2000 miles give it a good dose of Techron through the fuel tank.
  • bolivarbolivar Member Posts: 2,316
    Also give all Northstars a few doses of Wide Open Throttle every week or so. This is the best solution for the 'carbon knock' and also will cure a lot of the high oil consumption problems.

    Run it to redline in the first 2 gears. This will break up carbon, and freeup the rings. Carboned up rings is the cause of the oil consumption.

    Other than the dozens of problems that can occur with the complicated electronics on such a car, the main other problem is blowing a head gasket. If there is a loss of coolant, with no external leakage, (or of course running hot), the Northstar may have a leaking head gasket. It does not leak into the oil, it goes into the cylinder and is burned out. If this happens, you have a multi-thousand dollar repair. The motor must be pulled. When the heads are removed, the headbolts will strip in the alumium block. The bolt holes will all have to be redrilled and retapped and a special insert screwed in. Big money. Some dealerships don't even want to do this job. It will be from $2,500 to $5,000 or whatever they think you may pay. I've read of headgaskets going on less than 50,000 miles. When 100,000 miles come up, this can turn a Cadillac worth a few thousand dollars into something not worth rebuilding.....
  • sls002sls002 Member Posts: 2,788
    Someone I know had the water pump fail on a 99. The engine overheated which was his first clue that something was wrong. It was the water pump. But a year later the engine called for more coolant. Then, after a bit longer, it wanted more coolant again. At this point the service department realized that something was wrong. A head gasket was leaking. They took the engine apart, but were not able to put it back together because they could not get the bolts to seat. I don't know if a head was warped or what. They replaced the engine.

    If he had paid attention to the coolant level, he would probably have noticed the water pump beginning to fail, and perhaps everthing else would not have happened. But, a new northstar is now about $5000, so the cost of replacement is not too bad.
  • boomer1bboomer1b Member Posts: 316
    The thread holes in the N-star block strip out easily and are a nightmare. They have been using "timeserts" in the blocks to be able to put the bolts back in.
    A fella over at cadillac forums had a heck of a time with his.................
  • ken1967ken1967 Member Posts: 6
    I have put new plugs, wires, cap and rotor and also getting a code 41 which is camshaft position sensor. I replaced it and the code comes back and there is no change. Any ideas would be appreciated.
  • bolivarbolivar Member Posts: 2,316
    The failed water pump, and running somewhat hot probably had little to do with the gasket failing later. A Northstar can be run very hot a short distance. It shuts down 4 of the cylinders, then switches to the other 4 to run in a hot, limp home mode. It is supposed to be rated to run 50 miles at 50 mph or less in this mode. I would not do it to my car, unless the devil himself was chasing me. I would have it towed.

    And the heads usually don't warp. The shop people were stupid in not knowing the head bolts have to be timeserted if the heads are removed.

    And, yes, water pumps fail a lot. A Cadillac dealer will definitely have one in stock and can very quickly change it out, since they see a lot of this.
  • sls002sls002 Member Posts: 2,788
    Actually there are kits that allow replacement of the seal and other wear parts so some of the pump is reusable. I caught the water pump on my Aurora going (leaking) and brought it in for repair before it got bad. The 50 mile limitation is mainly that the oil is slowly turning to sludge.

    My friend had his 99 towed after it got hot rather than drive it in. It is hard to say if the brief overheating caused the problem, but most likly did make an existing head gasket problem worse. The shop people were able to get one head put in, but the other would not go. They were in contact with Cadillac and Cadillac paid for part of the out of warrenty engine to be replaced. I am quite sure that everything that could have been done to save the old engine, was done.
  • walterm3walterm3 Member Posts: 8
    Other than the obvious - leaking or high temp reading - are there any other aymptoms of a failing water pump on 2000 and later Northstars?
  • sls002sls002 Member Posts: 2,788
    My service manager said that the water pumps sometimes fail at 25000 miles, while others last for 100,000 miles or more. My Aurora's pump failed at 50000+. Apart from noticing that the pump is leaking, which is not really easy, but you may notice coolant on your garage floor, the best thing to do is keep an eye on the coolant level in the reservoir. If you are in the habit of checking the oil weekly, its easy to just look at the coolant level in the reservoir with a cold engine. If it suddenly is lower, then there is a leak.
  • dispencer1dispencer1 Member Posts: 489
    I had the same problem -sometimes it "catches" on set and sometimes it doesn't. The resume seems to work ok but I don't like the "pedal to the floor" acceleration to get back to the right speed. None of my other GM cars ever did that. When I get frustrated with it, I just switch the cruise button off, then on again and hit the "set". It seems to work properly then. None of my GM cars are much better. I guess cruise with all its problems is better than no cruise at all.
  • bolivarbolivar Member Posts: 2,316
    Like most water pumps, the 'failure' is a leak.

    Watch for coolant at the left front of the car. Which is the left rear portion of the motor. The pump is on the rear of the motor, driven by it's own little belt off the left cam.
  • keng1keng1 Member Posts: 3
    My 2004 has tire pressure monitors on each wheel. My dealer tells me that they must be reset with a "special" tool each time the tires are rotated. There is a charge for this service. Does anybody know if I can do this re-setting myself
  • bolivarbolivar Member Posts: 2,316
    They use a U shaped or round magnet that is placed over the valve stem.

    You might try any strong magnet you can get ahold of and run it around the stem.....
  • bremertongbremertong Member Posts: 436
    I also own a 2004 De Ville. The owners manual said the the monitors needed re setting after tire rotation. I had the tires rotated and the monitors seemed to reset themselves. It may be that the owners manual was not updated for the 2004 model and that re setting was required for earlier models. I suggest you have them rotated when your ready and see what happens. You might use a manual pressure gauge to see if monitor report is the same as your manual pressure gauge. Best wishes.
  • keng1keng1 Member Posts: 3
    My tire monitors were not reading correctly. My dealer said that they could correct them but I should also rotate the tires at the same time. Total cost $25. ($15 for resetting the monitors)
    In the future I would like to get my tires rotated at a tire store (free) and avoid the extra charge.
  • nelson1nelson1 Member Posts: 41
    Today, I bought a used 2004 DeVille. It has a little less than 15,000 miles on it. I believe this is the finest driving, and riding automobile that I have ever been in. I love it. I do have a question. The info center tells me to check the air pressure in the tires. I checked all 4 tires, and they all have 30 PSI, which is what is called for. Can anyone tell me why this is?
  • bolivarbolivar Member Posts: 2,316
    Did you read the previous messages?

    You have the error probably because the tires were rotated and the sensors need to be reset.
  • nelson1nelson1 Member Posts: 41
    Yes, I read the previous messages. It does not seem reasonable to me to have to go to the dealer to have tires rotated and the monitors reset. I was hopeful that someone had a solution to that. I have my tires rotated and balanced at a tire store, in about 30 minutes, while I wait. I don't relish the idea of taking it to the dealer to have that done, pay more money, and wait half a day for it to be done. I am interested to a solution to this little problem.
  • bolivarbolivar Member Posts: 2,316
    So tell Cadillac they are being unreasonable.

    And, I previously said you could get your own strong magnet and wave it around the tire stems, which is how they are re-set.

    The only thing, when the message about doing this was posted (maybe in another Cadillac forum), I think they said there was a certain sequence (LF, RR, etc)the resetting had to be done. And I don't remember what that was....
  • boomer1bboomer1b Member Posts: 316
    Any cure for your cruise? Mine is the same.....

    BTW: What procedures and parts did they use ?
  • bremertongbremertong Member Posts: 436
    No solution yet, I received a call from a customer service person at the local dealership today asking me to bring the car back for a fourth try.
    They want the Cadillac specialist to look it over this time. I am doubtful that they will find the problem in that it is intermittent and not constant although the car ALWAYS loses at least 1 mile an hour and as many as 7 miles an hour after the cruise set green light comes on.
    I can live with it if I have to but with the new
    Chrysler 300C, Cadillac better watch out in that one reason one buys Cadillac is for build quality. Having a defect is one thing but with Cadillac unable to resolve after three visits my patience is wearing thin. I owned a 1997 Chrysler LHS for three years and never had any problems with it. No question the De Ville is a finer, better made car than the LHS but for me the reliability in the LHS was better because of this problem not being resolved. Needless to say I wouldn't want to get into a race with a 300C
    (340 horsepower vs 275 for De Ville). Given the price of the 300C vs the De Ville, Cadillac better hope that there are few situations like mine or they may see a fall in future sales to the competition.
    Thanks very much for you continuing interest, I will keep all posted if and when this is resolved and what the problem was in the Cruise system.
  • boomer1bboomer1b Member Posts: 316
    I hear ya. The 300 is having teething probs. as well.
    But I figure the cruise control "glitch" is something I can live with. As long as I get my 5-6 yrs./100k+ miles like my other Caddies and that is my only problem besides a few cheap oil changes, 1 tune up, a brake job or 2 and a set of tires.
      I will be satisfied...................
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,147
    is ugly. Anybody noticed the resemblance from the
    rear to the new Malibu??? I saw that at night traveling behind a 300.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • sls002sls002 Member Posts: 2,788
    A specialist seems like real progress to me. I hope that you will get to explain the problem to him. I would expect that he will want to drive the car long enough to experience the problem. Although they may have some idea of what to do next. My guess is that there is some problem with the wiring.

    One MPH off of what you were trying to set is not bad. My car is sometime right on, and sometimes 1 too fast or too slow. In my case it is because I have not stabilized my cruising speed. I just hit the set when I am near the right speed and then adjust up/down as needed.
  • boomer1bboomer1b Member Posts: 316
    I was at the big luxo car dealer on Rt. 73 in Palmyra NJ. The front of a new RR looks just like a 300...........

    Will be heading back from Poughkeepsie NY to Syracuse this Sunday hauling 1000 lbs. of Magic Salt, 2 fellas, and our gear and that cruise won't vary 1 mph. either way on my Chevy truck !

    Sure it will be hunting gears at 70 mph and getting 10 mpg.

    The Deville would just loaf along getting 25 mpg. plus.....Minus the salt of course..........LOL
  • boomer1bboomer1b Member Posts: 316
    Pried the keys away from the boss today to take "her" car on a 200 round trip highway to finish details on closing our summer hotel for the winter.

    Set cruise at 70 and it rarely varied 1 mph either way..................

    I set the cruise buttons carefully and held the gas pedal steady when setting the cruise.

    Brem........Maybe its just US !!!! Not the car...LOL................
  • bremertongbremertong Member Posts: 436
    Thanks Boomer, I would like to think your right. The question is that neither my 98 De Ville
    or any other car I have owned have done this. I have tried several variations of using this cruise system but have been unable to figure out what the problem is, failures are intermittent and unexpected. The car always loses 1 too 2 miles an hour after cruise light goes on. I could live with that but for some reason it sometimes loses as much as 7 miles an hour after cruise set light comes on. This can be a hazard
    if someone comes up too close behind.
  • dhs1dhs1 Member Posts: 6
    I recently had an idea to upgrade my current Bose radio/CD/cassette in my 2001 DHS to the Navigation System and saw a Cadillac Navigation (DVD) unit from a 2002 Deville advertised on eBay with the note that the seller also wanted to do the same thing but was reselling the unit when he was told by several "sources" the unit was incompatible with the 2001 Deville. Has anyone out there tried this and can confirm that this is true and you can't do it? I wanted to replace the radio with an up to date version of the Navigation System.
  • boomer1bboomer1b Member Posts: 316
    Hey All.....Am in NJ right now with my truck and crew.
    Local giant used Caddy dealer in Palmyra NJ has a used CTS-V advertised................

    Gonna go down for a test drive...maybe a overnite in that bad boy ! Gonna take my aunt with me and tell the salesman its my wife and SHE needs to make sure SHE can drive it ok................LOL !!!!!!!!
  • jhavignjhavign Member Posts: 20
    Does anyone know if the deville will be getting a style update, like the CTS and STS?
  • sls002sls002 Member Posts: 2,788
    The 2006 Deville is supposed to be a major restyle. It will remain a FWD though.
  • 59cadillac59cadillac Member Posts: 5
    I have a noise coming from where the trans connects to the engine. unknown if its a bearing going bad or torque converter loose. does anyone know anyone who had the same problem? dealer believes its a bearing but i think otherwise. and its not the water pump.
  • boomer1bboomer1b Member Posts: 316
    Lets have some Caddy Posts...........

    03 Deville 17k miles here.
  • bremertongbremertong Member Posts: 436
    I was thinking the same thing! Seems the site has been very quiet lately. Still trying to figure out the cruise control problem I mentioned in earlier posts. Has been to the dealer three times and they want it a fourth (2004 De Ville 19,000 Miles). Have been living with the variation of desired speed and actual after hitting the set button ( varies 1 to 7 mph). Since the variation is mostly one or two have been holding off on more time spent at the dealer. Other than that the car is very fine, runs more quietly than the 98 De Ville and has some nice updated features. I have however been watching the Chrysler 300C with interest. The price and the power are quite something. I owned a 97 Chrysler LHS before my 98 De Ville. Have some of you here driven the 300C? If so how does the car compare in power, quietness and in general with De Ville? I generally hold my cars about three years which means I would be in the market to replace my present car in the spring of 2007. By that time we will have a much better idea of how the 300C has worked in reliability, pricing and performance.
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