Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

driver100

Here is one article I found on Google related to stalling Cadillacs and other GM cars:

STALLING ISSUES FOR GM CARS

This recall from Oct 2014 only affected 117000 cars, GM said that was just 1% of it's cars, so wasn't a big deal! IT WOULD BE A BIG DEAL IF MY CAR WAS AFFECTED.

It seems odd that the 2014 CTS has this exact problem and the dealer hasn't even considered it;

stalling issues.

General Motors issued a recall order for 117,651 vehicles in North America for the repair of a defect in the chassis control module of the vehicles. The defect, if left unrepaired, could lead to electrical shortage that can cause the engine of the vehicle to stall.

While General Motors said that the issue may happen in only about 1 percent of the cars that are included in the recall order, the company is being extra cautious. General Motors also sent out a stop-delivery notice to car dealers that are selling the 2013 and 2014 models of the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, the Cadillac CTS, the Escalade and Escalade SUV and the GMC Yukon

Maybe the dealer didn't get the recall notice OR didn't read their emails!

stever

Car guys? Doesn't sound like the CR-V needs to be in this poster's mix.

GTI, CR-V, or BMW3?

Mr_Shiftright

@ GG: Sounds like what's going on here is that the dealer can't replace a part without a reason (code), because if he does the factory won't pay him for it, or for the diagnostic time chasing a ghost. So yeah, you are the ball in the dealer-factory volleyball game. The dealer-factory relationship is sometimes highly adversarial. So maybe the only way to get this moving is a "factory over-ride" of warranty rules, and ask a factory tech to examine the car at least--with or without codes. If you emphasize that these are safety issues, that might help.

graphicguy

I knew I could depend on the sleiths here. Driver...thanks for that reference on stalling. IF Cadillac ever calls me back, like they promised, I'll bring it up to them.

Shifty...that sounds plausible. These are indeed safety issues. However, as much ballyhoo GM has made about transparency, looks like they've reverted back to their old ways....ignore, deny, minimize, reject, etc all problems.

This shouldn't take an act of Congress to get resolved. Is it me? Do I expect too much?

Funny thing is, the third dealer I took it to told me I should open a case with Cadillac Customer Service (which I did). So, you're probably right. The dealer isn't going to dig into this without some support from Cadillac corporate. Personally, I think that should be their job, not mine....getting Cadillac to cover their diagnosis time.

Given the run around I'm getting, I'm now past the point of tollerating any more denials or wasting my time.

I actually had one of the Cadillac Customer Service reps tell me on the phone...."WHAT DO YOU EXPECT US TO DO?". Seriously? You ask me that question? Isn't it obvious? Fix the damned thing.

If/when they contact me as they said they would, I'm telling them...one shot to fix the car. If it's not fixed, Lemon Law ensues. It's a hassle. But, I'll be damned if I'm going to go through this on a $60,000 car (or even a $30,000 car for that matter).

graphicguy

More ranting (so be patient with me). Appreciate the thought of getting the C Class, but my wife was more enamored with it than I was. Very nice cars and from the reports here, they are reliable and the dealers are great. But, I haven't even remotely approached what I'd do next.

The GoPro....another good idea. But, I don't feel like spending $200 for a camera to prove I'm right. Reminds me of an old WHO song...

"I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven"

Why does Cadillac try to make me feel like I'm being unrealistic?

AB...I haven't been over on the Ccadillac forums for awhile. I'll go take a gander. Thanks!

Interesting about the stalling recall. Nowhere in that article does it say the cars "show a code" when it happens. I'll print that out and take it to the dealer.

bwia

graphicguy said:

BTW....here's the difference between my BMW experiences and my Cadillac experiences.

My last BMW (335ix coupe) came with a cradle that fit in the console between the front seats. It held the iPhone and supposedly charged it and boosted the phone's antenna power....allegedly.

I had an iPhone 4 then and plugged it into this cradle. Well, I had been driving all day and making/receiving phone calls via the BMW's blue tooth. Everything was fine until after a few hours of driving, the iDrive showed the phone's battery depleted. Strange, it's supposed to be charging.

Open up the console to remover the phone and it's literally too hot to touch. I get home, park the car and turn it off for a couple of hours. Come back to it and the phone, while still quite warm, has cooled off enough to remove.

I take it to the Apple store and they tell me it suffered from some sort of voltage incompatibility...that it got so hot that even the SIM card melted. $700 later, I have a new phone from Apple.

Next day I go to BMW and tell them what happened. I show them the receipt and explain what happened. Not only did they give me $700 on the spot for a new phone, but they also give me another $400 for the cradle which was an option that came with the car. No "ifs, ands or buts".

Another time there was mark on the BMW leather where I got in and out, where my leather belt kept rubbing on the seat back. Did they say it was my fault? No! That it was "wear and tear"? No! They just replaced the seat no questions asked.

Cadillac? Let's see ho far we can string our customer along, deny there is an issue. Then fail to fix the care and pretend like nothing's wrong. This is 3 different dealers that have done this. So, this is Cadillac that's doing this.

fezo

Hate to sat it but that's why my last GM car was in the mid-seventies. I don't take the "well, every manufacturer has issues" approach. Let's look at how dominate those issues are and how corporate addresses them. So far Ford and VW are on my they'd have to prove themselves list from personal experience. GM is there from what seems to be a pretty widespread attitude on defective cars.

I dealer and a manufacturer should be embarrassed to have an issue like GG's and bend over backwards to find the problem. It strikes me as a problem that's been building forever. We don't have mechanics anymore. We have computer technicians.

abacomike

graphicguy said:

More ranting (so be patient with me). Appreciate the thought of getting the C Class, but my wife was more enamored with it than I was. Very nice cars and from the reports here, they are reliable and the dealers are great. But, I haven't even remotely approached what I'd do next.

The GoPro....another good idea. But, I don't feel like spending $200 for a camera to prove I'm right. Reminds me of an old WHO song...

"I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven"

Why does Cadillac try to make me feel like I'm being unrealistic?

AB...I haven't been over on the Ccadillac forums for awhile. I'll go take a gander. Thanks!

Interesting about the stalling recall. Nowhere in that article does it say the cars "show a code" when it happens. I'll print that out and take it to the dealer.

GG, I went over and spoke at length with my friend who works for our local Cadillac Dealership. He said that the vibrating and chugging and feedback you are receiving from the steering and/or front end would not cause a "code" in the car's computer, necessarily. If ball joints, tie rods, shocks or the entire suspension is the problem, no codes would appear.

As for the stalling, a code should have come up. But I read one of your posts showing that there is supposedly a recall for the stalling - which my friend was unaware of. He drives the same type of car you do and has not experienced the problems you are experiencing, but his is a 2015 - I don't know if that makes a difference.

He suggested getting in touch with the district service manager that oversees your dealership. You can get his name from your service manager, the GM or owner of the dealership, etc., or even from Cadillac Consumer Affairs. He said that you want to speak with someone who oversees multitudes of dealership service departments because if there is anything suspicious happening with that model, he would be the one to know.

My friend said that it would appear your service manager, the GM and the owner have washed their hands of you at this point - so that is why he suggested moving up the ladder. He told me at his dealership, if the service manager had a customer who was experiencing the problems you are experiencing, they would have immediately taken you out of your car, put you in a loaner, and had the shop foreman go over it with a fine-tooth comb until they had isolated the problem(s). He is going to check with his service manager to find out if there is anything else that comes to mind about your symptoms and problems. I'll pass them on if I hear anything more.

graphicguy

fezo said:

Hate to sat it but that's why my last GM car was in the mid-seventies. I don't take the "well, every manufacturer has issues" approach. Let's look at how dominate those issues are and how corporate addresses them. So far Ford and VW are on my they'd have to prove themselves list from personal experience. GM is there from what seems to be a pretty widespread attitude on defective cars.

I dealer and a manufacturer should be embarrassed to have an issue like GG's and bend over backwards to find the problem. It strikes me as a problem that's been building forever. We don't have mechanics anymore. We have computer technicians.

Fezo..some companies get it...customer service (BMW? Mercedes?). Some companies don't (GM).

This is the sort of thing they said they would do once the tax payers bailed them out. Looks like the lesson was short lived.

I mean, how much money do you have to spend on a car to get decent customer service? If Cadillac would tell me what that magic number is to get good customer service, as least I'll know for future reference.

bwia

bwia said:

graphicguy said:

BTW....here's the difference between my BMW experiences and my Cadillac experiences.

Cadillac? Let's see ho far we can string our customer along, deny there is an issue. Then fail to fix the care and pretend like nothing's wrong. This is 3 different dealers that have done this. So, this is Cadillac that's doing this.

Oops! sorry about the previous non-post. I could not get the page to refresh on my daughter's new fangled laptop/tablet combo running on Windows 8.1.

GG, sounds like GM has dropped ball--again. In such situations you should have received an OnStar message both on the DIC and by email. Nonetheless, I recommend that you call OnStar and have them run a remote diagnostic test, and perhaps detect something that the inept dealer technicians can't.

My experience with my Buick Lacrosse CXS has been overwhelmingly positive. Even when I was not aware I had a problem, OnStar would send diagnostic reports to me and my servicing dealer. In the first instance the dealer said they could not find any reportable conditions but when the car was hooked up for a remote diagnosis with the GM tech center in Detroit (?), they found and corrected the problem, which turned out to be a faulty articulating HID headlight.

If all else fails, time to look at [...name your favorite foreign brand]

abacomike

graphicguy said:

fezo said:

Hate to sat it but that's why my last GM car was in the mid-seventies. I don't take the "well, every manufacturer has issues" approach. Let's look at how dominate those issues are and how corporate addresses them. So far Ford and VW are on my they'd have to prove themselves list from personal experience. GM is there from what seems to be a pretty widespread attitude on defective cars.

I dealer and a manufacturer should be embarrassed to have an issue like GG's and bend over backwards to find the problem. It strikes me as a problem that's been building forever. We don't have mechanics anymore. We have computer technicians.

Fezo..some companies get it...customer service (BMW? Mercedes?). Some companies don't (GM).

This is the sort of thing they said they would do once the tax payers bailed them out. Looks like the lesson was short lived.

I mean, how much money do you have to spend on a car to get decent customer service? If Cadillac would tell me what that magic number is to get good customer service, as least I'll know for future reference.

GG, that's what this forum and other forums are all about - they give you (us) an opportunity to vent our outstanding experiences as well as our frustrations with our cars/SUV's/trucks. That's what is so great about the forums here on Edmunds. So rant all you want - we are supportive of your position and if we can provide any help, that's what we're here for!

graphicguy

bwia said:

bwia said:

graphicguy said:

BTW....here's the difference between my BMW experiences and my Cadillac experiences.

Cadillac? Let's see ho far we can string our customer along, deny there is an issue. Then fail to fix the care and pretend like nothing's wrong. This is 3 different dealers that have done this. So, this is Cadillac that's doing this.

Oops! sorry about the previous non-post. I could not get the page to refresh on my daughter's new fangled laptop/tablet combo running on Windows 8.1.

GG, sounds like GM has dropped ball--again. In such situations you should have received an OnStar message both on the DIC and by email. Nonetheless, I recommend that you call OnStar and have them run a remote diagnostic test, and perhaps detect something that the inept dealer technicians can't.

My experience with my Buick Lacrosse CXS has been overwhelmingly positive. Even when I was not aware I had a problem, OnStar would send diagnostic reports to me and my servicing dealer. In the first instance the dealer said they could not find any reportable conditions but when the car was hooked up for a remote diagnosis with the GM tech center in Detroit (?), they found and corrected the problem, which turned out to be a faulty articulating HID headlight.

If all else fails, time to look at [...name your favorite foreign brand]

bwia...I get a diagnostics report on my iPhone via Oh Star actually. It shows everything is "fine".

I get what GM and Cadillac are trying to do. Make diagnosing the car's health (or lack thereof) as simple as plugging it in and having the remedy spit out the other end. Eazy-peezy. Clearly, where it falls way short is in its execution.

As I think back, the only cars I've ever had issues with were Cadillacs and Audi. BMW (x3-3 Series), Acura X3-TLs), Honda (X2-Accords), Ford, Hyundai (son's), Toyota (4Runner), none of those had prolbems. Both Cadillacs (Mother's STS and my CTS) have been troubled.

That breeds a level of distrust that is hard for me to oevercome.

stickguy

There is a reason some people refuse to go near some brands. Get burned enough times will do it.

stever

fezo said:

We don't have mechanics anymore. We have computer technicians.

And it starts at the top. Just has to finish working its way down from design/engineering one of these years decades.

GM Builds Upon IT Transformation With New Investments (WSJ)

Remember EDS? GM owned them for ~12 years and still does a lot of business with them. Lot of that effort is in customer acquisition stuff, but on the engineering side someday that Caddy will attempt to self repair the glitch and if that fails, it'll drive itself to the shop.

roadburner

This whole "We can't fix it until it throws a code." nonsense is the logical outcome of training so-called "technicians" to simply replace parts instead of properly investigating and diagnosing a problem.
As for "It's normal, they all do that," Cadillac stole a page from BMW tech training in the '80s- before Lexus forced Munich to take customer service seriously.

dino001

It's just like anywhere else. Computers, all modern aides are great help, but can't replace actual knowledge of physics, mechanics, or any other governing principles. This pertains to engineers designing a structure, machine, process, bankers calculating a loan risk, or mechanics diagnosing a vehicle. Yet, their employers quickly learn that in majority of the situations, the computer can "do it all", so why pay for a competent personel, or labor backchecking that computer. This attitude is everywhere, unfortunately. Don't learn what's behind, just learn how to launch and use the program. So the technician, engineer, loan officer, doctor has become an equipment operator with a blindfold.

fezo

For the level of expertise these folks expect from they guy that throws on the part that the computer tells him to they could use a trained monkey. If dogs had opposable thumbs they could do it.

I've repeated many times my dissatisfaction with Ford and VW corporate and have seen nothing in all my years here to alter that opinion.

I had very positive experience with Honda. It's like they're embarrassed to make a mistake and they don't make many (this isn't counting whoever thought the Crosstour was a good idea). I'm not so thrilled with Toyota though the only issue is one that was part of a recall that they're not calling a recall on the 07 Camry that my oldest daughter usually drives. Loads of 07 Camrys with 4 cyl develop oil consumption problems. Ours certainly has. They informed us of it, had the dealer do a test and confirmed ours was one of them, but the dealer says Toyota hasn't sent them the fix yet, let alone the parts. Suspect they're waiting for us to go away which won't happen.

Michelle is doing better today and will follow up with her primary doctor and an orthopedist. The car is still quite driveable as long as you don't mind no lights on the left rear.

stever

dino001 said:

It's just like anywhere else. Computers, all modern aides are great help, but can't replace actual knowledge

Nothing is sacred though. (WSJ).

driver100

GG, Just something to throw in for what it's worth, maybe not much, but here goes;

My own philosophy is not to wait for a phone call. I think it is time to be proactive. You can call customer service back and try to find out why it took more than a day to get back when they said they'd get back right away.

In the meantime, call other dealers and see if their service department knows about the stalling problem.

The guy Mike mentioned is worth a try........a higher up would be worth trying to get a hold of...I'd call Mary Berra and ask her what's going on with all her promises. Send an email if you can find an address or even a letter to Mary's attention....only use hand written envelope though.

If none of this actually helps, at least doing these things will relieve some tension.

I see on their website you can call, chat write or email. At the top it says "Your complete satisfaction is important to us, and we're here to help. Please select your preferred contact choice below" I guess those are just words...............................................

explorerx4

Wife decided house needs upgrades. Ordered new kitchen suite today(LG from Lowes). Have a proposal in hand for new kitchen/pantry countertops. As soon as we decide which decking material we are going with, will be getting a formal proposal for a new deck off the second floor family room. Already have 2 other deck proposals.
Nothing left for a new car.

driver100

explorerx4 said:

Wife decided house needs upgrades. Ordered new kitchen suite today(LG from Lowes). Have a proposal in hand for new kitchen/pantry countertops. As soon as we decide which decking material we are going with, will be getting a formal proposal for a new deck off the second floor family room. Already have 2 other deck proposals.
Nothing left for a new car.

Geez explorer....get your priorities straight. We need more car fodder, not more appliance fodder.

qbrozen

fezo said:

Hate to sat it but that's why my last GM car was in the mid-seventies.

This got me thinking about something I hadn't thought of before: Out of my 40-car history, the CTS is my first GM car! Wow. My parents had several when I was growing up, but I never had one of my own till now.

suydam

The Buick Encore is my first. My son has had used Buicks that held up amazingly well so I am hopeful.

explorerx4

@diver100, I did buy an Escape in January, so I did my part for 2015.
Plus there are the counter tops and decking materials to discuss.

driver100

explorerx4 said:

@diver100, I did buy an Escape in January, so I did my part for 2015.
Plus there are the counter tops and decking materials to discuss.

OK, you get a pass.

driver100

suydam said:

The Buick Encore is my first. My son has had used Buicks that held up amazingly well so I am hopeful.

Buick has been extremely reliable lately....................but, then, so has Cadillac!

stickguy

Thinking back, I think my first car (67 Camaro) was only registered GM. Had a 70 nova briefly but never plated. But hat was 35 years ago! I have actually had more AMC. Than GM!

nyccarguy

explorerx4 said:

@diver100, I did buy an Escape in January, so I did my part for 2015.
Plus there are the counter tops and decking materials to discuss.

We are renovating the kitchen this summer as well. We decided to go with Granite Countertops. The quartz counter tops are nice too, but my contractor said they do burn if you put something hot on it for too long. Marble countertops are gorgeous, but they do stain easier.

A new deck is on our "to do" list (we also need a new driveway, have to have the exterior repainted, hard wood floor re-stained, take the kids to Disney... The current one is too small for our family of 5. The PO had just 3 in his family, so he put up a small Trex Deck. I think I'd go with wood when I redo it.

fezo

You gave him a pass for counter tops and decking? Now if it had been vacuum cleaners or dishwashers that might be different.

Verizon Wireless must be the most incompetent people selling cell phones. All I wanted to do is replace phones. No contract. Once they threw in all that went with a contract I was "no, thanks, we'll pay retail for the phones." That went down with a couple of excruciating visits where this young lady could spout meaningless gibberish at you faster thank I've ever heard. Everything about monthly bill. Nothing about what the cost ends up being. Finally on the next trip we say just sell us the phone. They don't have it.

Get home and try to order them online but it keeps trying to put me into a plan. So I call. It was the most frustrating sales experience I think I've ever been through. Way worse than the CX5 salesman. An hour and a half on the phone and the order wasn't complete because they needed and "agree to the terms" checkoff, except there was no way to do that. Several calls later the guy says it went through - but I never did actually accept the terms. I'll know it worked if the phones show up Tuesday or Wednesday.

I'd go through all the details but once is enough.

On the better news side, my daughter is feeling better and seems to be recovering. I've got her going to her doctor and an orthopedist. She's going to be ok.

abacomike

@fezo:  Great news, fezo!  Cars can be replaced - daughters can't!!!  

stever

stickguy said:

I have actually had more AMC. Than GM!

Me too - the '74 CJ-5. After all the Buicks in the family growing up, I haven't made it back to "Body by Fisher" yet. May be a generation skipping thing. Two Dodges though, and half a Ford.

carnaught

fezo said:

Verizon Wireless must be the most incompetent people selling cell phones. All I wanted to do is replace phones. No contract. .

Try Best Buy??

fezo

Done now. Probably should have.

Can't believe I am saying that.

I did try Costco and they can't sell the phones without signing you into a plan.

roadburner

graphicguy said:

I knew I could depend on the sleiths here. Driver...thanks for that reference on stalling. IF Cadillac ever calls me back, like they promised, I'll bring it up to them.

Shifty...that sounds plausible. These are indeed safety issues. However, as much ballyhoo GM has made about transparency, looks like they've reverted back to their old ways....ignore, deny, minimize, reject, etc all problems.

This shouldn't take an act of Congress to get resolved. Is it me? Do I expect too much?

Funny thing is, the third dealer I took it to told me I should open a case with Cadillac Customer Service (which I did). So, you're probably right. The dealer isn't going to dig into this without some support from Cadillac corporate. Personally, I think that should be their job, not mine....getting Cadillac to cover their diagnosis time.

Given the run around I'm getting, I'm now past the point of tollerating any more denials or wasting my time.

I actually had one of the Cadillac Customer Service reps tell me on the phone...."WHAT DO YOU EXPECT US TO DO?". Seriously? You ask me that question? Isn't it obvious? Fix the damned thing.

If/when they contact me as they said they would, I'm telling them...one shot to fix the car. If it's not fixed, Lemon Law ensues. It's a hassle. But, I'll be damned if I'm going to go through this on a $60,000 car (or even a $30,000 car for that matter).

Methinks I've mentioned this story before: a friend of mine got the runaround from his Cadillac dealer; they wanted a couple of hundred dollars to diagnose and repair a problem with a remote key fob on his wife's CTS- and he would have to leave the car there all day. He drove over to a Chevy dealer(where he knew the service manager) and in less than 45 minutes the problem was resolved- for less than $30.

driver100

fezo said:

You gave him a pass for counter tops and decking? Now if it had been vacuum cleaners or dishwashers that might be different.

Have we discussed shampoos ever before?

Your experience at the phone store was amusing. Some salespeople don't know when to stop talking. First, they should try to find out what YOU are looking for. Another rule of sales is, once you have sold the item then shut up. Some sales are lost as the salesperson adds another comment, and it was the wrong thing to say.

I also find some sales people talk to much. Most people are in a hurry these days and don't want or need extra conversation. Also, I just saw, goldfish now have a longer attention span than humans. Humans used to be 12 seconds, but because of technology our attention span is 8 seconds, golfish is 9 seconds, mine is 4 seconds - I am ahead of my time and I don't use technology.

Glad to hear your daughter is going to be alright.

driver100

roadburner said:

graphicguy said:

I knew I could depend on the sleiths here. Driver...thanks for that reference on stalling. IF Cadillac ever calls me back, like they promised, I'll bring it up to them.

Shifty...that sounds plausible. These are indeed safety issues. However, as much ballyhoo GM has made about transparency, looks like they've reverted back to their old ways....ignore, deny, minimize, reject, etc all problems.

This shouldn't take an act of Congress to get resolved. Is it me? Do I expect too much?

Funny thing is, the third dealer I took it to told me I should open a case with Cadillac Customer Service (which I did). So, you're probably right. The dealer isn't going to dig into this without some support from Cadillac corporate. Personally, I think that should be their job, not mine....getting Cadillac to cover their diagnosis time.

Given the run around I'm getting, I'm now past the point of tollerating any more denials or wasting my time.

I actually had one of the Cadillac Customer Service reps tell me on the phone...."WHAT DO YOU EXPECT US TO DO?". Seriously? You ask me that question? Isn't it obvious? Fix the damned thing.

If/when they contact me as they said they would, I'm telling them...one shot to fix the car. If it's not fixed, Lemon Law ensues. It's a hassle. But, I'll be damned if I'm going to go through this on a $60,000 car (or even a $30,000 car for that matter).

Methinks I've mentioned this story before: a friend of mine got the runaround from his Cadillac dealer; they wanted a couple of hundred dollars to diagnose and repair a problem with a remote key fob on his wife's CTS- and he would have to leave the car there all day. He drove over to a Chevy dealer(where he knew the service manager) and in less than 45 minutes the problem was resolved- for less than $30.

Maybe GG should check with a Chevy dealer. Many Chevs had the same stalling problem, and they probably have dealt with way more complaints with this issue than a Cadillac dealer.

ab348

@fezo - must be a thing with telcos. Last year when I retired the office said I could keep the iPhone they gave me, just had to pay for the plan myself. So I went into one of their retail storefronts, no can do there. They give me a number, so I called the telco to change the billing and adjust the plan to a less comprehensive one. No can do there either. I can keep the expensive plan they had on the phone when I was working and they can change that over to me no problem, but they can't do a change to the plan for 3 months minimum. Finally it took the rep my work used (who apparently has some clout) to get it switched, and even he had some issues getting it done. Ridiculous.

fezo

Funny new discovery on the 5 that I hadn't noticed - the gas cap is on the wrong side, that is the passenger side. Likely made primarily for the Japanese market as the CX5 and 6 had it on the driver's side. This may be the first car I'be had like this.

Hardly earthshattering.

abacomike

fezo said:

Funny new discovery on the 5 that I hadn't noticed - the gas cap is on the wrong side, that is the passenger side. Likely made primarily for the Japanese market as the CX5 and 6 had it on the driver's side. This may be the first car I'be had like this. Hardly earthshattering.

Funny, fezo, I can't remember the last car I had where the gas tank filler door was on the driver's side.  I prefer it on the passenger side, to be honest.

graphicguy

Just came back from my every Sunday Costco run. Power steering went out for about 10 minutes (on the interstate no less). I could steer but it I had to muscle it....unnerving and probably not safe..especially if it happened while I was doing evasive maneuvers. Was in Costco for about an hour and everything was fine when I started it up again.

Wonder if there is any code for that?

driver100

fezo said:

Funny new discovery on the 5 that I hadn't noticed - the gas cap is on the wrong side, that is the passenger side. Likely made primarily for the Japanese market as the CX5 and 6 had it on the driver's side. This may be the first car I'be had like this.

Hardly earthshattering.

Fezo, I read up on this topic before and there are a few reasons why gas cap fillers can be on either side.

Once an MB salesman said MBs and most European cars have them on the right, so if you run out of gas you will be filling it up with a can - on the right side, or shoulder of the road.

Then I read it depends on what side the manufacturer puts the exhaust pipe and other things.

The best answer seems to be a combination of the last one, plus, they make them at random on either side so that when you go to fill up some cars will go to the left of the pumps and some to the right.

I don't think I found a difinitive answer though.........

driver100

graphicguy said:

Just came back from my every Sunday Costco run. Power steering went out for about 10 minutes (on the interstate no less). I could steer but it I had to muscle it....unnerving and probably not safe..especially if it happened if I was relying on it foe evasive maneuvers. Was in Costco for about an hour and everything was fine.

Wonder if there is any code for that?

GG, a code for power steering going out while on the way to Costco on a Sunday? No, we don't have a code for that, car must be fine.

I would tell your dealer you will be sending a letter to your lawyer and to the Highway Safety Guys and you will be sueing their butts off if anything happens while driving the car.

suydam

The Encore gas cap is on the passenger side. First for me in a long time. 

abacomike

graphicguy said:

Just came back from my every Sunday Costco run. Power steering went out for about 10 minutes (on the interstate no less). I could steer but it I had to muscle it....unnerving and probably not safe..especially if it happened while I was doing evasive maneuvers. Was in Costco for about an hour and everything was fine when I started it up again. Wonder if there is any code for that?

GG, you should pull your car into the dealer's service department perpendicular to the drive in lanes.  Get out of your car - dangle the keys at the service manager - and then throw the keys at him and warn him that unless the car gets fixed properly, it can sit on your lot for years, if necessary.  Then call CADILLAC CONSUMER AFFAIRS and inform them that the car is in the service department and will stay there until properly diagnosed and repaired.

NOW I AM GETTING ANGRY!  You should not be driving that CTS - it's a serious safety issue now!  

stever

Back when we had two cars, naturally the gas caps were on opposite sides. Most cars have a little triangle or fuel pump symbol near the fuel gauge and now I'm conditioned to double-check that on the way to the pump.

Sounds like a good poll question.

robr2

driver100 said:

fezo said:

Funny new discovery on the 5 that I hadn't noticed - the gas cap is on the wrong side, that is the passenger side. Likely made primarily for the Japanese market as the CX5 and 6 had it on the driver's side. This may be the first car I'be had like this.

Hardly earthshattering.

Fezo, I read up on this topic before and there are a few reasons why gas cap fillers can be on either side.

Once an MB salesman said MBs and most European cars have them on the right, so if you run out of gas you will be filling it up with a can - on the right side, or shoulder of the road.

Then I read it depends on what side the manufacturer puts the exhaust pipe and other things.

The best answer seems to be a combination of the last one, plus, they make them at random on either side so that when you go to fill up some cars will go to the left of the pumps and some to the right.

I don't think I found a difinitive answer though.........

What happens if you have an MB with RHD drive in England? Then you are filling up on the street side.

The real answer is that the fuel cap is placed on the side that is closet to the gas tank. Fuel tank placement is based on where it will fit in the overall design and engineering of the car. The tank may not be in the middle of the car and if it is, there might be something in the way on one side. There's a lot of stuff near that gas tank - sensors, filters, brake lines, exhaust pipes, et al and it all has to fit.

suydam

Gas caps for Asian makes I have had -- Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota-- are on the drivers side.

abacomike

I use "Gas-Buddy" to find the best prices on PUG in my immediate area.  The last few times I used the App, I went into the same gas station only to find out that the prices on the pump were 10 cents per gallon higher than the price shown in the App.  So I noticed the same gas station was shown to have a price 10 cents lower than other stations once again.  So I drive in and sure enough, the price was 10 cents more than shown on the App.  

I was talking to someone else as I was filling up and he said the owner of the station logs on with his user name to Gas-Buddy all the time and shows the price of his gas much lower than he actually charges per gallon.  So, that's the way he strums up business - not exactly on the up-and-up.

It isn't the end of the world because the price he ends up charging is the same as his competitors.  But what a nasty thing to do - it works, that's for sure.  His station is in an out of the way street in a small community.

So I am sending in a complaint to Gas Buddy so they can investigate.

stickguy

my Volvo has the filler on the passenger side. Occasionally I would forget (almost did it yesterday when I got gas down in NC before the trip back home). The biggest issue with it? The attendant goes to the filler first, then comes to the passenger side window not the drivers!

yes, that matters to me, since NJ is full serve only.

fezo

Just had that experience today at Costco.

Was easier when the filler was under the tail fin....