Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
The CATERA is not a happy camper in the states. It's a great car in GERMANY where it is known as the OPEL OMEGA, but it just seems to not like American life.
The Tranny is actually slipping, THAN the light comes on. The light does not cause a slip, it's the other way around. This is a problem that has been reported off and on. Some have said that by having the tranny fluid pumped out and replenished, it corrects any tranny issues.
My 98 will redline on first gear when it's cold. I have been told that changing the fluid will correct this, but there is no light coming on so I'm not going to worry about it. As the tranny in these cars are sealed, working on them is a pain AND will cost a fortune! As all the parts are German, they come from an importer in BANGOR MAINE and man are they expensive.
I would get this car into your Caddi dealer QUICK. From my experience, if you let it go, a host of other things will go wrong. My 98 now has 104k and it is needing repair ALL THE TIME at a minimum of $500.00 a visit! Remember, owning a Caddi is a luxury, not a right...
Best of luck,
Joe Aschwanden
1978 Coupe De Vile
1990 Eldorado Biarritz
1998 Catera
I took it to get replaced well the tech did not reconnect my hoses and BOOM engine out I have tried for the past year to find an engine or see if someone would buy it off me and people just laugh the funny thing is I see them all over the place out there.I loved the car but it cost me a fortune to mess with and I dont have the luxuary to fix it
it has 101000 leasther in great cond.carpet in great cond.
what I want to know is if I can put a 2000 engine in it or is it even worth fixing. Please give me some advice :confuse:
Under new car warranty,our 2001 was towed twice out of our garage. They gave me a $50 deductable two year warranty for free. That was a year ago...so far,nothing has happened. I've decided to at least keep it while it's got one more year of extended warranty.....But the problems I read of are beyond belief!
But still, I love mine-it drives great!
course, went over the car in detail and is well versed in
German machinery having serviced VW's most of his working
career. In the time I have owned it nary a problem has cropped up. He did itemize his service efforts and from this list I have to assume people in this forum are over-
looking " regular maintenance ". The V6 installed in the
car is potent in the German version but de-tuned in the
N/A copy, and as such timing belts, ignition timing and
verility of spark have to be spot on. The Coil pack goes,
given where it is located. Timing belt at 100k mi. is a must these days and fuel filters for sure. Heat is definately a issue in these cars since German engineers like to heat 'em quick, so make sure the rad is transferring all the heat and degrease the engine regularly. The only faults I can find are: the memory
programming is quirky at times ( mirrors and seat pos.)
and the tolerance on the door hinges is so tight that its
hard to lube them. Hence I have one sloppy door. Also the
factory CD changer should be more ubiquitous. By all means
rave on but N A cars are worse when neglected only thing
is that replacement parts are more obtainable.
Feel free to comment on my comments. nogm4me
I have heard so many stories about the Catera being a money pit as it ages, but ours only has 34,000 miles on it.
I'll try it for at least another year or so..
What is the highest milage 2001 on this board?
Thanx, Rick
1: car leaks water when it rains on right passenger side , driver door broke, will not stay open. Car also smokes periodically, smells like oil.
2. Heater Valve part 90566947 replaced 63K miles due to coolant leak ($300)
3. timing belt tension pulley broke off few months later ($400, car had to be towed to firestone)
4. 78K need to replace UPPER/LOWER intake manifold gaskets coolant as a result of coolant leak AGAIN!! (close to $800) Also told heater valve needs to be replaced a year after 2nd one put in due to leak.
***I have all left over pieces of old gaskets and reciepts for all work done in case claims can be filed. I'm soo upset about this I can't even begin to explain. I've had the car two years and did everything possible to ensure this car wasn't a LEMON but it is..and still owe $6, 000 on it.
Randy
Thanks
Marvin
Thank you
Thanks for any advice.
About the Catera shutting off and sport mode flashing - I was having the same problems last December with my 00. It ended up being the Crankshaft Posistion Sensor. I took it to the caddy dealer to get this fixed but I forget the cost. I think it was around $300. Any dealer who is familiar with Catera should recognize this right away. Before I took it to the dealership, I had my local mechanic look at it. He thought it was something with the security system on the car. Im glad I decided to take it to the dealership.
sensor, hose and now head gasket. I am disabled and now need $2000.00 for repair that I don't have and stillowe on car.
I think this will be my last american made car.
Disgusted
hose and got car back. Smell of smoke and smoke seem under hood. Mechanic said today head gasket blown $1700.00 and I still owe on car. Never will I buy amother american car. Have you heard of any recalls on catera. I fisrt replaced timing chain kit $1500.00 :sick:
for head gasket job.
I replaced my 97 motor with a 2000 motor over the weekend. Hooked everything back up, fired her up and now shes smoking from the exhaust. smells like coolant... is there a real easy way to check for a head gasket leak? and has anyone had problems with heads cracking. unfortunately I did not inspect the heads when I was swapping motors (oops) my car has been down for almost 5 years now. I finaly got around to doing the work on it and I really want this baby back on the road. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Brian