1998 Cadillac Catera - Page 8 - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

Hi,
it is possible to open most hood release mechanisms from underneath the vehicle. Having the vehicle on a set of axle stand will give you room to manipulate the tools used. Ensure that you block the rear wheels of the vehicle and apply the hand / parking brake with trans in Park.Ensure that the vehicle is safe before you go under it. Do NOT lift and leave it sitting on any type of jacking device. You will need a decent flashlight to clearly see the latch assy.

The difficult part of the exercise is utilising a simple tool to move the locking latch horizontally. If the male part of the lock has a slot in the bottom, using a strong screwdriver it may be possible to unscrew the male part and the hood may be opened.

A sound udea is to spray the complete lock assy with penetrating fluid / before you start the project. Again, do it from underneath the vech and ensure you wear protective clothing etc, because the fluid will drip down onto you.

Take your time, study the area of the latch assy which you can see, and then formulate a plan. Remember, it is very easy to make an error in which way the locking latch actually operates, and you may find yourself fighting it instead of releasing it.

Good luck.

A clicking noise means that you have a weak battery because if your dash light do not come on then you have a short which is drawing off of your batter power. And this is why sometimes it will not start. You are actually recharging the battery as your drive. Am I making this clear to you? The dash lights have to be doing this. To prove my point take out the fuse for your dash lights and see if it keeps doing it. If not then it has to be that and if so then it could be something else but I doubt it. I hope you can get this fixed cheap cause el;electrical problem can cost a lot of labor tracking down and thanks for using FixYa.

Problem with actuator motor on the blend door inside the heater case. It could be a wiring issue from the programmer to the actuator, but most likely a faulty actuator motor.

Hello! It is extremely important that you only use Dex-Cool in your Cadillac's cooling system...It is Orange in color...If you have used another coolant or the block has not been flushed in some time, flushing is needed...

Drain the cooling system...Do not remove the thermostat...Fill radiator with drinkable water...Turn heat on full...Run engine until thermostat opens...Shut down, let cool then drain...Do this several times until water comes out clean...Replace thermostat...Replace O-rings on thermostat pipe...Coat thermostat bolts with Permatex...Re-fill with Dex-Cool...

Here is Vacuum Diagram...



Guru.Saailer I’m happy to help further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/david_6df67de3b14de867

window motor bad.

It's when the security light starts flashing that the infamous "chip" in the key becomes a nightmare to many. Gradually the car begins not cranking anymore or if it cranks it would start and die in a second. Randomly it will do this more and more often until it won't start anymore. VATS, PASSkey and Passlock immobilizer systems are killing cars all over North America, they have a short lifespan and are certainly more effective against owners than thieves. Here is how you save your car
1st trick, (if not starting) turn the key forward 2 clicks till right before it would normally start, leave like that for 10 minutes. ( no less ) After 10 minutes, turn key back then forward and your car might start. I did this in my regal for more than a year. If its shuting down while running, im sorry i have no quick fix...

Cheap fix: Bypass the chip in your key. Temporary, but effective. Until the TDM (theft deterrent module) in the dash poops out, then you're kinda screwed. I was told that these types of key security systems have a 7-10 year life span. Sucks for us. This link explains the "Key Issue" pretty well.
----- http://vats.likeabigdog.com/


Never worry again fix: Bypass the whole VATS/Passlock/passkey I or passkey II system entirely. Literally take it out, and throw it away. I just did this in my Regal. Took about an hour. Took longer to find the thing than it did to fix the problem. For a list of cars effected by this problem. See the NEWROCKIES link on the right side of their page......... They sell a unit for 200 bucks to totally bypass this system FOREVER. life time-money back and all that. Finally did this in my car. Well worth the 200 if you've looked into getting this replaced... Anywhere from 600-1000 bucks.
----- http://newrockies.ca?ap_id=judd0081
----- With this fix, you can take that whole Vats, passlock, passkey **** system out of your car all together. Good info on both sites

Hello: TC Means traction control. It would be best to check for symptom codes with a upscale scanner to find out what is causing the code. Make sure there isn't a switch to turn the TC system off. Check above the center console on the center dash panel for the switch, may have TC on it.

Call A local locksmith and ask him if he thinks it is in theft mode and if he can reset it and his price.

It's most likely the control head for the HVAC system. Cadillac had a TSB on these in the early models where the display would fail. They are available through salvage yards and on eBay. Also be sure to check your related fuses. Good luck.

If the system you bought is marked BOSE, it does not have any onboard amplifier power. The only powered radios for the Catera are units which only have AM/FM/Tape, all the CD units are Bose systems which used separate amps mounted on a tray in the trunk.

You need to get a new O2 sensor. You can change it yourself. Make sure engine is cold so you don't get burned. Unplug old sensor and unscrew. Install new sensor and plug in. You might need to get the code reset.

the 3.0 engine in that car has a few heater hose on this side if the engine. fill with water then pressure test to pinpoint leak.

I am now guessing the plastic handle has broken from the cable. If you get a pair of vise grips, and tighten them on the cable(real tight), you can pull the vise grips and the hood release should pop open. I can tell you now, the replacement part is a dealer item only. With a little patience, and time, you can replace it.

while trying to use the lever on the inside, have a helper try and pull up on the hood at the same time. ( might need to push down and then pull up on hood while pulling lever ).

c...

ur hood latch is bent down,to fix it pull up on the latch.

Hello seajazzrose: My name is Roger and I will answer your question. The Catera is german built and is a rear drive vehicle. Does not have a front final drive transmission. Should you need further help please just ask. Please rate the answer. Thank You for using Fix Ya. Roger

304 is misfire on cylinder #4. #4 is the middle cylinder on the driver's side.
The other 2 relate to the crankshaft sensor:

P0335 Crankshaft position (CKP) sensor -

possible causes: circuit malfunction Wiring, CKP sensor, ECM

P0336 Crankshaft position (CKP) sensor - range/performance problem
possible causes: insecure sensor/rotor, air gap, wiring, CKP sensor

Is the car running? If yes, check for a loose connector on the crank sensor. You may need to take the connector off and see if there is any corrosion on the terminals. If yes, do your best to clean with a small screwdriver and/or electrical parts cleaner.

From what I can tell, the sensor is on the bottom of the engine near the idler arm, but it has a long pigtail such that the connector is on top of the engine by the fuel rail. See pictures below.

for the misfire,

Please see my tip at http://www.fixya.com/cars/r6715318-causes_gasoline_engine_misfires . These are generic instructions. If you get stuck or need specific instructions for your car, please get back to me with model, year and engine info.

check your oil also see if it looks muddy or like cholic milk....you might have a blowen head gasket, cracked or warped head....

Does the cruise work? is the check engine light off when driving? Does the overdrive off light come on and go out as you push the button on the gearshift? Does the speedometer work normally? Any of these things can make it not go into high gear. Does the gearshft work smoothly and seem to be in the correct gear? Are the motormounts good enought that the engine doesn't rock around too much and pull on the cable? Their's a few electrical connectors connected to the transmission, are they connected and not leaking oil and worn or damaged. Most of the time this problem can be solved by carefully looking over these things and you'll find some asquew. If not and the check engine light or overdrive off light is'nt on the there's transmission troble and you need to show up for your free roadtest at a transmission shop and listen to what they have to say. If it sounds reasonable and straight forward do it it it sounds like thier guessing take it somewhere else. Your Cadillac dealer will be right but they may build up a strong bill before they fix the car. and want still more to do the repairs.

COULD BE FAULTY WINDOW SWITCH OR DOOR WINDOW GLASS BINDING DUE TO LOOSE OR DAMAGE WORN GLASS REGULATOR.