1997 CADILLAC CATERA Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

-MY 97 CADILAC CATERA STALLED 7/3/04 . -7/6/04 CALLED TRENOR MOTOR COMPANY (SPRINGFIELD, OH). SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO LOOK AT CAR. -7/7/04 IT APPEARED AS THOUGH A RECALL ON THE TENSIONER PULLEY HAD NOT BEEN DONE. PULLED RECORD ON CAR AND FOUND THAT THE RECALL INVOLVING THE TENSIONER PULLEY WORK WAS IN FACT ISSUED (AND PAID FOR) BY GENERAL MOTORS TO TRENOR.-7/17/04 DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER APPROVED TEAR DOWN TIME AT JEFF WYLER, SPRINGFIELD, OH, TO SEE FOR CERTAIN WHETHER THE RECALL HAD EVEN BEEN DONE WITH THE STIPULATION THAT IF THE RECALL HAD BEEN DONE (IMPLYING THAT THE NEW RECALL PULLEY HAD BEEN PUT ON BUT WENT BAD) GENERAL MOTORS WOULD "STAND BEHIND" PRODUCT, PAYING TOTAL REPAIR COSTS. IF PULLEY HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED, "STOP" AND SEND BACK TO THE DEALER THAT WAS PAID TO PERFORM RECALL-- NUMBER 02041A (WHICH WOULD BE TRENOR). -7/20/04 TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE MANAGER AT JEFF...

THIS CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 2/8/04 FOR RECALL 2041, 1037. TWO DAYS AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND IT WAS OVER ONE INCH BELOW FULL, HE ALSO CHECKED THE DRIVEWAY FOR ANY ANTIFREEZE AND CHECKED WHERE YOU PUT OIL IN THE ENGINE BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY SIGNS OF EXTERNAL LEAKS, BUT A WHITE MILKY SUBSTANCE UNDER THE OIL CAP. THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY SINCE. I EMAILED GM ABOUT THIS. THIS WAS THEIR RESPONSE! WE HAVE CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR DAN HEMM CADILLAC, MR. CHARLIE CAROLL. HE IS AWARE OF YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE COOLANT LEVEL FOR THE 1997 CADILLAC CATERA. HE IS WILLING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN. DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE CONCERN IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE...

AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE ACCELERATED. CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BUT THERE WAS NO REACTION. THEN, CONSUMER DOWN SHIFTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT ENGINE AND ACCELERATOR CONTROL SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

PROBLEMS GETTING 1997 CADILLAC CATERA ENGINE REPAIRED.*MR ON 08/01/03, VEHICLE STOPPED ON NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE ENGINE, BUT NEEDED A PART FROM AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. ON 08/04/03, CUSTOMER WAS INFORMED THE PART WAS RECALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER. THIS DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PARTS WERE MISSING/DAMAGED AND WOULD COST THE CONSUMER $100. DOLLARS TO REPAIR BEFORE RECALL COULD BE ADDRESSED. ON 08/06/03, CONSUMER VISITED DEALERSHIP AND SEEN PARTS IN THE TRUNK OFTHE VEHICLE. CONSUME AGREED ALL THE PARTS WERE THERE AND HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGED PARTS. AUGUST 14,2003, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED BUT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGED PARTS (VACUUM STORAGE TANK AND WIRE HARNESS COVER). AUGUST 18,2003 CONSUMER RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT ONE OF THE PARTS WERE ORDERED AND CALLED WEEKLY FOR PROGRESS. HE WAS THEN INFORMED THAT CADILLAC DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING...

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED SMOKING REALLY BAD. CONSUMER PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE THE ENGINE DIED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MECHANIC WHO IN TURN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE SENSOR WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL AND CAUSED THE HEAD GASKET TO BECOME DAMAGED. *PH

I PURCHASED A 1997 CADILLAC CATERA ON JAN 31, 2001 FROM UNITED AUTOMAX IN MEMPHIS, TN. FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE I HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. BEGINNING WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH TIRES WEARING OUT PREMATURELY, HEATER CORE REPLACED, ROTORS REPLACED AND WEARING OUT AGAIN WITHIN A YEAR'S TIME. FUSES HAVE BLOWN, RADIATOR FAN ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS. NUMEROUS RECALLS AND ETC. ON APRIL 14, 2003 I TOOK MY CAR TO BUD DAVIS CADILLAC IN MEMPHIS AND REPORTED THAT I COULD SMELL OIL BURNING. THEY STATED THAT I NEEDED VALVE COVERS RESEALED AND TO REPLACE REAR MAIN SEAL. (THE WORK WAS DONE THRU MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY). I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT END. THEY IN RETURN REPLACED RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP...

THEIR ARE TO MANY PROBLEMS AND TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP TO LIST!!! I EXPERIENCED FOUR RECALLS AT ONCE ON JULY 25TH, 2002. THE TECHNICIANS ARE OBVIOUSLY INCOMPENTENT OR HAVE NO CLUE HOW TO FIX THIS VEHICLE CORRECTLY IN THE FIRST PLACE. I CALLED THE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER GIVEN RUN AROUND. I SUFFERED A CATROSTROFIC ENGINE FAILURE AS A RESULT OF LOW COOLANT IN MY ENGINE WHEN FAILURES OCCURRED. LETTERS FROM GM STATE VEHICLES CAN SUFFER ENGINE DAMAGED OR ENGINE FAILURE AND THAT THEY WILL COVER THE LOSSES AND AT NO COST TO ME. I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE COST, TOTAL $1,700.71 FOR THE ENGINE COOLER TO BE REPLACED!! GM REFUSES TO COVER THE ENGINE COOLER DAMAGE!! CAR STILL IS NOT RUNNING RIGHT AND ENGINE SOUNDS HORRIBLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER GETS ON THE PHONE AND STARTS YELLING AT ME BECAUSE I HAVE A FILED A LOCAL LAWSUIT AGAINST THE...

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO BOTH TENSION BEARINGS AND TIMING BELT FAILURE, CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. *YH

TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER,AND INFORMED THAT THE CONDITION BLEW THE ENGINE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED CAR FELT FUNNY. AS CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES ALL POWER WAS GONE, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER SAFELY AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED. DEALER FOUND TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE CAUSING THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO BLOW. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO MAKE NECESSARY REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THE TIMING BELT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE CHANGE FOR 100,000 MILES OR 96 MONTHS.

VEHICLE STALLED AT 35-40 MPH AND WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATED TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN, CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE IS STILL AT DEALERSHIP, CADILLAC HAS NO ENGINE FOR THIS VEHICLE. ENGINE FOR THIS VEHICLE WAS DISCONTINUED, AND THE NEW ONES WILL NOT FIT VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ENGINE STALLED. DEALER DETERMINED THAT TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN AND DAMAGED ENGINE. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK WHEN THE TIMING BELT BROKE, THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT ENGINE HAD STOP RUNNING EEXCEPT THAT THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. APPLYING BRAKES BECAME VERY HARD TO ACCOMPLISH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND RESTART. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JG

FIRST OF ALL THE CATERA IS A BAD CAR AND IS UNSAFE . WE HAVE PUT THIS CAR IN THE SHOP OVER 7 TIMES. WE HAVE REASON TO BELIVE THAT THE ODOMETER HAVE BEEN ROLLED BACK. ON JUNE 9 01 THE CAR HAD 56615 ON A ORDER REPAIR BUT WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR ON JULY 3 01 THE ODOMETER HAD 56512 HOW IS POSSIBLE.SINCE THEN THE MILES HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE .IT SHOWS THAT ON ONE ORDER REPAIR THAT I DROVE THIS CAR 56512 - 58101 JULY 3 - JULY 11 01.THATS 1589 MILES IN10 DAYS IN WHICH I TOOK NO MAJOR TRIPS. MY WIFE DROVE BACK IN FOUTH TO WORK.ON THE 12 OF JULY WE HAD THE TIMING BELT CHANGED WHICH BROKE ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER ON 8/11/01.KEEP IN MIND WE JUST GOT THE CAR OUT OF THE SHOP ON 7/18/01 ODOMETER READ 61095 WHICH MEANS WE DROVE THE...

TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BREAK DOWN. DEALER REPAIRED, AND CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN. CONSUMER INFORMED THAT DEALER WILL NOT GIVE HER COPY OF SERVICE INVOICE. VERY DANGEROUS FOR CONSUMER TO TRAVEL WITH REPEATED BREAKDOWNS. CONSUMER RECEIVED A CAMPAIGN LETTER ON 06/2002 WITH REGARD TO PROBLEM. COOLANT LEAKS, THE COOLANT LIGHT IS ON AND THE ENGINE IS SLUGGISH AFTER TENSIONER WAS REPLACED. *TT

ENGINE FAILED GOING ABOUY 70 MILES AN HOUR TIMING BELT BROKE, CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM CAR REPAIRED BUT STILL HAS PROBLEMS, DEALER CAUSED ADDITONAL PROBLEMS WHEN MAKING REPAIR BROKE BOLT IN ENGINE COST TO REPAIR 800 DEALER REFUSE TO REPAIR OIL LEAK ON VALVE COVER GASKET AGAIN DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR ALL THOUGH COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. CADILLAC REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEMS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND ON CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE CAR WAS OUT FOR 5 WEEKS AT DEALER, CAR HAS SEVERE VIBRATIONS WHEN IDLED DUE TO REPAIR NEW DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE PROBLEM OR MAKE REPAIR, HEADLAMPS ALSO FAILED AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES REPLACEMENT COST $1,000 TO MANY PROBLEMS TO LIST

ENGINE STALLED AT 5 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER DETERMINED TIMING BELT PULLEY HAD SEIZED.*AK

FAULTY TIMING BELT CAUSED MASSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER ON THE ROAD. *JG

ENGINE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO A BAD TIMING BELT TENSIONER THAT CAUSED TIMING BELT TO COME OFF CAUSING THE CAR TO SUDDENLY STOP IN THE LEFT LANE ON I-75 GOING GOING 75 MPH. THE RESULTS OF THIS WAS BENT INTAKE VALVES, THEREFORE MAKING THE HEADS NOT REPLACEABLE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I'VE ALSO HAVE FOUND OUT THAT CADILLAC IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECASUE THAY NOW HAVE A KIT TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT IF THEY KNEW THAY HAD A PROBLEM WHAY DIDN'T THEY ISSUE A RECALL. GOING 75 MILES PER HOUR AND SUDDENLY LOSING ALL POWER ON A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. MY FATHER AND I WERE VERY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE HAD A SERIOUS WRECK IN THE LEFT LANE. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST CADILLAC ON THIS ISSUE. THE COST OF THIS FAULTY PART...

WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN ON INTERSTATE 24 ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE CAR FELT FUNNY. PROCEEDED TO GET BACK INTO RIGHT LANE JUST AS I LOST ALL POWER. WAS ABLE TO GET ON THE SHOULDER SAFELY. HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED 45 MILES AWAY TO A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $12,000. THEY TOLD ME THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE AND CAUSED THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO BLOW. THE SERVICE ADVISOR ALSO TOLD ME THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS TO CADILLAC FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE CATERA. CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS REFUSED TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS THE TIMING BELT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE CHANGED FOR 100,000 MILES OR 96 MOS WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD! IF I HAD BEEN GOING DOWN THIS MOUNTAIN INSTEAD OF UP THERE...

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DRIVER LOST POWER OF ENGINE, MAKING IT HARD TO BRAKES AND STEER VEHICLE. DRIVER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAD FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CURRENTLY CADILLAC HAS NO PUBLISHED INFORMATION REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIMING BELT FOR THIS VEHICLE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IN SPEAKING WITH VARIOUS DEALER ACROSS TEXAS, THAT THE CATERA HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING FAILURE TO THE TENSIONER. WHEN THE TENSIONER BREAKS, THE TIMING BELT THEN EITHER BREAKS AS WELL OR FALLS OFF, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SUFFER SEVER DAMAGE. I AM CURRENTLY TAKING UP THE ISSUE WITH CADILLAC BECAUSE THE PRICE QUOTED TO ME BY THE DEALER FAR EXCEEDS THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ISSUE OR CAN LEND ANY ASSISTANCE PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING HEARD NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. SOON AFTER ,ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. TECHNICIAN STATED THAT TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S TIMING BELT TENSIONER ASSEMBLY EXPLODED. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STOP IN THE FAST LANE OF A FIVELANE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL ARE AWARE THAT THIS EVENT HAS HAPPENED TO NUMEROUS CATERA MODELS! CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSES TO ASSIST CUSTOMER IN MAKING EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD TO ALL CATERA OWNERS! PLEASE HELP CADILLAC DO THE RIGHT THING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED! *AK

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 60MPH WHEN FUNNY TICKING NOISE OCCURRED AND ENGINE STOPPED AND DID NOT RESPOND. BROUGHT IT TO DEALER TO FIND OUT THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE / PULLEY FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE TO BE TOTALLED. *AK

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE 75,000 MILE CHECK UP AND ADVISED DEALERSHIP I WAS HEARING A NOISE. THEY ADVISED CAR WAS FINE. I PAID $200 FOR THE WORK. THE NEXT WEEK THE CAR WAS MAKING THE SAME NOISE, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE BELT TENSIONER. I PAID $280 TO HAVE THAT FIXED. THE VERY NEXT WEEK, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HOV LANE TO TAKE MY BABY TO DAYCARE, THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AND WENT DEAD WHILE I WAS GOING 65MPH. THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE AND TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY THEN ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE RUINING THE ENTIRE ENGINE AT THE COST OF $8000. I THEN BEGAN DOING RESEARCH AND FOUND 6 OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE ON MSN CARPOINT AND ABOUT 3 ON THE NHTSA SITE. I BELIEVE GM WAS AWARE OF THE...

DEFECTIVE PULLEYS CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO COME OFF ITS TRACK. BENT VALVES DO NOT ALLOW PROPER COMPRESSION TO GIVE THE VEHICLE POWER SO IT WILL NOT START OR RUN. VISUAL SIGNS OF WEAR ON THE PULLEYS SHOW APPARENTLY BAD CRAFTMANSHIP.*AK

TENSIONER PULLEY FAILED @ 65MPH ON EXPRESSWAY. WHEN TENSIONER PULLEY LET GO PROCEEDED TO BEND VALVES; DAMAGE AND BREAK PISTONS CAUSING ONE PISTON TO BECOME IMBEDDED IN THE ENGINE HEAD. ENGINE IS A LOSS. NEW ENGINE COST 9500. WE BEGAN TO COAST IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC IN THE SPEED LANE POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. FORNATELY THERE WAS NONE. CONTACTED DEALER. NO RESPONSE NO RETURN PHONE CALLS. CONTACTED CADILLAC CUST SERV. THEY SAID COULD NOT ASSIST ME THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THE TIMING SERVICED @ 60K MILES PER MANUAL. WE NEVER RECIEVED A MANUAL WITH CAR.ONE WAS REQUESTED FROM CADILLAC CUST SERV WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. IT WAS NEVER RECIEVED. NO NOTICE FOR SERVICE WAS SENT.*AK

AFTER TIMING BELT WENT BAD VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

TIMING BELT BOLTS HAVE WORN OUT PREMATURELY. *AK A NEW TENSIONER WAS INSALLED, HOWEVER THE RESULTS ARE STILL THE SAME. *SLC

CAR WAS MAKING A GRINDING SOUND UNDER HOOD. WAS TOLD TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WAS ALMOST BROKEN. DLR REPLACED TENSIONER, TIMING CHAIN, AND IDLER PULLEY. CAR HAS HAD 6 ALIGNMENTS SINCE 10/13/00. CAR STILL PULLS TO LEFT AND WEARS OUT TIRES PREMATURELY. CAR HAS 47,000 MILES ON ITAND HAS 3RD SET OF TIRES ON IT. CAR HAD A OIL LEAK ON VALVE COVER GASKETS. DLR REPAIRED AND REPLACED. CAR HESITATES AND SURGES FORWARD. DLR HAS NOT FOUND PROBLEM. CAR HAS ABNORMAL SHIFT PATTERNS. SOMETIMES SHIFT DOWN TO A LOWER GEAR CAUSING CAR TO LOSE POWER AND SPEED, THEN SHIFTS BACK TO OVERDRIVE WITHOUT DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR. DLR HAS NOT FOUND A PROBLEM. THERE IS A SOUND FROM REAR OF CAR. SOUNDS LIKE BAD SHOCKS. DLR REPLACED FRAME SUPPORT BUSHINGS AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. NOISE STILL THERE. THERE ARE TOO MANY PROBLEMS TO REPORT HERE. CAR HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND HAS BEEN TO...

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CRANKSHAFT/PULLEY CAME OFF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER.AUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BATTERY REPLACEMENT 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE; TENSIONER PULLEY DISINTEGRATED; FOG LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE

WHILE PARKING THE PULLEY ON THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK