1999 CADILLAC CATERA Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

I PURCHASED A 99 CATERA ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND SENSE THEN THIS CAR IS A CARDBOARD BOX ON WHEELS. THE ALARM SYSTEM AS GONE LOOPY IN THE SENSE THAT I COULDN'T START MY VEHICLE UNLESS I CRANKED IT ONCE LEFT IT FOR 15-30 MIN AND THEN CRANKED IT AGAIN. AFTER DISABLING THE ALARM SYSTEM IT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN ON OCCASION. THE AC/HEATER WENT OUT DUE TO THE COMPRESSOR HAVING TO MUCH COMPRESSION. THE SUNROOF OPENS AND CLOSES BY ITSELF OR NOT AT ALL. THE VACUUM HOSES HAD HOLES IN IT WHICH WAS A RECALL BUT NOT TO KEN BATCHLEOR. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HS GONE OUT THREE TIMES AND COSTS 300 TO REPLACE EVERYTIME. MY UPPER RADIATOR HOSE LEAKS CONTINUOUSLY BY THE CLAMP. THE LEVELING LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR DAYS AT A TIME. THE ARM THAT KEEPS MY DRIVERS DOOR OPEN BROKE THROUGH THE DOOR WELDINGS AND IS DANGLING IN THE DOOR. THE SEALS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WATER IN THE ENGINE. I PAID MORE IN REPAIRS FOR THIS VEHICLE THEN WHAT IT ORIGINALLY COST. THE DRIVERS FRONT AND REAR WINDOW GETS STUCK AND OPENS BY THEIR SELVES. THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT LOCK FULLY OR OPEN FULLY. THE HORN WILL GO OUT ALL TOGETHER IN THE RAIN. EVERYTIME I TAKE IT IN THEY CAN NEVER READ ANY ERR CODES AND IT TAKES ME SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO EXPLAIN THE ISSUE CAUSING ME TO GET REPAIRS THAT AREN'T PART OF THE MAIN PROBLEM. THERE IS NO CAMBER ADJUSTMENTS IN THIS CAR SO IF U HIT A CURB YOUR SCREWED. GAS FULL STOP RANDOMLY DOES NOT WORK AND CAUSES LOSS OF MONEY AND GAS. ME AND MY FAMILY OF 5 HAVE BEEN STRANDED FOR HOURS DUE TO MANY ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AND HERE IN TEXAS WITH A CAR THAT HAS NO AC OR HEATER IS A MAJOR PAIN. ANYONE WHO HASN'T BOUGHT ONE... DON'T!!!! CADILLAC THEMSELVES TOOK THE DUCKS OFF THE EMBLEM AFTER 99 BECAUSE THEY THEMSELVES DIDN'T THINK OF THIS CAR AS A CADILLAC STANDARD CAR. WHEN I CALLED KEN BATCHLORE THEY STATED THERE WHERE ONLY TWO RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT HAD ALREADY EXPIRED AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I FEEL SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS IGNORANCE. PROBLEMS SINCE 06-PRESENT. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

1999 CADILLAC CATERA WITH 34,000 ORIGINAL MILES COMPLETLY FAILS ON THE HIGHWAY. YOU LOSE ENGINE, BRAKES AND STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 34,000

OUR 1999 CADILLAC CATERA ENGINE SHELLED OUT DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE SERPENTINE BEARING ASSEMBLY THAT GENERAL MOTORS ELECTED TO INSTALL ON THE 3.0 V-6 ENGINE FOR THIS CAR. GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE DEFECTIVE BEARINGS FREEZE UP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS,IT CAUSES A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE; HENCE RESULTING IN AN EXPENSIVE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. BECAUSE GM DOES NO LONGER MAKE THE 3.0 V-6 MOTOR FOR THIS CAR, YOU ARE STUCK WITH PURCHASING ONE USED FROM WHEREVER YOU CAN FIND ONE. MY USED ENGINE COST $3,460 TO REPLACE THE ONE THAT WAS IN MY VEHICLE. THE MILES ON THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR WAS STATED TO ME AS 39,000 + MILES. MY ORIGINAL MOTOR WENT OUT AT 116,000. IF NOT FOR THE TRACKING SYSTEM IN MY CAR, I WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE MERCY OF THE PUBLIC WHILE I WAS 230 MILES FROM HOME. THE ONLY CLUE THAT I HAD THAT SOMETHING WAS AMISS WAS FROM A FAINT OILY BURNT SMELL JUST PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY THE DEALER THAT WAS FROM THE BEARING SEIZURE AND THE SERPENTINE BELT. THE ENGINE HAD NO KNOWN PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE BREAKDOWN. *TR

Mileage: 116,000

ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON

Mileage: 101,946

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, THERE WAS A SUBTLE MUSTY OILY SMELL INSIDE THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, AND WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAULTY PULLEY TENSIONER IN THE CHARGING SYSTEM. THE PART WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE FINAL DETERMINATION FROM THE DEALER WAS THAT THE ENTIRE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.

Mileage: 118,000

ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED BECAUSE OF QUICK DRIVERS REACTION. URGENT ATTENTION REQUESTED. ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START UNTIL AFTER 10-15 MINUTES. *JB

Mileage: 86,900

CAR'S "CHECK ENGINE" AND TRANSMISSION DASH LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY STAY ON AND THE CAR WON'T START. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL START AND MOVE WITH THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT ON BUT THE CAR IS SLUGGISH. TWO OR THREE HOURS LATER THE CAR WILL START AND RUN FINE. THIS PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED A WEEK AFTER PURCHASE (SEP 2004) BUT THE DEALER COULDN'T IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. IT HAS GRADUALLY WORSENED, BUT NONE MORE THAN THIS EVENING WHEN MY FAMILY AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED! WE WERE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. NO ENGINE LIGHTS WERE ON. THE SPEEDOMETER ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT TO ZERO AND I LOST ALL POWER. AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER MISSED US BY INCHES AS I TRIED TO GET THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MY DAUGHTER SLAMMED HER HEAD AGAINST THE SIDE WINDOW. GM AND CADILLAC SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF PUTTING THIS PRODUCT OUT. THEY HAVE ALL BUT WASHED AND TURNED THEIR BACK ON CATERA OWNERS. I AM RETIRING FROM THE U.S. AIR FORCE IN TWO WEEKS AFTER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE. I GET CHILLS WHEN I THINK OF AMERICANS WHO DIED IN WARS AND CONTINGENCIES TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES LIKE THIS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE ISN'T ONE OFFICIAL RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS CAR FROM THE BEGINNING BUT NONE AS DANGEROUS AS THE CURRENT PROBLEM. I HAVE READ STORY AFTER STORY ON YOURS AND OTHER INTERNET SITES ABOUT THIS LEMON OF A CAR (1997 TO 2001). TOMORROW I WILL TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK TO BRING THIS CAR TO THE DEALER. EVERYTHING WILL BE BASED ON THEIR SCHEDULE AND I WILL HAVE TO FIND RIDES BACK AND FORTH (30 MINUTES FROM MY WORK AND 45 MINUTES FROM MY HOME). THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY DTC CODES AND I WILL PAY FOR THINGS THAT THEY THINK IS WRONG WITH IT. IRONICALLY, MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE A CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THEY DISAGREED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND DID NOT REPLACE IT. IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE SENSOR, BUT SOMEONE MUST BE RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR IDENTIFYING AND FIXING THIS COMMON CATERA PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!*JB

Mileage: 67,000

MY STOPPED WORKING I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID YOU NEED TO CALL THE DEALER AS SOON THE MECHANIC TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM THEY SAID IT WAS A RECALL ON THAT CAR I AM ANGRY BECAUSE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AND NOW MY ENGINE IS GONE AND THEY FIXED MY CAR THREE ARE FOUR TIMES HERE AND IN TEXAS AND NEVER BREATH A WORD ON THE RECALL I FEEL THEY SHOULD OFFER ME ANOTHER CAR AT THE SAME PURCHASE PRICE. *AK

MY STOPPED WORKING I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID YOU NEED TO CALL THE DEALER AS SOON THE MECHANIC TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM THEY SAID IT WAS A RECALL ON THAT CAR I AM ANGRY BECAUSE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AND NOW MY ENGINE IS GONE AND THEY FIXED MY CAR THREE ARE FOUR TIMES HERE AND IN TEXAS AND NEVER BREATH A WORD ON THE RECALL I FEEL THEY SHOULD OFFER ME ANOTHER CAR AT THE SAME PURCHASE PRICE. *AK

ENGINE OIL IS POURING INTO COOLANT. REPLACED ENGINE OIL COOLER-ENDED UP NOT BEING THE PROBLEM. SUNROOF WILL OPEN AND CLOSE BY ITSELF, AND WILL NOT WORK WHEN YOU TRY TO DO IT YOURSELF.*AK

I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE AT ENTERPRISE USED CAR SALES ON APRIL 30,2002. I WAS GUARANTEED A BUMBER-TO-BUMBER INSPECTION OF THE CAR AND WAS TO BE IN OPERATIONAL CONDITION. AFTER I LEFT THE LOT WITH THE CAR; I COULD ONLY GO APPROXIMATLY A 1/4 OF MILE BEFORE I NEEDED TO GET GAS IN THE CAR. THAT WAS THE BEGINING OF THE TROUBLE. SO FAR SINCE APRIL OF THIS YEAR I'VE HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE TIRES, BRAKES, AND OTHER REPAIRS THAT THANKFULLY WAS STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE TO THE DEALERSHIP. AS WE SPEAK THE CAR IS BEING REPAIRED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP HAD INFORMED ME THAT I HAVE THREE HOLES IN THE CAR THAT HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO OVERHEAT, PLUS OTHER PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAVE FOUND. WHEN IT RAINED THE CAR LEAKED INSIDE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE FORGOTEN TO ROLL UP A WINDOW. AFTER THE SECOND TIME I KNEW BETTER AND TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I FOUND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ENTERPRISE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT WHEN I EXPERINCED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE I WENT TO INVESTGATE. THE REASON THAT I'M CONTACTING YOU IS THAT AFTER TALKING TO A REPERSENATIVE OF ENTERPRISE, AND INFORMING HIM OF THE SAME INFORMATION THAT I HAVE JUST INFORMED YOU OF; I WAS TREATED AS IF I'M SOME KIND OF INEPT PERSON WHO COULD NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND THE SIMPLISTIC WORKINGS OF A VEHICLE SUCH AS FLAT TIRES WITH METAL THREADS SHOWING THROUGH, OR ABLE TO NOTICE THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD OR THE SOUNDS OF METAL RUBBING ON METAL. I WAS ASKED REPEATLY IF I KNEW FOR SURE THAT THE BRAKES WERE REALLY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED OR IF IT WAS SOME TYPE OF SCAM THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS TRYING TO GET EXTRA MONEY, OR IF I TOOK THE BRAKES HOME AS EVIDENCE. I DON'T KNOW OF TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO REQUEST THEIR OLD BRAKES FOR SOME TYPE OF EVIDENCE. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF THIS TYPE OF INTEROGATION I ENDED THE CONVERSATION REALIZING THAT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WAS GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THE SITUATION.

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SLOWING DOWN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE AN ERROR CODE.*AK THE DEALERSHIP WANTED THE CONSUMER TO INFORM THEM WHEN THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AGAIN. THEY WANTED HIM/HER TO LEAVE IT WHEREVER IT BROKE DOWN SO THEY COULD GET AND RESOLVE THE "ERROR CODE". ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CODE WAS DELETED. *PH *JB

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER INSPECTED, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

DEALER REPLACED CAMSHAFT AT VERY LOW MILEAGE. *AK

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED 5 TIMES, THE DEALER WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT FINDING THE CAUSE. *JB

AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, 30 DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE. CONSUMER PUT THE FIRE OUT AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE AGAIN A HALF MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. *JB

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 50MPH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING . PH

CONSUMER STATES IT'S HARD TO TAKE THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION AND START THE CAR AT TIMES.CONSUMER STATED IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES SHE WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM FIXED OR GET HER MONEY BACK. PH CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT TIMES.*JB

CONSUMER PUT KEY IN IGNITION AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUTDOWN TWICE WITHOUT ANY WARNING.CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE CAR STALLS OUT. *TT

VEHICLE STALLS FREQUENTLY AT SLOW SPEEDS, TAKEN TO DEALER 8-10 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK *YH

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING . DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE LEAKED OIL, CAUSING SPARKS WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE.*AK

ALL FOUR TIRES WERE SHOWING TREAD SEPARATION. METAL WAS SHOWING IN FRONT OF TIRES. ALSO, REAR TIRES WERE SHOWING WEAR AND TEAR ON INNER SIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK DEALER REPLACED TWO TIRES, HOWEVER WOULD NOT AND HASNOT REPLACED THE OTHER TWO, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT THE OTHER TWO TIRES BE REPLACED, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN. HOT WATER VALVE LEAKING COOLANT, DEALER REPLACED *SLC

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS CAUSING CONSUMER TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR. NLM

A BELT CAME OFF AND SOME SENSORS WENT BAD, CAUSING THE STEERING TO GO OUT, THE CONSUMER COASTED VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *SLC

A BELT CAME OFF AND SOME SENSORS WENT BAD, CAUSING THE STEERING TO GO OUT, THE CONSUMER COASTED VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *SLC

THE ENGINE VALVES KEEPS BREAKING. THE CD PLAYER KEEPS READING ERROR. THE RIGHT FRONT FOG LIGHT FELL OUT OF ITS SOCKET. THE STEERING WHEEL CAN NOT TURN RIGHT OR LEFT WITHOUT A STRUGGLE. NOT TO A DEALERSHIP.

REPEATED ENGINE STALL. EXHIBITED ONCE AT 70 MPH, TWICE AT LESS THAN 10. CAR WAS IN GEAR AND IN MOTION EACH TIME. DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER PER GM. CAR HAS STALLED ONCE SINCE DATE OF REPROGRAMMING. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS REAR DOORS WERE NOT FULLY CLOSED AT A TIME WHEN CHILDREN WERE REAR OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER PROVIDED NO INDICATION THAT THE DOORS WERE OPEN. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF THE DOORS BEING OPENED, THE DOORS ARE SUPPOSED TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ONCE THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, HOWEVER THE DOORS REMAIN OPEN AND UNLOCKED. CONSUMER HEARS A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE CENTER DASH. THE SUNROOF STAYS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND MAKES A LOUD CRACKING NOISE, IT'S TAKEN 3 TIMES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST DRIVEN, IT STICKS IN FIRST GEAR. THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO KEEP UNDER CONTROL ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO WANDER WHILE DRIVING. THE FRONT DOOR HANDLE STICKS, THE DEALER CAN NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THE ENGINE RACES WHILE COASTING DOWNHILL, THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. THE INTERIOR FLOODED, THE DEALER STATED THE THE HOOD DRAINS ARE CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS. *SLC

CAR STALLS OUT AND SHAKES. *AK

VEHICLE EXPEREINCED STALLING ON THE FREEWAY ON TWO OCCASIONS. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP FOR INSPECTION / REPAIRS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK