Transmission issues on a 1996 cadillac Eldorado ETC

Started by minniewinnie, September 25, 2010, 12:12:23 PM

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minniewinnie

Just got back from NAMCO and is now a little bit more clued up
Right ho It is apparently changing through the gears ok BUT when it shifts into O/D (4th) there is nothing there and just reves its little socks off there is no codes for the gearbox so he has said he is 99.9% sure its mechanical rather than electrical

Just spoke with the auto gear box specialist in Luton ( http://www.automaticgearbox.biz/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.automaticgearbox.biz/ ) and got a price for a rebuild £1844.75 all inclusive and 7-10 working day turnaround with a 12 month unlimited warranty on that one... so all i have to do now is decide on if its worth going cap in hand to my dad/boss to ask for a loan to get it fixed and then either keep it, sell it for top price or sell it as is for £1000 to we buy any car or try to trade it in against this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190434698287&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT<img\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190434698287&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT <img 90% of me wants to keep the caddy but the other 10% is asking what is next

v8mad0

If its changing between 1,2 and 3 OK what's stopping you driving around in them gears? Keep the gear lever in 3 and not drive

I Know you wont be able to do more than say 60 but would than not work???

minniewinnie

Quoting: v8mad0
If its changing between 1,2 and 3 OK what's stopping you driving around in them gears? Keep the gear lever in 3 and not drive


Its seems to be pulling around 4000 rpm at 40mph so I think it might be more to the problem than appears but I'm going to drain all the oil as it is burnt a bit and try new filters first I might be lucky but not going to hold my breath I think it is still slightly over filled as when it is up to temperature (or very hot ) it still bubbling out of the filler when we removed the dipstic to check fluid.As I said I'm never never going to getthe garage the checked and topped up the fluid again

v8mad0

Quoting: minniewinnie
Its seems to be pulling around 4000 rpm at 40mph



Ahhh, that's no good then. That could also be why the fluid is getting so hot.

But surly 4th gear wont take the revs down that far.........would they????

Like I've said before Andy if you lived round the corner I'd come round and give ya all the help I could.

HardRockCamaro

Cooking a Northstar box takes super special effort.  They just don't go wrong (mechanically).  I thought mine was fried but was told in no uncertain terms by the guys on the Cadillac forums that it would be the first they'd heard of it, they just don't burn clutches.  It's one of the strongest auto boxes GM makes (made), electrical gremlins seem to be the problem with them.

If the fluid has been cooked due to high temperature your transmission life indicator on the driver information centre should report less than 100% life (which should never happen).  Bear in mind that this figure can be reset to 100% by an unscrupulous vendor with a few fancy button presses...

minniewinnie

Update on my caddy Have decided to get it fixed at http://www.automaticgearbox.biz/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.automaticgearbox.biz/ total cost including VAT will be £1844.75p for a full rebuild with a 12 month guarantee (but he is going to investigate as it might not need a full rebuild )   I have tried a few other places and had one offer of a second-hand box out of a 97 sts on a supply and fit for £1600 with out a warranty But Thought I could end up with the same or worse problem on that.
My boss/dad has said I can use the works transit tipper to pull a trailer and have booked a car trailer/transporter form our local trailer place for £30 +VAT for the day (Monday) so all being well should be able to drive it back the week after Cheers again for all the suggestions and support

v8mad0


philoldsmobile

Once its sorted, I'd stick with the caddy, those late 90's blazers are nothing worth having. They are not much different to a frontera to drive with no off road ability, not very quick and thirsty.

if you want a 4x4 go for a slightly older tahoe or suburban (96 - 99 vortec 350 is best), they are so much better than blazers its beyond belief.

minniewinnie

The caddy hasbeen delivered to the transmission people in Luton I hate the M1 + M25 with a passion And Luton is a pain when sat nav cant make its mind up then sends ya down a stupid little road with Fing big speed bumps (notice the ground clearance of the trailer) lol Trailer + crew cab transit made for a rather large vehicle http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5013517&l=528e996480&id=760233470\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5013517&l=528e996480&id=760233470 and it was only just wide enough to fit the caddy as well http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5013525&l=ddb15018a7&id=760233470\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5013525&l=ddb15018a7&id=760233470


minniewinnie

Quoting: F Body
Ah Sundon Park


You know it then?  that's just where I unloaded the car as I cant reverse trailers very well then drove The caddy around to where they are as it was safer than my reversing  LOL

minniewinnie

quick update still have no caddy as apparently they are waiting on parts from .....Sweden  I thought that's Saab and Volvo country not yank stuff BUT apparently it the same gearbox that's used in one of the Volvo range Wish it was closer so I could pop in and see what's happening with it.....

philoldsmobile

that sounds odd, as volvo were owned by SKF until 1935 when they were independent, then owned by ford (for passenger cars) from 1999 until 2010 when they were sold to geely automobil of china.  I seriously doubt Ford would sanction the use of a GM gearbox...

perhaps he meant SAAB?

F Body

Quoting: minniewinnie
apparently they are waiting on parts from .....Sweden


GM has a large parts warehouse in Trollhatten which serves Europe

minniewinnie

Update on my caddy

18th November
...
Had a phone call today to tell me it looks like it's going to be next week now....Apparently the air in the work shop is a tad blue and the bloke doing it is not a happy bunny as its fighting all attempts to be put back together...Glad I decided to sorn it instead of putting road tax on her Going to let me know on Monday how its going.....

24th November

They are Supposed to be fitting the gearbox today and hopefully have it ready for collection on saturday :dontknow: BUT I'm not holding my breath on that one TBH Will find out more on friday WTS

26th November
Its all gone wrong not going to get it back this weekend now (Glad I held off getting the tax again)
Had a message on my works number as I was out filling grit bins again today.. but apparently they had got it all back together BUT it has got one hell of a oil leak so the have had to take the gear box back out and it looks like when they were putting it in they caught the seal and tore it so have got to get another seal which has arrived today and then they are going try it again.. I bet the air was X rated in Luton ( bet they wont want another one to do either LOL)....so it sounds like they have done it with out removing the engine which is why its being a bitch as I have read on a lot of caddy forums since dropping it up there that although you can do it with engine in situ its easier to drop the front cradle (approx a 4 hour job) and remove the whole lot as one unit... I really miss my caddy now Heated seats, remote start would be useful in this whether... So again WTS been nearly 7 weeks now

F Body

Quoting: minniewinnie
WTS been nearly 7 weeks now


Hope they know what there actually doing

minniewinnie

Phoned them this morning and it was out on a road test so they managed to fit the box (I still reckon they did it with out removing the engine as every other gearbox place I spoke with said they would have to drop the cradle and remove engine+box as one unit for easier access )

Had a another phone call from them while I was out doing work so my dad/boss took the message apparently the bloke was not happy with it so it went back into the workshop...

Phoned them up when I got home and spoke with them and It apparently drove ok BUT it threw up a load of codes on the on board computer display on the dash so that's why he was not happy with it (which I can understand) and he wants to make sure it's right before they release the beast (understandably so ) . so he checking them out first something about a sensor and a servo??   and a few others .. probably related to the engine side of things as it did throw some up before when i was trying to find any related codes for gearbox before it went up to them if I remember rightly

People have said I should get up there PDQ which I do understand BUT getting up there its not very easy for me to do that TBH which is a a PITa to me.. so that's why I tend to try to keep any work not done by myself at garages local to my area..  And ( These people were recommended by my mechanic mate who owns and runs his own garage who does all our MOTs and other stuff I cant do on Wendy's car and our motor-home Etc Etc and who we trust implicitly and he has never let us down yet )

philoldsmobile

sensor and servo rings very ominous bells.. might be worth checking with hard rock about that valve that fails.. try and get a list of the codes, they may tell you more about the situation, rather than the garage just trying to cover up if something is still not right.

you plan on keeping it or moving it on?

minniewinnie

picked it up today and after filling it with fuel (Thank god the garage was not far from them LOL) Drove it back and its doing what it should be doing I even managed to see off a jag that tried to out accelerate me down the inside lane on the motorway  He lost
I Have got to have it checked over after 500 miles Just to make sure there are no leaks and it still doing what it should. by autodan who is my trusted garage (to keep the guarantee valid) and who they know (they normally like to do it but as I'm so far away from them they will let Dan do it ) and he's to phone them to let them know it's been checked over and any issues so they can log it on the computer .
Then after 6000miles or 6 months I have to take it back up to them so they can do a Trans service and check over which only they do. But as it stands All is good
Just got to get Wendy's camaro serviced and she will be a happier Bunny as well...She's happy I'm not needing her car any more Thank you Wendy (Dragon) Thanks for all the support and suggestions folks... Hopefully see some of you soon.

minniewinnie

Quoting: philoldsmobile
you plan on keeping it or moving it on?


Probably keep it for a while as I do like he car but if the right offer comes along

F Body

Quoting: minniewinnie
Drove it back and its doing what it should be doing




To be honest I was rather worried that you weren't going to get it sorted properly

minniewinnie

Quoting: F Body
To be honest I was rather worried that you weren't going to get it sorted properly


So was I and I was even more worried I was not going to get it back at all..But They have done it With the aid of the Chilton Repair Manual I left in the back (well I think they have used as it had moved to the front seat) and I also have the box of old parts as well which I had forgot to ask about   but they keep hold off the old parts as most of there customers want to either see them or keep hold of them

So again thanks for the suggestions and support folks