General STS thread

Non-repair car talk
kevm14
Posts: 15754
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by kevm14 »

Look at this thread:
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/ca ... speed.html

Here's the text:
Too expensive to repair and not a good option to have in Michigan - the magnetic ride control and air leveling. I bought the car from my son (It was a control test vehicle at his place of work) 36000 miles and beautiful condition except the rear suspension was shot. I moved the air compressor assembly into the trunk area (I lengthened the 4 wires) and was going to cheat the system after replacing the rear shocks with passive ones. By the way, a 18 - 19 watt 12 volt light bulb # 921 has a cold resistance of 1.2 ohms...would have been a perfect dummy load for the cheat on this system. I should mention the 2006 sts service manual is available from a British website for about 28 dollars. (250 mb download, 12 thousand pages long) But...then I decided to go a different direction. I pulled the fuse for the escm (electronic suspension control module) it's under the rear seat on the drivers side. Suspension error went away but still speed limited to 80 plus a new code generated. (The car saw there was a missing module.) After some research I determined the F55 option needed to be removed from the insturment control panel module (which is backed up by the rear integration module...anyway...) I got tired of begging for help so I bought my own Tech 2 scanner (Chinese clone and mine works very well!) 400 dollars delivered including the GM software and the Candi unit (which is needed for this vehicle). To get the car into "ignition on - engine off" mode you need your fob with you, and press the accesories under the start (don't touch the brake, ) and hold it for five or six seconds. With my tech 2 plugged into the port under the dash I went to vehicle systems and pretended to install a new IPM (instrument panel module) - all the options in the car appear and in the last column you can toggle the option "on" or "off" I deselected the F55 and saved... "programmed successfully" I was able to read and clear all the other codes in the vehicle except the airbag ones, (still working on that) I was astounded and so pleased! Magnetic ride is gone off the dash display over the radio and the speed limit is gone. I should mention the electronic suspension module has to remain in place plugged in because there is data lines that are hardwired through it (car won't start if you try to take it out.) but I did remove the air compressor it gets to rest in my garage. I know a lot of people have been grinding their teeth over this problem. I asked a local Buick dealer to help me and he was afraid...(?) and one local Cadillac dealer said "we can't do that at the dealer level" (b.s.) Now I am not beholden to anyone and I have a handy tool. Couldn't see letting a 4.6 320 hp north star be hogtied by anything.
Check that out! I didn't even think of this. It was always known that you could put in a certain resistor at each shock harness but this is a much more sophisticated way to disable the system. Using the Tech 2 you can program the IPM (and probably rear integrating module) to tell it that the car does not have an ESCM which means no F55 MRC and no air compressor. That is really cool and at least is an option for someone who may not wish to keep those systems.
kevm14
Posts: 15754
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by kevm14 »

kevm14 wrote:I think the caliper rattle/clank is back. When I was bleeding I noticed the caliper pins were rocking in the bracket (as I was torquing on the bleeder). I guess my lube theory wasn't right. I could try adding lube again - it really would have been a great time to do that when I had the wheels off....argh. The only way to fix this is to get new pins and caliper brackets that are all the right dimensions for each other. I will probably add lube before I just spring for those parts.
I really can't take it anymore. Between the rattle/clank and the lousy pedal feel, I am going to order new brackets and pins for the front. I'll get OEM. Actually I need rear anti-roll bar bushings for the SRX so I'll get those, too, when I call Chris up in NH.

I also need to check my oil level. It's been a while and I am curious how the consumption is going. Oil life is down in the low 30s.
kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by kevm14 »

This figures. Caliper brackets are discontinued.

Rockauto carries an A1 Cardone reman with a small core charge. I would be pissed if I swap those and have the same issue.
kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Caprice engine swap?

Post by kevm14 »

kevm14 wrote:Also, the steering wheel vibes at idle so I suspect one or more engine mount is getting tired. One of the shocks seems to be leaking but not positive. It still works so I don't care.
While I was on the phone with Chris I did order two engine mounts. The price was right at $91/ea for GM factory mounts. This isn't super high on the list as the driver's side job is not easy. But now they will be in the parts funnel.
kevm14
Posts: 15754
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by kevm14 »

kevm14 wrote:Actually I need rear anti-roll bar bushings for the SRX so I'll get those, too, when I call Chris up in NH.
I did order a front and rear set for the SRX because the price was right at $9/ea for rear and like $7/ea for front. So cheap. The rears are super easy and where I think most of the clunking is. I should put that in a different thread...
kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by kevm14 »

2,000 miles since I added and still on the dipstick. Probably wants 3/4 qt but I am thinking about adding some MMO. I just added 20oz to the Ram's oil...
bill25
Posts: 2583
Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2013 2:20 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by bill25 »

Have you been contacted by any marketing reps from MMO to be in their commercials yet? I bought some for the Simplicity.
kevm14
Posts: 15754
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by kevm14 »

I'll just put these here as the Caprice thread winds down to a sad end...

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/6474907606.html
Cadillac STS V8 2007 AWD( all wheel drive) low mileage!!!fully loaded! - $5400 (Lynn)
The car runs good!!!fully loaded
i just changed front shocks and catalytic converter bank 2 and i have the receipt

the car only has 95000 miles My father bought it from the auction couple mounts ago but he went back to Europe so we dont need the car any more!!!
Those headlights are sparkling. This is a lot less mileage than mine for $400 more than I paid. Sigh. I was told Lynn is sketchy but that's where I got my cheap Fleetwood...

Highly likely a 1SG. No spoiler. I do like my spoiler. And it has new front shocks. And a cat. My car has original front shocks and I did have that light come on for the cat (but is still off). Maybe the air compressor even works. Double sigh.

Oh, it is an 07 so it has the 6L50. Triple sigh. Though conversations on the Cadillac forum suggest the tuning is a lot like the SRX which is to say not as good as the older 5L50. No radar cruise. If it had that I'd be really pissed.
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bill25
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Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2013 2:20 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by bill25 »

This looks really good. Why are you still looking?
kevm14
Posts: 15754
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by kevm14 »

My search is still searching for me. I guess I could turn it off.
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