My vehicle is a 97 cadillac catera and has had the starter replaced and still will not start. Two car lots have had the vehicle at the cadillac dealership now and they are giving me the run around they say that its the mass airflow sensor but still have not replaced it yet I'm wondering why cadillac has not notified people of this problem when I'm being told that it is a common problem with cateras of them not starting.
1997 Cadillac Catera: won't start
5 of the 163 complaints about the 1997 Cadillac Catera describe won't start.
- owner complaints
- 5
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- recalls
- 0
Is there a fix? 27 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below
Won't start by model year
- 20002
- 19992
- 19984
- 19975
What owners say
Vehicle will not start on a regular basis, was towed to dealer, who started vehicle, but could not find cause. Next day vehicle would not start again.
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.
Car would not start. Had to jump start. Dealer replaced alternator and battery. Battery was previously replaced 06/03/99. Oil light above oil pressire gauge came on while driving, and oil pressure gauge moved up and down erratically. Dealer found no problem. Battery cover and was burnt/was brittle and had a white ashey look to it. Engine produces a lot of heat. Dealer replaced cover and tray. Temperature gauge reads higher than normal. Dealership recalibrated ipc for temp gauge. Temp gauge still reads the same as before. Ticking sounds from left and right sides of dash when heat is on. Dealer replaced fan motor twice. Ticking sounds still there and now there is no heat. Disc brake pad indicator lamp did not illuminate when pads needed replacing. Had to have front brake job and replace sensors for indicator lamp. Dealership said sensors got damaged when pads were worn down past the sensors.
When consumer gets inside of vehicle and tries to start it, it won't start. So consumer tried to jump start it, but it did not work.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- Revised diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0335
- Cam drive idler tensioner pulley and water pump
- Engine replacement is only availble from gmspo as a short block
- Customer satisfaction program - cam drive idler and tensioner pulleys and water pump - back order
- Tensioner kits on backorder
- Dealer information regarding customer satisfaction program 02041 - cam drive idler and tensioner pulleys,...
- Timing belt marks special policy program used on three liter engines
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 1997 Cadillac Catera won't start
Is won't start a common problem on the 1997 Cadillac Catera?
5 of 163 owner complaints about the 1997 Cadillac Catera (3%) mention won't start. The model year with the most reports is 1997.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1997 Cadillac Catera?
There are 0 recalls and 27 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1997 Cadillac Catera
Stalling 12Headlights 11Engine failure 10Ball joint 9Grinding brakes 7Loss of power 7Overheating 7Door locks 6Pulling 6Fire or smoke 5
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