Coolant leak on a 2000 Deville DHS

I had it at an independant shop before I took it to the dealer. They said the leak was coming from behind the transimosion mounting bracket. I have heard that the Northstar has 3 serious problems: (1) the head bolts strip after about 100,000 miles, (2) the transmission bracket bolts strip and (3) sometimes there are slight defects in the aluminum casting of the engine block. Has anyone ever heard of these problems? Also, does anyone know if these block cracks can be welded?
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant leak on a 2000 Deville DHS 

I had an 87 DeVille with a 4.1, which developed coolant leaks at the bottoms of two cylinder liners in the block. I'm about panicking over what to do...tried "j.b. weld"; no good. Used lots of stop leak kinda stuff; no good. Finally, took a pc. of metal and shaped it to the block, drilled/tapped small holes into block, smeared hi temp RTV all over it, and screwed the "patches" on. Worked for several years until I got rid of the car. Not an easy task, but took my time, and after pulling out the starter on one side, and the transaxle on the other, was able to get at the areas. Had to get the trans. rebuilt anyway. Don't know if that fix can work for you, but it saved me a lot of money toward an engine swap.
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant leak on a 2000 Deville DHS 

If you have a Northstar engine could be it's leaking where the two half
blocks are joined. I think it was in 2001 the block was cast as a single
unit.

--
Don
Vancouver, USA


"robertireton" <UseLinkToEmail.DeleteThis@AutoForumz.com> wrote in message
news:1_522248_0be922e2fe2c8c9a12fe92e1b1cd024a@autoforumz.com...
 >I have a 2000 Cad Deville with 73,000 miles on it. Ever since 30,000
 > miles, the coolant level would run down. There were never any leaks
 > on burning anti-freeze smells. About 2 weeks ago I noticed a fair
 > amount of coolant on the ground under the car and I smelled burning
 > anti-freeze. I took the car to the dealer and I was told that there
 > was a crack in the casting of the engine. My service rep said that it
 > was a result of a casting flaw in the block. The only fix is to
 > replace the motor. Has anyone ever heard of this happening before?
 > Cadillac has offered to pick up 50% of the cost to replace the motor.
 > I think the offer needs to be around the 90% to 100%.
 >
 > --
 > Posted using the <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.autoforumz.com" target="_blank">http://www.autoforumz.com</a> interface, at author's request
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 >> Stay informed about: Coolant leak on a 2000 Deville DHS 

How would I find out if my 2000's engine was made using 2 castings or 1?
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant leak on a 2000 Deville DHS 

On 8 Apr 2005 23:37:36 -0400, robertireton
<UseLinkToEmail.TakeThisOut@AutoForumz.com> wrote:

 >"MisterSkippy1" wrote:
  > > On 8 Apr 2005 11:34:02 -0400, robertireton
  > > <UseLinkToEmail.TakeThisOut@AutoForumz.com> wrote:
  > >
   > > >I have a 2000 Cad Deville with 73,000 miles on it. Ever
  > > since 30,000
   > > >miles, the coolant level would run down. There were never
  > > any leaks
   > > >on burning anti-freeze smells. About 2 weeks ago I noticed a
  > > fair
   > > >amount of coolant on the ground under the car and I smelled
  > > burning
   > > >anti-freeze. I took the car to the dealer and I was told
  > > that there
   > > >was a crack in the casting of the engine. My service rep
  > > said that it
   > > >was a result of a casting flaw in the block. The only fix is
  > > to
   > > >replace the motor. Has anyone ever heard of this happening
  > > before?
   > > >Cadillac has offered to pick up 50% of the cost to replace
  > > the motor.
   > > >I think the offer needs to be around the 90% to 100%.
  > > Sounds like bullshit. Go to an independent shop and have them
  > > put a
  > > pressure test on the cooling system. See what they say about
  > > the
  > > source of the leak.
 >
 >I had it at an independant shop before I took it to the dealer. They
 >said the leak was coming from behind the transimosion mounting
 >bracket. I have heard that the Northstar has 3 serious problems: (1)
 >the head bolts strip after about 100,000 miles, (2) the transmission
 >bracket bolts strip and (3) sometimes there are slight defects in the
 >aluminum casting of the engine block. Has anyone ever heard of these
 >problems? Also, does anyone know if these block cracks can be welded?

You might have posted ALL the pertinent info first when asking for
help here. Good luck to you.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant leak on a 2000 Deville DHS 

I based my post on what the Service Manager told me when I bought my 2001
DHS. According to him 2001 was the first year for the single unit motor
block.

Other than that, you might look at the block under the car to verify or ask
the Service Manager at your local Cadillac Dealer.


--
Don
Vancouver, USA


"robertireton" <DoNotEmail.TakeThisOut@AutoForumz.com> wrote in message
news:1_523312_4c9e64b9917e00850b3236c365f75328@autoforumz.com...
 > "retiredenginee" wrote:
  > > If you have a Northstar engine could be it's leaking where the
  > > two half
  > > blocks are joined. I think it was in 2001 the block was cast
  > > as a single
  > > unit.
  > >
  > > --
  > > Don
  > > Vancouver, USA
  > >
  > >
  > > "robertireton" <UseLinkToEmail.TakeThisOut@AutoForumz.com> wrote in
  > > message
  > > news:1_522248_0be922e2fe2c8c9a12fe92e1b1cd024a@autoforumz.com...
   > > >I have a 2000 Cad Deville with 73,000 miles on it. Ever
  > > since 30,000
   > > > miles, the coolant level would run down. There were never
  > > any leaks
   > > > on burning anti-freeze smells. About 2 weeks ago I noticed
  > > a fair
   > > > amount of coolant on the ground under the car and I smelled
  > > burning
   > > > anti-freeze. I took the car to the dealer and I was told
  > > that there
   > > > was a crack in the casting of the engine. My service rep
  > > said that it
   > > > was a result of a casting flaw in the block. The only fix
  > > is to
   > > > replace the motor. Has anyone ever heard of this happening
  > > before?
   > > > Cadillac has offered to pick up 50% of the cost to replace
  > > the motor.
   > > > I think the offer needs to be around the 90% to 100%.
   > > >
   > > > --
   > > > Posted using the <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.autoforumz.com" target="_blank">http://www.autoforumz.com</a> interface, at author's
   > > > request
   > > > Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet
  > > standards
   > > > Topic URL:
<font color=brown>   > > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.autoforumz.com/Cadillac-Deville-Coolant-leak-2000-DHS-ftopict111294.html</font" target="_blank">http://www.autoforumz.com/Cadillac-Deville-Coolant-leak-2000-DHS-ftopi...11294.h</a>>
   > > > Visit Topic URL to contact author (reg. req'd). Report
  > > abuse:
<font color=brown>   > > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.autoforumz.com/eform.php?p=522248</font" target="_blank">http://www.autoforumz.com/eform.php?p=522248</font</a>>
 >
 > How would I find out if my 2000's engine was made using 2 castings or
 > 1?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant leak on a 2000 Deville DHS 

Can a "Y" code engine from an 01, 02, or 03 Deville be placed in my 00?
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant leak on a 2000 Deville DHS 

I am going thru the same thing with my 1998 deville........but now the motor is shot and has to be replaced.........I called the dealer and was told that the head bolts strip out..........common thing.......I called cadillac and was told basically "too bad, the car is too old". no recourse for me.....and a repair from the dealer is about $3000. but still have no way to fight them
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant leak on a 2000 Deville DHS 

Were you having engine temp problems before the leak? If so, did you take it to the dealer and have them check it out. My DHS has 74,000 miles on it, but I documented every little problem I have had with the dealer. GM is picking up the tab for the new engine and the install because I had about 20 pages of repair orders for this car in the past 2 years. Six of the repair orders were about the engine running hot. Even though the dealer could not find the problem, it was documented.

In doing all the research for this car/problem I did discover that the head bolts stripping out is very common. There seem to be a lot of 90's Northstar engines for sale from rebuilders and owners. Before you buy, check out Ebay.
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant leak on a 2000 Deville DHS 

I had no prior problems..........never had to go to dealer....I did not have anything go on before this sudden problem and no signs of it coming..........the dealer said to call GM and GM will not back up their product now...........I purchased this car used from a Caddy dealer and was never told of these problems............so I am stuck
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant leak on a 2000 Deville DHS 

Try filing a complaint with the BBB in eastern Michigan -- their phone number is 248-644-9100. When I filed my complaint someone from GM called me within two days. Your problem is quite comon and it usually happens around 80,000 to 100,000 miles. Don't let them use the old "you bought the car used" defense. My car was used when I bought it. My response was that I purchased it from a Caddy dealer and it should'nt matter who the current owner is because GM built it. If your offer is reasonable they may be willing to help.
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant leak on a 2000 Deville DHS