"Service Ride Control"

On Fri, 11 Mar 2005 18:20:42 GMT, "Peter" <pe.pe DeleteThis @swipnet.se> wrote:

 >Have a '94 DeVille (4.9L).
 >
 >A short while ago the Service Ride Control warning started lighting up
 >intermittently. Took it to a Firestone/Mastercare, they said it was the rear
 >struts. Had it fixed for ridiculous money, and - surprise! - the warning
 >still came on intermittently.
 >
 >Took it to a Cadillac Dealer, they said that it was nothing to worry about
 >if the car rode okay (it does), and that GM no longer makes the struts with
 >sensors. The options were then either to live with the d*mn warning, or have
 >it disabled in the computer to the tune of $475...
 >
 >Does anybody have experience with this and know any way around it? It
 >worries me that the warning comes on at 25-30 miles, then goes off again
 >when slowing down to about 12-15 miles. To me that would indicate not that a
 >sensor is gone, but that there is some malfunction in the suspension. If the
 >warning light was on the whole time I might buy what the dealer said.
 >
 >Thanks,
 >
 >Peter
 >
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.caddyinfo.com/disable.htm" target="_blank">http://www.caddyinfo.com/disable.htm</a>
FWIW
YMMV
DFB




"When a legislature undertakes to proscribe the exercise of a citizen's
constitutional rights it acts lawlessly and the citizen can take matters into
his own hands and proceed on the basis that such a law is no law at all."
- Justice William O. Douglas<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: &quot;Service Ride Control&quot; 

Many thanks for the info!

Peter


"C REDMOND" <c.a.redmond.DeleteThis@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:CatYd.371132$w62.214136@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
 > Hey, I had the exact same problem after an accident where someone hit me.
 > They are correct that Cadillac no longer makes that strut, but they were
 > wrong about the solution. Whoever replaced that one strut, if they got it
 > from Cadillac, there were instructions that came with it about how to
 > disable that warning indicator. For my model, a 95 4.9 v8 Sedan Deville,
all
 > four had to be replaced and there was a bypass that plugged into the
sensor.
 > Call a dealership and they can give you more specific information.
 >
 > --
 > CR
 > "Peter" <pe.pe.DeleteThis@swipnet.se> wrote in message
 > news:_jlYd.9157$WK2.4620@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com...
  > > Have a '94 DeVille (4.9L).
  > >
  > > A short while ago the Service Ride Control warning started lighting up
  > > intermittently. Took it to a Firestone/Mastercare, they said it was the
 > rear
  > > struts. Had it fixed for ridiculous money, and - surprise! - the warning
  > > still came on intermittently.
  > >
  > > Took it to a Cadillac Dealer, they said that it was nothing to worry
about
  > > if the car rode okay (it does), and that GM no longer makes the struts
 > with
  > > sensors. The options were then either to live with the d*mn warning, or
 > have
  > > it disabled in the computer to the tune of $475...
  > >
  > > Does anybody have experience with this and know any way around it? It
  > > worries me that the warning comes on at 25-30 miles, then goes off again
  > > when slowing down to about 12-15 miles. To me that would indicate not
that
 > a
  > > sensor is gone, but that there is some malfunction in the suspension. If
 > the
  > > warning light was on the whole time I might buy what the dealer said.
  > >
  > > Thanks,
  > >
  > > Peter
  > >
  > >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: &quot;Service Ride Control&quot; 

Thanks a bunch for the info link!

Peter


"MisterSkippy" <MisterSkippy DeleteThis @optonline.net> wrote in message
news:486631llijgf2nt5i5bgpbjr21u4klge6n@4ax.com...
 > On Fri, 11 Mar 2005 18:20:42 GMT, "Peter" <pe.pe DeleteThis @swipnet.se> wrote:
 >
  > >Have a '94 DeVille (4.9L).
  > >
  > >A short while ago the Service Ride Control warning started lighting up
  > >intermittently. Took it to a Firestone/Mastercare, they said it was the
rear
  > >struts. Had it fixed for ridiculous money, and - surprise! - the warning
  > >still came on intermittently.
  > >
  > >Took it to a Cadillac Dealer, they said that it was nothing to worry
about
  > >if the car rode okay (it does), and that GM no longer makes the struts
with
  > >sensors. The options were then either to live with the d*mn warning, or
have
  > >it disabled in the computer to the tune of $475...
  > >
  > >Does anybody have experience with this and know any way around it? It
  > >worries me that the warning comes on at 25-30 miles, then goes off again
  > >when slowing down to about 12-15 miles. To me that would indicate not
that a
  > >sensor is gone, but that there is some malfunction in the suspension. If
the
  > >warning light was on the whole time I might buy what the dealer said.
  > >
  > >Thanks,
  > >
  > >Peter
  > >
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.caddyinfo.com/disable.htm</font" target="_blank">http://www.caddyinfo.com/disable.htm</font</a>>
 > FWIW
 > YMMV
 > DFB
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > "When a legislature undertakes to proscribe the exercise of a citizen's
 > constitutional rights it acts lawlessly and the citizen can take matters
into
 > his own hands and proceed on the basis that such a law is no law at all."
 > - Justice William O. Douglas
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: &quot;Service Ride Control&quot; 

There is a bulletin for this problem and I have it.

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=317&item=5964742483&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=317&item=596474...3&rd=1&</a>

"Peter" <pe.pe.RemoveThis@swipnet.se> wrote in message
news:_jlYd.9157$WK2.4620@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com...
 > Have a '94 DeVille (4.9L).
 >
 > A short while ago the Service Ride Control warning started lighting up
 > intermittently. Took it to a Firestone/Mastercare, they said it was the
 > rear
 > struts. Had it fixed for ridiculous money, and - surprise! - the warning
 > still came on intermittently.
 >
 > Took it to a Cadillac Dealer, they said that it was nothing to worry about
 > if the car rode okay (it does), and that GM no longer makes the struts
 > with
 > sensors. The options were then either to live with the d*mn warning, or
 > have
 > it disabled in the computer to the tune of $475...
 >
 > Does anybody have experience with this and know any way around it? It
 > worries me that the warning comes on at 25-30 miles, then goes off again
 > when slowing down to about 12-15 miles. To me that would indicate not that
 > a
 > sensor is gone, but that there is some malfunction in the suspension. If
 > the
 > warning light was on the whole time I might buy what the dealer said.
 >
 > Thanks,
 >
 > Peter
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: &quot;Service Ride Control&quot; 

Peter,
I have a 94 DeVille, and after smacking a pothole, my left front strut causing a "Service Ride Control" fault. I went and purchased a set of Delco "passive" struts from Rockauto.com, and installed them, and also got a "fix", which consists of wiring in a relay to the input of the affected circuit to the pcm, and it basically lie's to the computer, and makes it think everything's ok with the ride control. After the fix, everything works fine, and it didn't cost me a small fortune. Of course, you no longer have the adjustable ride control, but I've never been able to tell the difference anyway! If you need this info, let me know.
 >> Stay informed about: &quot;Service Ride Control&quot; 

Thanks, Gtohunter. Any additional info you have is appreciated.

In the meantime, the warning seems even more weird. Before the warning was
on at about 30 mph speed, off at low speed and when not moving (to me
indicating that the computer is getting input, even if faulty). Now I've
also discovered that the warning is turned off and disabled at any speed
when I have any lights on, be it just parking or headlights, and regardless
of whether the lights are turned on by the Sentinel or manually... So it
seems that either the Caddy or the mechanic who tried to connect/bypass the
harness has been subjected to too much exhaust fumes or something.

Still, rides good, and my inclination is to try to live with this irritation
unless someone knows of a not-too-complicated and expensive fix to the
problem.

P

------------------------------------

 >
 > Peter,
 > I have a 94 DeVille, and after smacking a pothole, my left front strut
 > causing a "Service Ride Control" fault. I went and purchased a set
 > of Delco "passive" struts from Rockauto.com, and installed them, and
 > also got a "fix", which consists of wiring in a relay to the input
 > of the affected circuit to the pcm, and it basically lie's to the
 > computer, and makes it think everything's ok with the ride control.
 > After the fix, everything works fine, and it didn't cost me a small
 > fortune. Of course, you no longer have the adjustable ride control,
 > but I've never been able to tell the difference anyway! If you need
 > this info, let me know.
 >
 > --
 > 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:
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.autoforumz.com/Cadillac-Deville-quot-Service-Ride-Control-quot-ftopict107055.html" target="_blank">http://www.autoforumz.com/Cadillac-Deville-quot-Service-Ride-Control-q...-ftopic</a>
 > Visit Topic URL to contact author (reg. req'd). Report abuse:
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.autoforumz.com/eform.php?p=512466" target="_blank">http://www.autoforumz.com/eform.php?p=512466</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: &quot;Service Ride Control&quot; 

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 17:35:18 GMT, "Peter" <pe.pe DeleteThis @swipnet.se> wrote:

 >Thanks, Gtohunter. Any additional info you have is appreciated.
 >
 >In the meantime, the warning seems even more weird. Before the warning was
 >on at about 30 mph speed, off at low speed and when not moving (to me
 >indicating that the computer is getting input, even if faulty). Now I've
 >also discovered that the warning is turned off and disabled at any speed
 >when I have any lights on, be it just parking or headlights, and regardless
 >of whether the lights are turned on by the Sentinel or manually... So it
 >seems that either the Caddy or the mechanic who tried to connect/bypass the
 >harness has been subjected to too much exhaust fumes or something.
 >
 >Still, rides good, and my inclination is to try to live with this irritation
 >unless someone knows of a not-too-complicated and expensive fix to the
 >problem.
 >
 >P
 >
If your struts and shocks are otherwise fine, not leaking etc, read
this <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.caddyinfo.com/disable.htm" target="_blank">http://www.caddyinfo.com/disable.htm</a> Parts are about $20 IIRC
and takes less than an hour. Used the same procedure on my "93 Eldo a
few years ago.
FWIW
YMMV
DFB<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: &quot;Service Ride Control&quot; 

Sounds like your mech might have needed 12 volts for the relay, and picked it up from light circuit?? I used key on 12 volts, which energizes the relay. Anyway the post by MrSkippy is the correct procedure to follow. I have a before and after schematic of the circuit out of my service manual, and if you want it, let me know. Didn't know how or if to attach a file in this forum.
 >> Stay informed about: &quot;Service Ride Control&quot; 

On 28 Mar 2005 18:40:31 -0500, Gtohunter
<UseLinkToEmail.TakeThisOut@AutoForumz.com> wrote:

 >"MisterSkippy1" wrote:
  > > On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 17:35:18 GMT, "Peter" <pe.pe.TakeThisOut@swipnet.se>
  > > wrote:
  > >
   > > >Thanks, Gtohunter. Any additional info you have is
  > > appreciated.
   > > >
   > > >In the meantime, the warning seems even more weird. Before
  > > the warning was
   > > >on at about 30 mph speed, off at low speed and when not
  > > moving (to me
   > > >indicating that the computer is getting input, even if
  > > faulty). Now I've
   > > >also discovered that the warning is turned off and disabled
  > > at any speed
   > > >when I have any lights on, be it just parking or headlights,
  > > and regardless
   > > >of whether the lights are turned on by the Sentinel or
  > > manually... So it
   > > >seems that either the Caddy or the mechanic who tried to
  > > connect/bypass the
   > > >harness has been subjected to too much exhaust fumes or
  > > something.
   > > >
   > > >Still, rides good, and my inclination is to try to live with
  > > this irritation
   > > >unless someone knows of a not-too-complicated and expensive
  > > fix to the
   > > >problem.
   > > >
   > > >P
   > > >
  > > If your struts and shocks are otherwise fine, not leaking etc,
  > > read
  > > this <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.caddyinfo.com/disable.htm" target="_blank">http://www.caddyinfo.com/disable.htm</a> Parts are about
  > > $20 IIRC
  > > and takes less than an hour. Used the same procedure on my "93
  > > Eldo a
  > > few years ago.
  > > FWIW
  > > YMMV
  > > DFB
 >
 >Sounds like your mech might have needed 12 volts for the relay, and
 >picked it up from light circuit?? I used key on 12 volts, which
 >energizes the relay. Anyway the post by MrSkippy is the correct
 >procedure to follow. I have a before and after schematic of the
 >circuit out of my service manual, and if you want it, let me know.

Did it myself. No biggie. I just found 12 volt switched at the ride
control module, the red wire, and grounded to the body. Just followed
the directions noted. All that was required were the socket, relay,
test light, and a VOM to verify 12v switched. The hardest part was
laying in the trunk and soldering the connections. This is not rocket
science. If I did it, so can you.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: &quot;Service Ride Control&quot; 

Yeah, I'll agree that the biggest part of the deal is crawling into the trunk to do the job.....I did it in less than an hour, and part of that time is spent getting to the module, and putting stuff back. I really enjoyed doing this, as Cadillac people told me "you gotta buy our $500 struts, blah, blah. I was going to get around them at any cost, just to prove a point. That ride control crap was one of thier biggest mistakes in engineering, as I could never tell the difference when it worked, vs. broke. I do like the leveling, and had to change rears due to air bags leaking, but works ok now. Had an 87 deville which I couldn't keep off the ground. Finally put Moog Cargo coils on it ($59pr), and it sat perfect, with or without weight and rode just fine.
 >> Stay informed about: &quot;Service Ride Control&quot;