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cadillac check engine light won't go out after new vacuum pump


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Bretyboy00
New User

Oct 20, 2016, 3:26 PM

Post #1 of 5 (1584 views)
cadillac check engine light won't go out after new vacuum pump Sign In

Guys, please excuse the long post... I have a Cadillac CTS 2014.. First let me say, this story starts with me neglecting to change my oil.. I know I'm an idiot, I've been read the riot act 20 times already, so it will never happen again, but right now I'm scared Sh!tless and just need to get out of this mess... After a just over a year of driving a brand new car, my check engine light and oil light came on... for some reason I convinced myslelf that this was pre-programmed so I would come in for routine maintenance, so I kept putting it off... one day the car had a delayed start, but then the next time I started it would be fine...It would happen sporadically.. After a week or so, when the delayed start time got long enough where I got worried, I brought it in to Cadillac service. Keep in mind, the car would run perfectly, the only noticeable problem was a late startup, sometimes. They called me in, and showed me the hood open, with a broken metal cylinder piece they had taken out.. they explained that due to my lack of maintenance the vacuum pump had siezed and shattered (that was the cylinder I saw I guess??) they also told me a new engine would be 9 thousand dollars and warranty wouldn't pay it... I remember distinctly the guy offering to "put in a new vacuum pump and a sensor and hope for the best." But kept saying he didn't know if the oil sludge was at the bottom of the engine and there was no way to find out... after calling my insurance who declined, I went back and I explained there was NO way I could afford this, and said let's hope for the best with his quick fix solution, to which he now declined to do.. so I was forced to bring it to an outside mechanic.. I gave him a budget of 2k and begged him to get it working at least till my lease was up. He got the car in pieces, and charged me for a new camshaft, vacuum pump, and valve cover gasket set.. HE flushed and cleaned engine best possible, and when I got it back, the car was running fine, but check engine light was still on and still has late start, about half the time. The mechanic said confidently "it'll start every time" but said "yea we gotta figure out the check engine light before your inspection." A month or so later, I brought my car to a different dealer for a tire issue, and when they ran the codes for that, they told me the check engine light was coming back as a "cam sensor" problem. They said it wasn't a big deal fix... so I'm thinking maybe the first mechanic skimped on the cam sensor to save money with the tight budget, knowing the car would be fine? So I finally have the second caddy dealer handling the cam sensor, and to my horror, they are having issues. They say they have tried replacing the cam sensor and the light is not going out and still having late start problems. I don't want to tell them about the lack of maintanence and oil sludge out of fear that they will give up trying and simply push to buy a new engine... but the car really does ride fine and from what I understand the only code coming back is a cam sensor code (and delayed start about half the time).... sorry again for the long message but does anyone have any thoughts as to what could be the problem?


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Oct 20, 2016, 4:36 PM

Post #2 of 5 (1571 views)
Re: cadillac check engine light won't go out after new vacuum pump Sign In

Sedan, Wagon, or Coupe? Which engine? How many miles on this? AWD? Was the oil light for low oil pressure, low oil level, or change oil maintenance minder?

Do you know what the trouble code number is?

You mentioned vacuum pump. Do you mean the vacuum pump for the brake booster? That pump is electric and not driven by the engine.

Is this the part they replaced?







Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Oct 20, 2016, 4:57 PM)


Bretyboy00
New User

Oct 20, 2016, 8:25 PM

Post #3 of 5 (1556 views)
Re: cadillac check engine light won't go out after new vacuum pump Sign In

I'll try to answer best as I can... It is a Sedan, Twin Turbo engine, not sure if its all wheel drive....Was at 22,000 miles...Synthetic oil. Oil light I assume started as maintenance reminder, but by the time I brought it in, it had turned sludgy like jello....:/

I dont know what the trouble code was except that the people looking at it kept saying cam sensor, and assumed it wasnt a big deal.. They kept saying thats probably whats causing the delayed start.

I haven't heard anything about a brake booster.... They kept saying vacuum pump, cam sensor, camshaft... The guy that fixed it mentioned "the cylinder piece at the back of the camshaft." (no idea what that means.) The picture you posted COULDVE been it but Im not sure... It was something like it... round, and literally broken, like cracked off... Vacuum pump seized and shattered? Something like that?? Sorry thats the best info I can give with my limited knowledge.. ..and thanks for trying to help me


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Oct 21, 2016, 4:40 AM

Post #4 of 5 (1533 views)
Re: cadillac check engine light won't go out after new vacuum pump Sign In

Not going to be able to help you very much without more information. It has a 3.6L.

Not sure, but they could of replaced the direct injection pump. The direct injection pump is driven by one of the cam shaft lobes. If the pump came apart, it could have been because lack of maintenance.

The cam shaft position sensor code could be the reason why it has a hard time starting. The sensor sends an electrical signal to the engine computer. There is more than one camshaft sensor on that engine. Are they checking the right one? Have they connected up a lab scope to see if the signal is reaching the computer, it is in sync with the other position sensors, and it is valid? Those are questions the dealer drive-ability techs should be able to figure out.

I really don't see a vacuum pump shattering, since it is driven by an electric motor and has no mechanical connection to the engine. If the high pressure pump failed, the engine definitely wouldn't run.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


kev2
Veteran
kev2 profile image

Oct 21, 2016, 11:59 AM

Post #5 of 5 (1508 views)
Re: cadillac check engine light won't go out after new vacuum pump Sign In

lets try this - get the vehicle scanned - that's free - post the codes and maybe something will become clear.


Keep your insurance up - theft and "gap" coverage






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