1997 Cadillac Catera Speedometer head or sensor?

LALLIC85

MEMBER
1997 CADILLAC CATERA

Electrical problem
1997 Cadillac Catera 4 cyl Automatic unknow miles

I bought a 1997 Cadillac Catera off aguy on the street. The engine light is on, also the radiator light, brake light, and airbag light. The speedometer doesn't move and therefore the mileage doesn't change. It says its at 118,000+ but I don't know what the true mileage is.

I've been told that to get the engine light off I have to fix the speedometer but do I just need the sensor ($100+) or the whole "head" replaced and reprogrammed (approx $2,000)? I get a different answer from each mechanic. Also, do I have to get the work done at the dealership?

The gas seems to burn really fast. The engine, radiator and oil have all been checked but the lights stay on.

1 Reply

FACTORYJACK

MECHANIC
4,159 POSTS

The brake light I'm assuming is ABS, it may have something to do with the speedometer. Speed is transferred on the data line from the ABS module, which recieves it from the right rear speed sensor if I am not mistaken. It could be the left, it is one of the rear. Radiator light, is it low on coolant? The sensor is in the reservoir. If the coolant is full, disconnect the sensor and see if the light goes out. If it don't, jump the sensor connector and see. That will determine if it is normally closed, or normally open. If it don't go out in either circumstance, you could have shorted or open wiring, or a cluster fault. The engine light and the airbag light will need diagnostics run to see what codes are present.