2003 Deville general questions

[Loonylani]

I am thinking of buying my grandparents 2003 Deville. I read some reviews on KBB and people are saying things about oil leaks and motor mounts, sensors, and window motors? The problem is they aren't saying what year they have. So is the 2003 Deville a horrible car maintenance wise? Anyone here work in a Caddy dealer garage?

[Cadillakin'98]

It's like this; if you keep up the regularly scheduled maintance, fix any problems that arise quickly, and don't rag the $#!* out of your vehicle, then ANY vehicle will last a very long time for you. And you gotta remember that every vehicle, no matter what brand (Honda, Cadillac, Mazda, whatever) will have some flaws. Overall, Cadillacs are great cars. Not sure if the 2003's have aluminum block/heads like my '99 does but if so then I'd say the only bad thing; or more of a precaution I can tell you is don't ever let that motor overheat 'cause aluminum warps alot easier than steel does. But then again, this goes back to regularly scheduled maintnance, fixing problems as they arise promptly, and not raggin' on your vehicle comes into play doesn't it?!!!

[Loonylani]

Yes that's true. My Granny mostly drove it around in FL at 20 mph and got lost alot. It hasn't been driven hard and I don't drive my vehicles hard at all. I like to cruise and listen to music. I went to school for auto-mechanics and am able to recognize problems early on and fix them myself at home usually. I read reviews on them and people were either loving them and had no trouble or had serious serious trouble in the first 50,000 miles. I'm talking head gaskets, crank sensors, $600 window motors on all the doors, motor mounts, strut problems, crank seals etc. I cannot fix alot of that list in my gravel driveway and probably won't have any warranty. So I'm trying to see if anyone else out there had 'major' trouble with theirs even when they aren't abused. Particularly the 2003 models as some of the reviews were 2000 to 2002 and very early 2003's were mentioned. Most reviews did not state the year at all. Did they just produce junk Devilles in 00-03? If so I don't want to buy it.

[protusile]

I have a 2000 Deville and its a great vehicle. The ride is outstanding. Its a runny Jenny, only had a few mechanical problems but nothing I couldn't handle. The crankshaft position sensor was the only problem that would trip the engine.

[Loonylani]

So how hard is it to change the crank sensor in those? What has to be removed to get to it?

[protusile]

It is an easy job. Put the car on jack stands, remove the oil filter bracket (two bolts) and then you have access to the crank shaft position sensors. I replaced both the upper and lower sensor.