Well Shit. [UPDATE: WORSE THAN EXPECTED]

"PatBateman" (PatBateman) 11/13/2019 at 11:10 • Filed to: broken, cadillac cts

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UPDATE: Mechanic just called. Diagnosis is catastrophic engine failure due to oil starvation (no CEL for that, oil gauge showed the levels being fine). An engine bearing became toast and destroyed everything around it. Either replace the engine for about $13,000, or send it to the salvage yard and take a few hundred bucks. Since I do numbers for a living, the only choice that makes sense is to send it to the junkyard and take the hit. I wonder if this is tax deductible?

RIP CTS  

That’s the hood on my CTS up after my engine made horrible noises and began to sputter. Had to get towed to the mechanic. Pretty sure this is going to be expensive.

This sucks because this Cadillac is my dream car. I loved the second generation’s design, inside and out. It isn’t the V, but it has the DI engine which is plenty peppy. But now, I’m pretty sure I’ll be trading it in within the next month.

I can’t keep dropping four digits into this car every few months. Done.

Nibby > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 09:11

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hi, please drop 4 digits on me every few months <3

CB > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 09:11

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Ouch, that really sucks.

boredalways > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 09:11

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3.6 DI? 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 09:14

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Ugh...

ttyymmnn > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 09:15

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Bummer. Sorry to hear that. The ongoing rolling restoration of my 03 Odyssey continues. I’m having axles replaced next week, and it looks like the idle air controller shit the bed . Talked to my Honda guy and he said, “Hopefully yours isn’t the model with the IAC embedded in the throttle body.” Yeah, let’s hope. I don’t think it is, though.

Good luck, and fingers crossed it’s nothing serious.

shop-teacher > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 09:16

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“I can’t keep dropping four digits into this car every few months. Done.”

I’m really sorry to hear that. I love those cars too, but I’d be right there with you if that was happening to me.  

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 09:27

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You sure its not a BMW?

Michael > ttyymmnn 11/13/2019 at 09:27

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Just for you, ttyymmnn,

https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Motor-Products-AC229-Control/dp/B000C7Z858

It’s separate

Tekamul > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 09:36

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It's just trying to be like the Germans.

TysMagic > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 09:39

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Well that is not fun. Sorry man! Good luck 

Funktheduck > Nibby 11/13/2019 at 09:41

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Since you said please, he may throw in the thumb for free

PatBateman > Nibby 11/13/2019 at 09:48

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That can be taken a few different ways...

PatBateman > ttyymmnn 11/13/2019 at 09:50

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I’ll find out more later today. I’m just hoping it’s nothing too catastrophic. We’ll see, though.

Sorry about your Honda.  We might have to go to a Covert dealership together and negotiate some deals. 

PatBateman > shop-teacher 11/13/2019 at 09:51

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Replaced the damned timing chain four months ago. We thought that would make it reliable for a few years.

We thought wrong. 

PatBateman > Tekamul 11/13/2019 at 09:51

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“We should compete with the Germans”, they said.

“It’ll be fun”, they said. 

PatBateman > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 11/13/2019 at 09:52

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Maybe an Audi. 

PatBateman > boredalways 11/13/2019 at 09:52

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Yup. 

PatBateman > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 11/13/2019 at 09:52

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And we ain’t talk in’ about the boots.

Nibby > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 09:55

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( °  °)

ttyymmnn > Michael 11/13/2019 at 09:57

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Ooh, thanks. My Honda guy might actually install one that I buy myself. He did that with some other parts and I saved a bundle. Cheers!

ttyymmnn > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 09:59

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No apologies necessary. I’ve already put a donor engine and a new transmission in this van. I really don’t want to get rid of it.

wafflesnfalafel > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 10:15

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L ike, “I’m tired and I just don’t want to run today” noises or explodifying noises?  We have had Impalas with the detuned version of that 3.6 and it is a nice motor, seems torquier than the Pentastar.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 10:15

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“More of this motor needs to be made of plastic!!”

shop-teacher > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 10:21

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In that case, this could be a warranty issue.

shop-teacher > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 10:22

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I mean, you’re walking now ... so it might be a good time to talk about boots ...

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > shop-teacher 11/13/2019 at 10:48

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Me thinks this is going to be a warranty issue, I really hope so.

Spaceball-Two > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 10:53

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Bad coil(s)?

shop-teacher > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 11/13/2019 at 10:56

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Me too.

PatBateman > wafflesnfalafel 11/13/2019 at 11:04

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Explodifying noises.  Prepare for an update (mechanic just called).

boredalways > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:04

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Oh no! Sorry you are going through this. Time for unwanted  car shopping.

bob and john > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:13

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yikes. whats a true shame 

CalzoneGolem > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:15

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Boy that 13k seems awfully high. It’s not like a crazy expensive motor.

boredalways > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:15

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Saw update -- GM GFY.

ttyymmnn > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:15

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Grindintosecond > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:15

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You forgot the third option of selling all the parts off it for money and race Lemmons with a junkyard sourced 200k mile version of your engine. ....oh yeah.,

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:16

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Holy shit. Sorry to hear it, man!

What would the fair market value of the car be with a working engine?

Dream Nightmare car...

Mercedes Streeter > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:18

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Diagnosis is catastrophic engine failure due to oil starvation (no CEL for that, oil gauge showed the levels being fine). 

Sadly I’m not at all surprised . I read about engine oil starvation failures all the time where the oil light failed to come on. I’ve also seen plenty of catastrophic damage from overheating where the coolant temp light either didn’t come on (in cars without a gauge) or the needle stayed in the okay zone.

An engine replacement is 13 stacks? Jeezus... :( Hopefully you can find another copy of your dream car! :)

For Sweden > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:19

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If the gauge cluster didn’t indicate your engine ran out of oil, I would ask GM for compensation. I think a consumer should have a reasonable expectation that the oil pressure gauge will either work or fail in an immediately noticeable way.

OPPOsaurus WRX > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:19

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put it on CL ‘ran when parked, probably needs a new battery’

PatBateman > For Sweden 11/13/2019 at 11:22

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It’s a 2008 model with 105k miles.  I have a feeling that the attorney fees would greatly outweigh the compensation. 

PatBateman > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/13/2019 at 11:22

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TECHNICALLY, it “ran”.

fintail > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:23

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LS swap time?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:23

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Damn, that sucks. I have heard plenty of bad things about the 3.6 engines yeeting bearings/rods.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:23

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Holy shit, sorry dude. That is a terrible way to go. 

Tekamul > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:23

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RE: update

FUUUUUUK

Bu t that estimate seems crazy high. Second opinion? Or just be done with it and put a downpaym6on a heavily discounted CT6

smobgirl > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:24

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Damn, that sucks. I’m not tremendously fond of computers and electronics in cars, but with the number of sensors they have you’d think you could flip through a readout  and get exact numbers rather than relying on dash lights that never seem to come on when they should.

For Sweden > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:24

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You know the ambulance chaser advertising on the back of a bus in multiple languages? Call him.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:25

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What’s an LS swap run these days? Truck engines  a plenty at that junkyard I bet!

promoted by the color red > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:26

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Independent shop or a dealership? I feel like an independent shop should be able to replace it for a lot less.

PartyPooper2012 > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:26

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Alternative is to buy a used engine for less than 13k and swap

My neighbor did that with his subaru. He was not happy, but got a low miles engine and runs fine. Just need to hunt down the engine somewhere.. junk yard etc.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Grindintosecond 11/13/2019 at 11:26

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It’s a CTS, a $500 LS drops right in.

PS9 > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:27

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Well there’s only one place to go if you’re tired of unreliable luxury cars. That’ s right; Audi. The older, the better.

PatBateman > fintail 11/13/2019 at 11:27

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If I could keep it as a third vehicle, Yup.  But nope. :(

PatBateman > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 11/13/2019 at 11:28

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I had heard noise about oil consumption on them, so I kept an eye on it. That’s one of the reasons this pisses me off; no CEL, gauges appeared to be fine.   

PartyPooper2012 > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:28

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I don’t know about your engine details or your car details, but I think its 2008 3.6L cts engine?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GENUINE-GM-3-6L-V6-217-ENGINE-09-11-CTS-ENCLAVE-CAMARO-ACADIA-STS-12621267/113888783005?fits=Year%3A2008%7CModel%3ACTS%7CMake%3ACadillac&hash=item1a844cea9d:g:Y4kAAOSwIYJdfYv4

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:29

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In a blender, apparently.

fintail > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:31

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Enjoy the new Corolla wifey picks for you :)

Maxima Speed > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:31

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Wow that sucks. My coworker actually just had the transmission fail on his. Seems like maybe quality wasn’t the greatest in these cars?

PatBateman > Tekamul 11/13/2019 at 11:33

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Be done with it. The car is is worth about $6,500 running with an original engine. Either take a $6k hit, or pay $8k for a new engine, on top of a few thousand for depreciation based on vehicle history.

Math says drop it like it’s hot. 

arl > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:35

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I’m s ure you’ve thought of this, but is there a possibility of a recall on a faulty oil sensor or faulty oil gauge ? If so, you might be able to get this fixed by GM.

Stranger things have happened. My wife’s old 1996 Mustang V6 blew a head gasket and needed major engine work. Turns out there was a recall out for the gasket and they rebuilt the damn thing . I think it had 80K or so miles on it at the time, but it was covered.

Sorry about the car. :(

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:35

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The car killed itself as retribution for being so costly to keep on the road.

user314 > Funktheduck 11/13/2019 at 11:38

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Ash78, voting early and often > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:39

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Gaaaaaahhhh! That sucks.

The moral of the story is the CEL IS STUPID.

Sure, it’ll warn you if your mixture is slightly off or start blinking wildly at a cold-start misfire....but something crucial and catastrophic to the engine? Nope.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:41

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How come it had no oil?

L99 swap looks tasty right now

user314 > ttyymmnn 11/13/2019 at 11:42

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Pourin’ out some 40 for my homies....

wafflesnfalafel > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:45

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poop...

shop-teacher > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:48

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Just saw the update ... *string of violent expletives deleted*

You know, Jake may have bad luck with more frequency, but between this and your last vehicle getting burned down by your mechanic ... you aren’t exactly a paragon of good vehicular fortune.

thejustache > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:49

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As someone that experienced a spun bearing/toasted engine in my wife’s Matrix back in the day that doesn’t surprise me. The CEL is really for emissions - checking oxygen levels in the exhaust. That isn’t going to change because of a spun bearing. The oil light is for pressure and it MIGHT come on if you’re almost completely out of oil, but by then the damage is probably already done. It’s entirely possible starve a bearing of oil and toast it while not setting off any lights.

DipodomysDeserti > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 11:54

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I have a spare 350 you could probably shoehorn in there for a couple grand. Do they have emissions testing in TX?

Grindintosecond > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 11/13/2019 at 12:08

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Looks like your racing lemmons!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 12:09

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Yeah.. not sure it’s the kind of issue you’d get any sort of notification of until damage is already done. Maybe sending oil off for analysis after every oil change could have let you know when a bearing was starting to go but I’m not really sure what could be done to prevent it other than just not buying a car with a 3.6. During my time at Chevrolet I saw a stupid number of 3.6 Camaros come in with blown engines.

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 12:17

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F for Fallen Brethren

nermal > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 12:20

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Just use the $500 you get for scrapping it as the down payment on a new pickup with a 96 month loan. You may even be able to get approved for a Raptor, which you can then take off sweet jumps .

Simple!

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > For Sweden 11/13/2019 at 12:42

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Should I feel stupid now for depending on it in my car from the 80’s? I don’t think so. 

DirtyDodge > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 12:46

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Sorry for your loss.

Chariotoflove > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 13:18

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Oh shit. Yes, if you donate the car it’s deductible. That’s what I did with my Buick because no one even wanted to give me a few hundred for it when the engine exploded.

I feel your pain.  So what’s next?

PatBateman > Chariotoflove 11/13/2019 at 13:35

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Funny you mention that. Just got off the phone with my wife and it looks like we’ll be donating it to a local nonprofit. Get the tax deduction and move on down the road (pun intended).

Wife will be getting a certified pre-owned something or another. No payments over $500. We had already decided to get her a new car before Jan 1 anyways, so this just accelerates the timeline. Maybe a Lexus SUV, maybe a used Suburban WITH A MOTHERFUCKING WARRANTY.

I get her Expedition for the meantime. 

PatBateman > smobgirl 11/13/2019 at 13:38

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Mechanic got on the phone with a GM rep who said that the dashboard should’ve been screaming at me re: oil pressure. No CEL, gauges looked fine. Looks like a sensor took a crap and allowed the engine to continue be like “it’s all good, bro!”

Computer lied to me. 

PatBateman > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 11/13/2019 at 13:39

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LS swap = more than vehicle is worth.  Otherwise, 572 BIG BLOCK FTW. 

PatBateman > promoted by the color red 11/13/2019 at 13:40

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Independent shop. I trust them. Even if it were $5k, that’s still about what I could get on it as a running trade-in value. No matter how I chop it up, the numbers come out the same.

DUN. 

PatBateman > PartyPooper2012 11/13/2019 at 13:41

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That option was discussed.  The numbers don’t work out financially.  

Your boy, BJR > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 13:46

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Oof

TheRealBicycleBuck > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 13:59

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D id it just lose a bunch of oil or does the mechanic suspect a clog some where?

My WRX grenaded when the Subie tech overfilled it with oil....

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 14:12

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This sucks man...do you have enough finances for a massive unexpected cost like this?

phenotyp > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 14:49

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Shit the bed.

Mercedes Streeter > smobgirl 11/13/2019 at 14:56

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ScanGauge or UltraGauge

Either will give you exact readings from all of your car’s reporting sensors. However, sometimes during catastrophic events the sensors themselves will fail, so your SG or UG will read normal.

And sometimes the sensors also won’t operate in certain situations. The coolant temperature sensor in the smart fortwo only works when it’s submerged in coolant. If the reason for you’re overheating is coolant loss, it’s going to read normal until the poor engine cooks itself.

smobgirl > Mercedes Streeter 11/13/2019 at 15:41

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Was thinking more along the lines of whatever I rented last month that let me flip through a dash readout with tire pressures, oil temp, oil life, coolant temp, etc. If a sensor had no data, it said no data available. Like my TPMS light tells me daily 

Bandit > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 17:08

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I can check for open recalls/ warranties in the GM System if you want... otherwise you can get an engine for those cars used off eBay with all accessories for about $1k and they’re pretty simple to swap. 

PatBateman > TheRealBicycleBuck 11/13/2019 at 20:53

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I took the car in yesterday because it sounded like a belt was loose. They said that the car was low on oil, and topped it off. The problem is that there hasn’t been any oil leaks that I’ve seen from the car (it was garaged, the floor is perfectly clean). The car ran fine right after it got an oil change.

No idea what the real problem was, but no CEL and no warnings from the computer to speak of.  

PatBateman > Bandit 11/13/2019 at 20:56

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I’ve had the VIN run for open recalls before, nada. I thought that there was one for the timing chain, but there wasn’t.

Honestly, it’s not even worth it at this point.  The parts/labor needed would be about what the trade-in value is, even lowballed.  

PatBateman > Bandit 11/13/2019 at 20:56

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I appreciate the offer, though.  

PatBateman > nermal 11/13/2019 at 20:57

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BRILL-YANT!!!!

PatBateman > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/13/2019 at 20:57

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:(

PatBateman > DipodomysDeserti 11/13/2019 at 20:57

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Unfortunately, they do.  Bastards.

TheRealBicycleBuck > PatBateman 11/13/2019 at 20:58

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My WRX was in for an oil change. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but when it died, it had twice as much oil as it should have. It died from oil starvation like yours did. When there’s too much oil, the crank whips it into a froth and the pump can’t pump it.

If I were in your shoes, I’d be asking how much oil your mechanic drained from it before he took it apart.

PatBateman > shop-teacher 11/13/2019 at 21:00

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You remembered my truck’s demise! I really do take care of my damned cars. And to my credit, I’m not the one who set it on fire.

I hope to make a lot more money next year (trending that way, luckily), so I’m thinking about buying a new truck, getting it warrantied out to seven or eight years b2b (with a gazillion mile limit), doing normal maintenance, and not worrying about it.  I’d pay a premium for that. 

PatBateman > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 11/13/2019 at 21:01

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No idea.  No leaks to speak of, garage floor is oil-free, never had a problem with oil burning. 

PatBateman > Ash78, voting early and often 11/13/2019 at 21:02

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It loved to tell me about every damned spark plug that needed replacing.  OMG it loved to tell me that.  

PatBateman > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/13/2019 at 21:02

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Plot twist: the car was the more sinister of us.  

PatBateman > arl 11/13/2019 at 21:03

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I’ve looked, but there wasn’t any open recalls on the car.  DANGIT.