1988 Cadillac Allante 4.1
Summary:
A true American sports car
Faults:
Normal maintenance items have been replaced on this vehicle.
One radio speaker doesn't work any more, but I had it replaced, and there was one little short in a fuse box in the trunk, but I repaired it.
General Comments:
Love this car. Always wanted one. It rides like a dream, and gets decent gas mileage.
Upgraded the wheels and tires to 18 inch chrome wheels and Pirelli tires.
The only thing I don't like about the car is not having an electric convertible top, but I will put up with that, since I leave the top down the whole summer and don't drive the car in the rain or the winter, then I store it with the hardtop on.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 12th March, 2013
12th Jun 2017, 12:37
Hmm. You contend the onboard diagnostic system is "even ahead of what we have now".
Yet, you needed a shop manual just to find a blown fuse?
12th Jun 2017, 22:43
Maybe he meant an owner's manual. I always look in mine quickly to easily find out what fuse to replace.
17th Jun 2017, 01:33
The comment makes no reference to an owners manual, but sure, whatever.
17th Jun 2017, 12:49
I know that. I do use that condensed manual to locate fuses. If you can always find the correct fuse to every given accessory in today's modern cars, under both the hood and/or under the dash, you are absolutely amazing. I am also guilty of referring to automotive YouTube videos for my cars and trucks as well. Ever drill out the center of a modern fuse, then solder and extend a line to a more accessible inline fuse? That's a cool trick you probably have tried too. Did it with a hidden inside a center console kill switch to prevent or thwart vehicle theft.
12th Jun 2017, 00:31
I love my 88 Allante, but have had a lot of trouble with it. I think the person who had it before didn't take very good care of it. I've had it about 10 years. It helped a lot to find Allante Source in West Palm Beach. Owner Dick Hussy told me that the problem with my transmission not shifting up past 2nd was electrical. He then sold me a complete shop manual on it. The problem was a blown fuse. Before that I spent $2,000 because I listened to the wrong person. This book has saved the whole idea of owning a car like this.
The car has an onboard diagnostic system, that is way ahead of its time. It's even ahead of what we have now. That was about a year after I got the car. The wrong guy took the transmission all apart and told me that it couldn't be fixed,and charged me $1,000 for not fixing it. I then got another transmission online for $400, and $200 shipping. I paid another $400 to have it put in. It still had the same problem. After that I got the book, and went by the trouble shooting procedure to find the blown fuse. The transmission that I got has given me a lot of trouble. It was supposed to be low mileage, but when I changed the fluid, about two years ago, it was obvious that it was very high mileage. I have another replacement now. I think that all of the problems that I've had have to do with all of this tinkering.