1995 Cadillac DeVille from North America - Comments

Only problem with vehicle is Service Engine Light comes on while extended driving.

This is my first Caddy of many other vehicles. Surprisingly, I have taken on my friend's STS at highway speed with ease, despite the non-Northstar engine! I continually get praises about the condition of my car, as well as previous stories. Seems like when you own a Caddillac, you become the victim of many in the upper-echelon!! My next Caddy will definitely be a new model DTS or STS. I LOVE this car!

You also become a victim of technicians at Cadillac dealerships, especially when you don't know anything about the mechanics of your car...

Get yourself an OBDII code reader, one good enough that it is able shut off the check engine light if the trouble codes you read are not important (which you won't know until you read them and look them up).

Actron make some fine code readers, do a web search and find their site. Their 9125 is OK, the 9135 is better (and it'll even decode the trouble codes for you so that you don't even have to look them up).

Sometimes it's just that you didn't screw the gas cap down tight enough, little things like that.

You could also just take your car to AutoZone and they will use one of those Actron code readers and scan the codes for free. The code readers are nice to have, but the ones that decipher the code (instead of just giving you the code itself), and allow you to erase the codes, sell for around $150, kind of pricey for something that (hopefully) you will not be having to use on a regular basis...

Actually a 1995 is probably not going to have the OBD-II system in it, they did not start using that until 1996. The code readers will not work with the older system, but in some GM cars you can put a jumper (paperclip works fine) between two of the terminals on the diagnostic plug, then count the number of times the check engine light flashes. You don't need a code reader, but you will have to have a reference to look up the codes, which you can probably find online.

Code readers will work with OBD 1. Using a code reader, you can obtain information from the engine management system, and the ECM, in the form of a datastream.

OBD 2, is just more standardized. All MFG's had to have the same system, the same diagnostic plug within 20 inches from the steering column. They also produce a load full of more information, and every vehicle had to have this.

A 95 De Ville has a built in capability to pull codes without having a reader.

You just simply press both "warmer (red) " and "off" buttons together for a few seconds. The car will tell you what are wrong, although sometimes it does not.