Coming from the dark side...

[superman]

Hi All,

I recently purchased a 1993 TC with about 90k on it, It looks like it has 20k on it. My 91 Caddy Deville has finally died on me. I've heard good things about this model/generation of town cars and I hope it turns out to be a good purchase. I will never buy a small car. Ever.

Looks like this is my best bet as a new resource of information and technical expertise regarding my new TC. I was previously a member of the http://www.cadillacforums.com/ forum and had more technical help online then I had ever imagined. Not sure how the switch from my caddy to the tc will be but I'm hoping to get a few years out of it.

[cason1]

Welcome to the boards. There is a wealth of knowledge for the taking. I bought my 94 Towncar with 122k back in 2001. I'm now at 235k and still love her. I know I can rely on her as she's never left me stranded. The real trouble spot is the transmission IF it wasn't serviced properly and the air suspension.

I was dumb when I got mine and didn't think of the trans fluid needing to be changed. I had fluid changed once before she went at 145k and it was the first time the pan had ever been dropped. Well not gone, I lost 3rd. Like I said, she never left me stranded. I just had to manually shift it 1,2, run it up to 45 in second, let off the gas, and put it in OD. She would just bypass 3rd with no load on it. The tech section is full of info and anything else, just ask.

There is a tech article for changing the rear air springs and the compressor. Very easy job. I'd read the articles if I were you and get ready to do them as preventive maintainance.

[SignatureSeriesOwner]

I was dumb when I got mine and didn't think of the trans fluid needing to be changed. I had fluid changed once before she went at 145k and it was the first time the pan had ever been dropped. Well not gone, I lost 3rd. Like I said, she never left me stranded. I just had to manually shift it 1,2, run it up to 45 in second, let off the gas, and put it in OD. She would just bypass 3rd with no load on it.

Are you saying, because the fluid was never changed, you lost third, or you lost third as a result of changing the fluid for the first time? Did you have it flushed, or just drain the fluid and add new fluid?

[cason1]

I was having a slight issue so I got it flushed. It was slipping slightly between 2nd and 3rd and 3rd and 4th. About 2 weeks later 3rd was gone. The slipping I had before was from the fluid never being changed. The flush just didn't help the situation any with the problems I already had. I was told it would cost between $1100 and $1800 to have rebuilt. I grabbed a junkyard trans with only 50k on it and it's still in and running great. Fluid is always nice and red right up until I change it at 20k. I've put right at 90k hard miles on that junkyard trans.

[Night Wolf]

lol, nah.... not the dark side.... maybe a distant cousin tho ;)

Hmm, I'm also at the Caddy site, been there for years.. I know the '91 DeVille all too well, I had a '93 Coupe.

Anyway, the tech articals are great here, and lots of knowladge too, you should like it :)

[SignatureSeriesOwner]

I was having a slight issue so I got it flushed. It was slipping slightly between 2nd and 3rd and 3rd and 4th. About 2 weeks later 3rd was gone. The slipping I had before was from the fluid never being changed. The flush just didn't help the situation any with the problems I already had. I was told it would cost between $1100 and $1800 to have rebuilt. I grabbed a junkyard trans with only 50k on it and it's still in and running great. Fluid is always nice and red right up until I change it at 20k. I've put right at 90k hard miles on that junkyard trans.

Well now, that junkyard trans. was a heck of a buy then :cool:
yeah, flushing is a big no-no :)

[LithiumCobalt]

Well now, that junkyard trans. was a heck of a buy then :cool:
yeah, flushing is a big no-no :)

I'll second that. I was having a small "jerk" or hiccup on the highway with mine. First, I thought it was an ignition problem so I changed all of that and didn't cure it. No check engine light, so I thought it was probably time to change the fluid. Car had 87k on it and although the fluid didn't smell burnt, it smelled old. Had a flush done on it and now all of my shifting is sloppy. Every upshift now, the trans "hunts" and "jerks" and then it finally shifts, doesn't matter between what gears, but 3-4 is the worst. I'm going to keep driving it until the trans gives out and finally get it swapped out for a new one. At least then I will have some decisive, firm shifts.

[SignatureSeriesOwner]

Sounds like a plan :cool:
I actually feel I lucked out on mine. The transmission fluid is a nice red color, and I can't feel my trans. shift, except just a little bit when it goes into OD (it's not even noticeable unless you are trying really hard to feel it shift) I think mine is just fine w/ 127K on it. I will probably change the fluid this fall, just to make sure :)

[cason1]

Mine was perfect right up to about 135-140k. That's when mine started acting up which is when I checked it and it needed to be changed bad. 5-10k later it was done.