2001 Cadillac Deville Starting Problems and Solutions
So your Cadillac Deville (2001 model) won’t start and you’re not sure why this is happening, nor how to go about the issue? Keep reading.
In this post, you’ll learn the reasons your Cadillac Deville is refusing to start and how to troubleshoot the problem. If you’re ready, let’s dive in.
Reasons Your Cadillac Deville Won’t Start (Plus Solutions)
Here are some reasons your Cadillac Deville will not start:
1. Bad Starter
When you start your Cadillac Deville and hear a high-pitched whining or grinding sound, your starter may have gone bad. A bad starter will not engage the flex plate/flywheel.
Moreover, mechanical and electrical faults can cause your Cadillac Deville starter to draw too much current, which, in some cases, may exceed what your battery can supply. The consequence of this development is that your Cadillac Deville’s engine will not start as rapidly as it should.
Cadillac Deville starters can also develop a few bad spots on the armature, which causes intermittent function. As a result, you will experience scenarios where the starter works fine as designed, and then nothing happens the next time you turn the ignition key.
The only way to fix a bad starter is to replace it with a new unit. But before then, run simple diagnostic tests to ensure that a faulty starter is not the culprit behind your starting problems or a weak battery.
It could also be a defective neutral start switch or another malfunctioning electrical component within the starter motor circuit.
So, get your Cadillac Deville to an auto repair shop for a new, manufacturer-specified starter after doing the needful. The mechanic should also inspect the electrical connections to the battery.
They should be cleaned and tightened as required. Every cable to the starter must also be inspected for corrosion and replaced as necessary.
2. Bad Ignition
Another reason your Cadillac Deville won’t start may be related to its ignition. This is the issue if you own a 2000 to 2005 Cadillac Deville model. It is a general problem that caused General Motors to recall up to 3.16 million vehicles.
According to General Motors, the ignition keys of Cadillac Deville come with a slot on the head of the key such that when extra weight is placed on the key chain, the ignition will shut off, especially if the vehicle undergoes a ‘road jarring event.’
As a result, owners of the Cadillac Deville within the specified model years (including 2001) were strongly advised to remove extra items from the ignition key until the defect is repaired. In addition, the automaker stated that dealers will only put a key insert into the slot, leaving a single hole for the key ring.
3. Faulty Ignition ‘IGN1’ Relay Switch
Another reason your Cadillac Deville won’t start is when you have a faulty ignition ‘IGN1’ relay, not the ‘Starter’ relay.
This relay switch is located on the driver’s side of the engine compartment, over the left front wheel. You can check your owner’s manual for the exact location of the relay switch.
This problem occurs if you turn the ignition key and the engine doesn’t turn over, and when you turn the key all the way, your dashboard lights go off. If you keep tinkering with the ignition key, you may trigger the anti-theft system.
At first, it may seem as if your battery is bad. However, your ignition IGN1 relay switch may have become bad. You can try 2 things: check the ignition switch or replace it.
If you check the inside of the ignition switch and it is dirty, that could be the reason for the starting problem with your Cadillac Deville. When the interior of a Cadillac Deville’s ignition switch is dirty, it will not allow the pk3 to read your key.
Therefore, try cleaning the ignition key using a quick-drying electronic cleaner. Next, spray a little of the electronic cleaner inside the ignition switch to clean off the dirt, then try starting the vehicle again.
If it doesn’t work, it means the ignition relay switch has become defective. Therefore, get a mechanic to replace the IGN1 relay switch with a new unit. It will cost you a few dollars and only take 10 minutes to replace.
4. Corroded and Broken Master Ground Cable
When the ‘check engine light’ illuminates the dashboard, it could mean all manner of things. However, if the check engine light of your Cadillac Deville comes on, especially when it refuses to start, something is probably wrong with the ground cable.
The ground cable is actually the master ground that comes off the alternator. You can locate this cable when you pop the hood and look to the front of your fuse box by the front left, under the hood, and down towards the frame. You will see a large black wire with a solid 5/8 bolt securing it.
This is the master ground cable, and it can corrode, causing several weird things to occur in your Cadillac Deville. If this heavy gauge ground wire has rusted and is broken, you may also be receiving service theft system and check suspension system messages aside from getting the check engine light message. Your Cadillac Deville will also give you severe starting issues.
Get your mechanic to help replace this heavy gauge ground cable, but only after running other diagnostic tests to ensure no other component is defective.
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Conclusion
If you are experiencing starting problems with your Cadillac Deville, you’re not the only one. Fortunately, most starting problems plaguing this vehicle have been discussed in this post.
Suggestions have also been proffered on how to solve your Cadillac Deville’s starting problems. If you follow them, it is hoped that this issue will be minimized or eliminated permanently and will no longer impact your driving experience.