1999 Cadillac Deville Computer Codes

[G. Richard Stidger]

I just bought a 1999 Cadillac Deville and want to check the computer
for stored codes.

The ODBII (ODBIII?) interface connector is a 16-cavity and is
different from the connector on my 1992 Olds. The 1992 Olds is a ODBII
system.

Is the 1999 Cad a ODBIII system?

Can anyone tell me how to read out the codes from my Cadillac without
a scan tool?

Is there an online source of the code numbers and translation to
english?

Thanks- Rich

[E. William Lawrence III]

Rich,

The procedure for reading codes on a Cadi without a scan tool is quite
easy and quite complex at the same time.
You can do it with the climate control panel and the Driver's information
center.
Send me an email by removing the "remove" from my reply to address.
Or if you want, put a note up on the board and I will get back to you.
I have to get to work and the procedure is easy but it takes a
great deal of explanation so you can navigate through the diagnostics.

Have a good one.

Bill

"G. Richard Stidger" <grst...@localnet.com> wrote in message
news:rK3jPJ05EVmgXH...@4ax.com...

[Robert Hancock]

All cars starting from the '96 model year use an OBD II system. The '92 will
not be (it wasn't even invented then).

You can look up trouble codes here:

http://www.obdii.com/codes.asp

--
Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada
To email, remove "nospam" from hanc...@nospamshaw.ca
Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/

"G. Richard Stidger" <grst...@localnet.com> wrote in message
news:rK3jPJ05EVmgXH...@4ax.com...

[Gerhard Mueller]

All cars buildt 1996 and up have OBDII, all cars before have OBDI.
See http://www.obd-2.com to get a cheap scanner solution for OBDII.
Otherwise you have no chance.
Gerhard

[E. William Lawrence III]

Cadillacs are a little different.
While it is OBD-II you can retreive codes through the drivers information
center using the climate control head.
Operation varies slightly from year to year but basics are the same.
Just about anything else you will definitely need a scan tool for.

BTW OBD-II actually began before '96 but not all cars were required to have
it so only a percentage of vehcles were OBD-II compliant before the '96
model year when government regulations mandated OBD-II accross the board.
(if anybody really cares)

Bill

"Gerhard Mueller" <ger...@tricom.han.de> wrote in message
news:ac8242$nfnjh$1...@ID-56972.news.dfncis.de...

[spam...@spamstop.net]

On Fri, 24 May 2002 06:52:45 -0700, "E. William Lawrence III"
<bi...@REMOVEteamchevrolet.com> wrote:

>Cadillacs are a little different.
>While it is OBD-II you can retreive codes through the drivers information
>center using the climate control head.
>Operation varies slightly from year to year but basics are the same.
>Just about anything else you will definitely need a scan tool for.

And GM does NOT approve On Board Diaganostic Devices to be used
for diagnostics.

The factory approved method is to use a scan tool.

The data displayed by the control head is not prioritized in any
way and may or may not contain accurate data (if anybody really
cares).

[Ron]

In article <3cfb901d....@news.prodigy.net>, spam...@spamstop.net writes:

>And GM does NOT approve On Board Diaganostic Devices to be used
>for diagnostics.
>
>The factory approved method is to use a scan tool.
>
>The data displayed by the control head is not prioritized in any
>way and may or may not contain accurate data (if anybody really
>cares).

Well, I really care!!! Many of my older friends have migrated toward Caddy's.
They rely on me for help. Do you mean to say that the "Onboard" diagnostics
procedure is no longer a valid *Quick Check* as a preliminary test?

Please explain. My pals continue to depend on me for help, and I don't want to
let them down. What model year did this quick test become an invalid
measurement?

Ron

[Death]

rrid...@aol.comatose (Ron) wrote in
news:20020603231223...@mb-ft.aol.com:

What do you think a scan tool is?? It is an on-board diagnostic device.
I personally have not read in *any* printed or cd based GM factory
service manual from 82 up to 2003 that says not to use an OBD device
(aka SCAN TOOL)

[spam...@spamstop.net]

On Tue, 04 Jun 2002 08:02:03 GMT, Death <de...@eternity.org>
wrote:

Hello?

A Scan Tool is an offboard device, it did not come with the car.

[Ron]

In article <Xns9223B18AC431...@24.130.30.35>, Death
<de...@eternity.org> writes:

>What do you think a scan tool is?? It is an on-board diagnostic device.
>I personally have not read in *any* printed or cd based GM factory
>service manual from 82 up to 2003 that says not to use an OBD device
>(aka SCAN TOO

Are you saying that all my Chilton, and Motors, and Model Specific Factory
manuals are giving me inaccurate results from the I.P. Diagnostics when I do a
*simple* fault code test using the onboard self-diagnostic procedure? Maybe
I've been doing it improperly for the past 20 years as it's outlined in most
Professional grade service manuals?

Please don't assume I'm being sarcastic or antagonistic. That is not my
intended response.

I do have a scan tool, for what that info is worth. I also have both a Sun
Diagnostic Scope, as well as a portable, 12v D.C. powered Allen Scope, Fluke
DVOM for pinpoint tests, as well as a 30+ year accummulation of specialty tools
and equipment, as well as my library of accumulated service materials.

Your statement seemed to imply that the I.P. Diagnostic readout since "1982"
till the present is totally immaterial, and useless without a Scan Tool. I'd
disagree with such a blanket condemnation, and am looking forward to your
reply.

Convince me that I'm incorrect in my thought process.

With respectful disagreement,

Ron

[Death]

rrid...@aol.comatose (Ron) wrote in
news:20020605193109...@mb-cj.aol.com:

I was responding to the previous poster saying that only the scan tool
method was the only method that is approved by GM.

After all if they didn't want you using the ATC head for diagnostics,
they wouldn't have put that functionality in it.

Right?

[Ron]

In article <Xns9224BFD049434...@24.130.1.22>, Death
<de...@eternity.org> writes:

>I was responding to the previous poster saying that only the scan tool
>method was the only method that is approved by GM.
>
>After all if they didn't want you using the ATC head for diagnostics,
>they wouldn't have put that functionality in it.
>
>Right?

Right! I apologize. I misread/misunderstood your post.

Mia Culpa

Ron

[spam...@spamstop.net]

On 05 Jun 2002 23:31:09 GMT, rrid...@aol.comatose (Ron) wrote:

>In article <Xns9223B18AC431...@24.130.30.35>, Death
><de...@eternity.org> writes:
>
>>What do you think a scan tool is?? It is an on-board diagnostic device.
>>I personally have not read in *any* printed or cd based GM factory
>>service manual from 82 up to 2003 that says not to use an OBD device
>>(aka SCAN TOO
>
>Are you saying that all my Chilton, and Motors, and Model Specific Factory
>manuals are giving me inaccurate results from the I.P. Diagnostics when I do a
>*simple* fault code test using the onboard self-diagnostic procedure? Maybe
>I've been doing it improperly for the past 20 years as it's outlined in most
>Professional grade service manuals?

What I am saying is exactly what I said.

I was a Vehicle Service Integration Engineer for General Motors Advantage
Products for 6 years.

I quote the Seviceability Design Best Practices Manual:

Retrieving Diagnostic Infomation (On-Board vs. Off-Booard.

The primary means of retrieving diagnostic information is with the hanheld
diagnostic scan tool...On-board display of diagnostic information is
insufficient for vehicle repair due to its limited capabilities (i.e.
accuracy (my edit)). For this reason, on-board display is not a service
tool, it is a luxury item for use by the vehicle owner.