Cadillac Repair: service steering system, cadillac deville, service bulletins

Question
Hi Bill,
I have a 1997 Cadillac Deville with a 4.6 liter Northstar engine that id displaying service steering system on the dash board, it also is making a dong sound as I drive. I connected a scanner and have found no codes. Can you please help me.
Lou Malave

Answer
Hi Lou,

     The reason your scanner doesn't give you the code for the steering system or RSS is because you need a professional scan tool. Your car has alot of computors and the less expensive scan tools that are bought at the parts stores can only read PCM/ECM engine codes.

    To find out what the current steering code is after the message appears keep the engine running and press and hold the off and warmer buttons on the climate control for up to 4 seconds or until the display does into diagnostics. It would be good to pull over into a parking lot and put the gear selector in park. At that point it will start displaying codes. Write then all down but pay attention to the current codes especially the ones for the RSS module that will have a C in front of a number. Then you will need to repost the codes you get, get a shop manual for your car that explain what they are and how to fix them or get a subscription to AllData.com and then you will have access to the information that the shops have. You can look up the code, find out how to diagnos whats wrong or service bulletins that might apply. To get out of diagnostics just turn the key off and the next time the key is turned on or engine started the dash will be back to normal.

    The dong sound may or may not be related to the code but could be a way of drawing your attention to the dash if there is another problem.  If the dong only happens after the steering message comes up then diagnoseing the code should be your next step.

    Hope that helps. Bill