2000 Cadillac Engine Diagnostic Troubleshooting

Cadillacs manufactured in 2000 are compliant with OBD-II fault coding. The Cadillac's computer monitors the engine on a routine basis, and once a problem presents itself, the service light indicator becomes active on the dashboard. Troubleshooting this light, and the engine problems that caused it, is fairly easy and quick to do, provided that you have a OBD-II diagnostic scanner. The fault codes issued by the Cadillac's diagnostic system will pinpoint the problem. Other People Are Reading Cadillac Northstar Engine Basics How to Access Diagnostic Codes for a 2000 Cadillac Things You'll Need OBD-II diagnostic scanner Show More Instructions 1
Open the Cadillac's front door and locate the data link connector beneath the dash. The locations of this outlet will very by the model of the vehicle. A 2000 Catera, for example, features this port beneath the steering wheel, whereas a 2000 El Dorado has it located beneath the steering wheel, and to the left, near the hood release.
2 Plug the OBD-II scanner's cord into the data link connector. The next couple of steps may vary by brand of OBD-II scanner, but the differences are slight. Before proceeding, consult the manual for the scanner you own.
3 Turn the Cadillac's engine on.
4 Wait for the scanner to turn itself on. Some will do this, and others will need to have their power buttons pressed. Some scanners will instantly retrieve the diagnostic fault codes, and some will need a "Search" or "Read" command keyed in.
5 Read the code once it appears on the scanner's screen. You can tell the difference in codes by the letter starting the alpha-numeric sequence. "P" stands for power train, "C" stands for chassis, "B" stands for body and "U" stands for network connection. While all fault codes are important and demand attention, if you're looking specifically for engine problems, you will want to pay attention more to the "P" codes.
6 Consult the scanner's user manual for code definitions. Depending on the scanner you own, you might be limited to only the generic codes, and not the codes specific to Cadillacs and other General Motors vehicles. Your Cadillac's user manual will likely not contain that information either. However, these manufacturer's codes are archived online by a few non-GM affiliated websites (See Resource section).