Allante’ Atlanta Car Club

Tech Session

September 16, 2006

Classic Cadillac

Dick Hussey, Featured Speaker

Dick opened his discussion with a very moving tribute to Ken Kogge, Founder of the Allante’ Atlanta Car Club. 

Evolution of Allante’

   The car was created with Pininfarina design and the drive train and electronics of the car were by General Motors. GM used the best components at that time in the creation of the car. The car was a first for GM and Allante’ with onboard diagnostics, redundant lighting and state-of-the-art technology.

     87’ Allante’

• 4.1 liter high performance engine
• 440 turbo hydro transmission

88’ Allante’

• GM made changes this year to make the motorized top pull down easier to adjust by adding an adjustment screw under the J hook on the lower rear bow.
• Weather stripping was redesigned for convertible and hard tops. It was previously hollow rubber tubes. It was upgraded to latex.
• The motorized trunk pull down was added.
• Headrests were redesigned for better rear visibility.
• Dick cautioned us to be very careful in buying a hardtop on eBay for early model Allante’s. You can’t convert the early weather stripping and replacement weather-strips are not available at this time. 

89’ Allante’

• 89 Allante’ weather stripping was upgraded and became less of a problem.
• GM modified the convertible top to a “self-stacking” top and made the boot well 1-1/2 inches deeper through the ’93 model year.
• Dick noted the earlier boot well springs can break and any retrofit to a later model requires significant total part changes, and modification to sheet metal under the boot well.
• The ’89 Allante also had a more powerful engine, horsepower increase from the 170 HP 4.1 to a 200 HP 4.5 liter. There were also some modifications to the 440 turbo hydromantic transmission including larger axles to handle the increased power.

• The outside rearview mirror standoffs were shorter and were brought in about 1-1/2 inches to correspond better to line of sight.
• The number of bulbs was reduced in tail lights in very late 1989 models helping in the heat problem. The bulbs can generate a lot of heat and cause the bulbs to melt in their sockets. The fewer number of bulbs were used through all subsequent model years.
• This was the first year for the Speed Sensing Suspension. Note that the system for Allante’ has been discontinued and you will have to replace with Eldorado /Seville system. Last quoted at $875.
• If you get a fault message on the system, Dick mentioned there is a procedure on his website for shutting the message off. The procedure does not shut down the system.

90’ Allante’

• The CD player was added in the Information Center.
• A driver side air bag was added.
• Traction control was added. This feature works in conjunction with the braking system, and keeps front wheels from spinning in slippery conditions
• The hard top was an option for the first time. All 1987 through 1989 models left the factory fitted with a hardtop.
• The first 1200 ’90 Allante’s – the hard top fits the same as the ’87-’89.
• The headlight switch is different.
• In February 1990, GM made significant changes to the car. 
• The convertible top was changed.
• V4J was the mid year model change designating the top change.
• The front motorized latches were changed and kept thru ‘93
• Visors were replaced – the ones used on 1987 through early 1990 models tended to droop. With the new style, over time the vanity mirror frames break and the lenses fall out. But they do not droop.
• Garage door opener provision was eliminated.
• Discontinued the chrome on the hood
• Battery locks were deleted with the V4J change.
• Added pockets behind the seat for the boot trim pieces
• Changed the boot on back.
• The convertible top was really the only major change in mid year.
• The 1990 model year was the last model year to offer a factory installed cellular phone.

91’ Allante’

 

• On the Bose speaker system, the amps were increase to 200 watts. Dick mentioned the grade of electronics is really not good. If your amplifiers are not playing, it is best to unplug as you may develop problems with overheating and in the extreme case even a fire. It’s a BOSE problem not Allante’ problem.
• The ’91 and ’92 Allante’s had a changed transmission---a 4T60E electronic transmission. The solenoid valves are unique to 1991 and 1992 Allante’s. 

• The evaporator core and condenser were changed and other AC piping was all changed.
• Brake pedal linkage was changed about 2/3’s of the way through the 1991 model year.
• Somewhere along the way in later 1991, the trim around the door opening was changed to black no matter what color interior was in the car. Up to that point, this welting had been color coded to match the interior.
• Sometime in early 1991 model year production, the telescoping section for the spare tire in the trunk floor was eliminated.

92’ Allante’

• Were ALL BUILT IN ’91
• Virtually nothing seems to be different between late 1991 Allante’s and 1992 Allante’s. It was curious indeed that for many, many years there was a significant price difference shown in used car books between these two model years.
• The Indy Pace Car, a 1993 model, was actually built in Nov ’91.

93’ Allante’

• Tremendous changes to the car.
• The Northstar engine was added in the January 1992 production, with 4T80E transmission.
• The seats were changed
• Redundant lighting was eliminated
• Doors were changed.
• Revamped suspension.
• GM made another drive train change in July or August. 
• Somewhere around VIN #126600 GM did an engine mod to V4J. You can check your numbers on the tag in the spare tire well.
• A/C compressor was different, also hose manifold assembly.
• PCM (powertrain control module) was changed, with different PROM (chip).
• If you make any drive train changes know which transmission you have. With V4J Northstar engine you can use 1993 ETC and STS replacement.
• Changed finish on boots and side trim in later ‘93s
• Added urethane body bushings in car.
• Other changes include:
• Top cover on Northstar engine – first few hundred cars the top was rigidly mounted to the plenum.
• In spring of ’93, different mounting bolts with torque fittings on bolt heads were installed. Rubber was installed under bolts so that if plenum blew up, it would press on top and come down again.

Recurring 93’ transmission issues:

• Internal shift solenoid – an upgrade kit can be put in; costs about $600-$700.
• Input shaft speed sensor wiring problem. This causes a Code P056 to set, and results in harsh shifts and the SERVICE ENGINE light coming on. It is about a $1200 problem to fix.
• In a few instances, the internal pressure control on the transmission may have trouble codes that show up P076. You can clear the codes to improve operation. But if they keep coming back, internal repair likely needed.

Additives were discussed. 

• Lucas additive for power steering works wonders. Norman Penfield has been using Lucas Additives to power steering, transmission and engine oil. He has had no leaks or problems. Dick mentioned that when changing the transmission fluid, at 30,000 or 60,000 miles (depending on driving type) adding Lucas oil additive to transmission extends the life of seals.

Dick talked about headlights/tail light seam leaks –

• To get moisture out of headlight/tail light, use a flowable silicon (can buy at most automotive stores). You can slowly put a small stream of silicon along the license plate pocket seam (which may be where most tail light seam leaks occur).
• The rubber gasket on the tail light will have to be recemented.
• Repair any cracks in tail light covers.

Convertible Top:

• If you have noisy header motors:
• Your spline shaft may be hitting covers and
• It could be an internal problem where your gears are chewed up and it will quit working.  Note – the top motors are the same for the ’90.5 thru ’93 Allante’s.
• Top motors when they were available cost about $1200. Dick has had the gear retooled and manufactured – $275 for a rebuilt assembly.

87‘– 92’ Allante’s:

 

• OSM modules (lighting system). Computer is not receiving data – the problem may be with the socket and it’s not allowing feedback to travel back to computer. 
• A filament may be out somewhere. Look for 4 points of light on each side. 
• replace all bulbs and if that doesn’t work ,
• replace all sockets (this could be an extreme case)
• Important note if replacing sockets, the sockets must be in and latched (about a half turn).

Electric problems – through 92’ Allante’s.

• Central power supply may need replacing if you’re having electrical system problems. 
• The cold solder points may be the cause on early cars and wiring connectors. Connectors may need changing. 
• But if you have CPS p/n 16088406 in your car – that a good CPS and that’s not the problem.

Electronic Problems:

• If you’re having electronic problems, you will need to pull all modules out from dash and send to Dick. He has test cars for the different years to use with your modules. Usually installing all the modules will enable him to find out which one is causing the problem. In one case when this approach did not work, he found a metal temperature sensor on engine was the cause of one electronics problem. Usually this type of problem is something in one of the modules, and not something on the car.

93’ Northstar Engine Problems:

• Two problems –
• 1.Oil leak issue
• 2.Head bolt issue
• If you have oil leaks which could be in upper and lower crankcase, you may stop the leaks with Seal Lube. Dick did however mention that he has not yet found that product again. He will try to locate the manufacturer.
• Norman mentioned the Lucas oil additive he uses and he has no oil leaks.
• If you have a problem with your head bolts you may develop a head gasket problem. If the rear head bolts pull out of the block, the car will overheat frequently. The engine can be repaired or rebuilt as long as the cylinder sleeves are not cracked.

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