Hi folks. I`m new to this forum and new to Cadillac ownership. I am in the UK, on a small island called the Isle of Man, famous for our TT motorcycle road racing. I have recently purchased (not taken delivery of it yet) a 1978 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Custom Classic. I will be on here for sure picking lots of brains in the future ... if that`s OK? However, the person who sold me the car was checking it over before he releases it to me, and found a couple of lights on the dash (gen and oil) were`nt working. He has checked things out and concludes the bulbs need changing. Can anyone advise me on how to do this please? Many thanks.
G'day Steve,
Welcome to the world of Cadillac ownership.
Now that you have purchased the car, your next purchase, and probably the most important one of your car career is to get the Shop Manual for that car. Don't bother with the CD version, but go for the actual book one. Plus, get the Fisher Body Manual as well. Both of these will become your best friends.
Bruce. >:D
PS. You have an email that requires your attention.
Agreed!
EBay is one of the best places to find the manuals you need ---
First, you'll need this one ---
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-1977-CADILLAC-SHOP-MANUAL-FLEETWOOD-ELDORADO-SEDAN-de-VILLE-SEVILLE-CLEAN-/272440689792?hash=item3f6ebb0480:g:oMwAAOSw8w1X~5ec&vxp=mtr
and also this '78 Supplement ---
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-Cadillac-Service-Shop-Repair-Manual-Engine-Drivetrain-Electrical-Factory-OE-/140815135794?hash=item20c93c7432:g:r1QAAOSwezVWvALg&vxp=mtr
or this supplement ---
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-CADILLAC-ELDORADO-FLEETWOOD-DEVILLE-SEVILLE-Shop-Service-Repair-Manual-SUPP-/332094181572?hash=item4d525b10c4:g:TwAAAOSwYIxX~WrG&vxp=mtr
and ---
The Fisher Body Manual ---
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-Cadillac-ORIGINAL-Body-Shop-Manual-Deville-Seville-Eldorado-Fleetwood-/161840660586?hash=item25ae74806a:g:1tkAAOSw3ydVw6-n&vxp=mtr
Good luck with your new car!
Welcome to the CLC message board.
It's not too hard to do. Joe Caristo is the resident expert on these cars.
Hopefully he will see this and chime in.
Great info fella`s, thank you. I believe two books are coming with the car but not sure what they are yet.
Hi Bruce. I think I`ve done as your requested, sorry about that. If you`d like to check and let me know if anything else is required?
Thanks again fella`s.
Steve. :)
You have done good.
A mate of mine would love to do the TT, but simply riding around the track is going on one of his "to do" list.
Bruce. >:D
Quote from: The Tassie Devil(le) on February 18, 2017, 05:06:57 PM
Don't bother with the CD version, but go for the actual book one.
I find the CDs very helpful. The pictures on the CD is not a good as the manual, but the convenience of the CD manual makes up for the poor resolution of the pictures. The pictures are still usable. With the CD you can print out the pages you need then throw them away after you get them all greasy while working on the car.
Quote from: The Tassie Devil(le) on February 18, 2017, 07:33:04 PM
You have done good.
A mate of mine would love to do the TT, but simply riding around the track is going on one of his "to do" list.
Bruce. >:D
Cheers Bruce.
If your mate is a modern bike rider, the TT is the place but can be crazy. If he`s into a more sedate pace, the Classic TT (Manx Grand Prix) is the one to come too. I`m lucky because I drive or ride the "mountain section" of the course every day to get to work! ;)
Hi guys. Along with advice on how to replace a couple of warning light bulbs, could anyone tell me where to get cables for the sunroof on the 78 Eldorado? Apparently the previous owner tells me that it opened ok but when closing it, it didn`t lift on the passenger side? He pushed it up into situ. Thanks.
Sounds like you have a broken diecast piece that attaches the cable to the sunroof.
I had one break on my '72 Eldorado Coupe, and could never find a replacement. But, that was way back in the early 1980's, well before the internet.
Bruce. >:D
Thanks Bruce. Is there any diagrams or parts lists available for such thing?
It is described in the Shop Manual for '72.
Bruce. >:D
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050890.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.X1972+Cadillac+shop+manual.TRS0&_nkw=1972+Cadillac+shop+manual&_sacat=6000
Hi fellas. I don`t have the car yet, or any books but when the 78 Eldo arrives, I need to renew a couple of dashboard warning light bulbs. Can anyone tell me how to access them please? I`ve been looking all over the internet and can`t seem to find anything. Many thanks, Steve.
Hi Steve,
Welcome aboard. Changing the bulbs shouldn't be too much of a hassle. I know how to do it on a 1957 or 1958 Cadillac but have no experience with the later models. You can try downloading this Haynes Repair Manual:
http://www.cardiagn.com/general-motors-haynes-repair-manual-covering-cadillac-eldorado-2/
It covers your model and may include instructions on how to change those bulbs. As you don't have the car yet, you have plenty of time to get copies of those workshop and body manuals suggested above. You WILL need them, even if you don't do any of the work on the car yourself. Give them to your mechanic to use while they are working on your car - you will get a better result and they will love you for it.
Cheers,
Glen
Hi Glen,
thanks for the welcome. Sadly I`ve tried downloading the link you gave me but on my computer, it wont work ... I`ll keep trying. If not, at least now I know to purchase the book, along with the others. Thanks again, Steve. :)
Hi folks. A Fisher Body book came with my car but it looks like I need to buy these two ....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381971817502?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
The price seems good for the pair but the seller wants $81-55 to ship to the UK ... seems a bit extreme. Does anyone have these books for sale and be prepared to sell and ship for sensible money?
Thanks, Steve.
Hey Congrats on the car, ive worked the last 17 years in restorations shops and am a art teacher, not everyone is learner though reading, so my advice, go on youtube.com watch some videos, if you have a laptop, smart phone or tablet save the links reading is one thing but i've learn audio and visual teaching.
What people dont understand is the car is from the 70's and its dash area which is the most beat on area from sun, think of it like skin the longer its in the sun for years the more brittle it is, now i just took over a job on a 71 GTX RoadRunner all Original numbers match keep in great conditon in a garage it whole life, the owner gave us a couple of things to tweak and make better, one thing he did was give us a new circuit board for the back of gauges. my co worker unscrewed everything and labled all wires a,a b,b 1.1 and so forth they got it all back in and guess what no lights. i asked why did we change the board, and the answer was cause he didnt have lights and cusmtor supplied it. they had 15 hours into a hour paid job, meaning the shop was going to eat this bill. i seen my co workers stressing and asked to see if i can help him on my lunch break no chrage, we are a small team of 4 guys so we watch out for each other. Found out the made in china board didn't have copper exposed good enough to ground out the holes for the bulbs. i rat tail filed them open putting the copper more on the edge so the bulb spring hold-ins. the best is the co working taking the dash in and out 3 times broke some tabs which a little jb weld fixed it.
So my advice,
Do your simply work first, ie. Check Fuses, look under dash for hanging wires, check main grounds for car and dash
if that still leads u to changing bulbs here are some steps for restoration
battery charger or jump box on your battery cause the time it takes you dont want to drain battery also you cant check wbulbs with dead battery
Make a check off list, this is your baby if you want to do your own job take pride go the distance its yours
1. take pics before and every step of the way,
2. before you remove anything make notes on everything that works and dosen't before you start so you don't go nuts after trying find out something never worked before after your done.
3. watch youtube.com videos on the nearest model to your car just so you can get visual refrenece
4. when you start label with masking tape and sharpie each and every wire, count and number screws,
5. get a test light 12volts test each ground and bulb holder as you go both ways as u take out and put in your new stuff.
6. test your dash before reinstalling it cause it suck to take everything back out for one little thing.
watch out wires are brittle clips and wire attachments go slow with cars these ages
JB qwik Is 5 min expoy not JBWELD thats 24 hour same company different names,
heat srink tubing,
electrical tape
12volt fuse tester
Good Luck - Jay
Quote from: manxie on March 12, 2017, 06:18:49 PM
Hi folks. A Fisher Body book came with my car but it looks like I need to buy these two ....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381971817502?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
The price seems good for the pair but the seller wants $81-55 to ship to the UK ... seems a bit extreme. Does anyone have these books for sale and be prepared to sell and ship for sensible money?......
The biggest problem these days is that anything posted out of USA has to go by Air Mail. Surface Parcel Postage is not available, as you can blame eBay for that. They were blaming too many complaints of missing packages to the time it took to arrive by Ship. It usually took at least 3 months to get stuff from USA to Australia. I sent a Manual to a bloke in Queensland, and that cost something like AU$50.00, and that was within Australia.
Even parcels going from USA to Mexico and or Canada have to be sent by Air. But, within USA itself, they can still send Surface.
Now, as for the postage cost, these books are heavy.
Bruce. >:D
Quote from: manxie on March 12, 2017, 06:18:49 PM
The price seems good for the pair but the seller wants $81-55 to ship to the UK ... seems a bit extreme.
Steve, welcome to the world of cheap parts and expensive shipping! Most of the time small parts go into a flat rate box and...$45.00 for shipping!
Sure, most sellers are making money with the "shipping & handling" but if somebody here has the books, the shipping prices will not be much lower. You can also search on line with Faxon literature; they are usually not too expensive with shipping.
Good luck!
Thanks fellas. Also, just had a look on Faxon literature, nothing there :( Thanks again, Steve.
Welcome manxie, ...looking forward to seeing pictures of your eldorado on the Isle of Man...
I honeymooned on Skye and Lewis, wish I could have had my fleetwood brougham, but had leave it in the states. Actually, considering the left side driving, maybe that was a good thing!
I too vote for the book manual. I have found it more convenient than the CD. Oh and try to stay away from those parts from China. They sometimes look ok, but are sometimes of worst quality than the take out.
Jon
I'll weigh in on CDs, at least the newer *searchable* versions.
I just take an old iPad to the garage with me.
And I'm probably going to highlight "inch-pound" after this water pump job . . .
hawk
Thanks fellas. I`ve not used my Eldo yet. A mate is going through it, checking everything over before I put it through our "road worthiness" test. I can then register it locally (the IOM is a very different place to England) and hopefully then get some use out of it ... cant wait ;)
Hi Steve,
First, congratulations on your first Cadillac purchase! I suggest including a description of the car in the subject line to get more responses whenever you post a question.
I had a similar problem when I got my '77 Eldorado in 1998. The light for the gas gauge didn't work. It wasn't difficult to repair, but take your time. As I recall, the wire connection was weak or had slight corrosion. I cleaned it up and may have added a bit of solder. I did not replace the bulb as I figured it was of higher quality than what was on the market 21 years after the car was built. It still works fine today.
I believe I had to remove the top cover of the dashboard. There are screws on both ends of the dash, another above the speedometer, and another in the glove box. I think there were also some screws to remove in the defroster grilles at the base of the dash. The dash pad is sort of clipped on to the dashboard, so that has to be carefully pulled away.
It may be easier to remove some ac outlets to remove some fasteners and pull out the center padded section that holds the ac outlets instead of pulling the dash pad. Hopefully someone else will chime in. In any case, have a helper to remove the dash pad if you got that route as it's very difficult to do alone. Definitely get both service manuals (chassis and body). Good luck and enjoy your car!
Hi Jim,
thanks for the advice, good tip too about putting more detail in the title of my question. I`m going to get the books but the postage / shipping is expensive in my opinion. A friend of mine is heading to the US soon, returning back to UK in June I think? He said he would bring them back for me which will save a few £/$ but means waiting.
Thanks again, Steve.
PS. your surname sounds very Manx (Isle of Man) do you have relatives over here? :)
Quote from: manxie on April 15, 2017, 02:25:38 PM
thanks for the advice, good tip too about putting more detail in the title of my question. I`m going to get the books but the postage / shipping is expensive in my opinion.
The CD is another possibility. The version I got is searchable PDF, and included the body manual. (Come to think of it, it's the Fischer manual, iirc, and my year Eldorado is a Fleetwood. I *assume* it's covered, but have never looked).
hawk
Hi Steve,
These Eldorados are fairly easy to work on compared to new cars. You can get under them easily and the engine is quite accessible, too. Plastic interior trim parts can be difficult to get, but other parts are readily available.
I don't know of any relatives on the Isle of Man. My Dad's ancestors were from Ireland, and I think my great grandfather changed the spelling from Scalley.
Jim
Hi Jim,
thanks for the advice, good tip too about putting more detail in the title of my question. I`m going to get the books but the postage / shipping is expensive in my opinion. A friend of mine is heading to the US soon, returning back to UK in June I think? He said he would bring them back for me which will save a few £/$ but means waiting.
Thanks again, Steve.
PS. your surname sounds very Manx (Isle of Man) do you have relatives over here? :)
[/quote]
To replace any bulb in the telltale area of the dash both sections of the dash have to be removed. I could go on and on about how to remove them but its probably best to refer to the shop manual for instructions and diagrams. The 1977 shop manual is the one you need to buy. Also... if your sunroof / Astro-roof dosen't "lift up" when closed, most likely the spring and C fastener fell off. I had this happen to me and the sun screen has to be removed and the Astro-roof has to be taken apart to access the rear of the glass. Once again the shop manual will show you how to do it. It would take to long to explain it here and there will be pictures in the manual to help.
Joe
Hi Jim,
distant relatives in Ireland explains it ;)
Thanks for the info Joe, when the weather gets a bit better here I`ll have a look at the sunroof / Astro-roof.
A good friend of mine who is also into classic American cars has removed my dash board and repaired my idiot lights. ;D ;D Very happy!!! The problem was two blown bulbs and the others were dirty connections ;D A fellow Eldorado Biarritz Custom Classic owner in the US, very very kindly emailed me the pages of the manual needed for the task. A BIG BIG thank you to Gerald.
I will be ordering my manuals when I can get them this side of the pond for sensible money >:(
Thank you all for your help, I WILL be asking more I`m sure, in the near future. Great bunch of fella`s :) :) Steve.