1998 Cadillac Sedan de Ville - Word Association

This 1998 Cadillac Sedan de Ville with only 83,000 miles on it is for sale in Elberfield, Indiana with an asking price of $1,000. Why's a pretty clean car like this with so few miles on it going for so little in this insane used car market? Let's play some word association. I say "Cadillac Northstar" and you say? Ding-ding. "Blown head gasket?"  Correct. 

That's too bad. These last of the K-body DeVille's aren't handsome and have aged terribly but they're super comfy cruisers and are packed with features. These seats are to die for. And when the Northstar isn't breaking your heart and back account, it runs smoothly and provides adequate scoot. And it runs on regular. 

I'd figure $2,500 to $3,000 to swap the head gasket on this. Hopefully with the fix it won't eat another one. Get a good warranty too. I wouldn't use a cheapie garage and it's certainly not something shade tree hacks like me should do either. What might be fun is to swap in a 3800 V-6. Certainly, more than doable and could be less expensive. It won't have near the punch of the Northstar but it would be far more reliable. However, you're going to have look hard to find a shop that will do it if you can't do it yourself. 

Problem with the Northstar engine was the head bolts didn't stay seated in the block. They became "loose" and compromised the head gasket causing overheating. Problems arising usually on engines that would have these issues between 80,000 and 110,000 miles and 1996-1999 Cadillac's were the most notorious. This '98 here is like a case study. 

Problems with these engines wasn't allegedly rectified until 2005 so that means there's a lot of Cadillac's with the Northstar that have gone to an early crusher. I can't tell you how many Eldorado's with the Northstar I've swooned over but passed on because of it. Damn shame. Personally, I wouldn't buy this car or any Cadillac with the Northstar even if the head gasket was good or had been replaced. Just too risky. 

Cadillac switched the DeVille to the K-body chassis in 1994 that underpinned the Seville. 1994-1996 models have pseudo fender skirted rear quarter panels that they eliminated on the 1997-1999 models. Made for an awkward look akin to what GM did with the Chevrolet Caprice starting in 1993; it wasn't meant to look like this from the start. Combine wonky styling with the Northstar issues and it's no wonder Lexus got such a foothold in this county as quickly as they did.  

Elberfeld, Indiana is a tiny town on the Indiana-Kentucky border less than an hour from Evansville and roughly 90 minutes or so west of Louisville. Population as of 2010 was 625.