A Cadillac, A Chevy And A Dodge

1998 Cadillac Catera, 2000 Chevy Camaro And A 2003 Dodge Neon

May 14, 2007

A 1998 Cadillac Catera that has no brake lights, a 2000 Chevy Camaro with power steering noises and a 2003 Dodge Neon with a Battery Temperature Sensor (BTS).

Question: 1998 Cadillac Catera

Hello, I got your email address off Google. I saw that you helped out another Catera owner. I have a 1998 Cadillac Catera and the brake lights just stopped working tonight. The running lights work, but the brakes, including 3rd, doesn't light up. Can you help me?

Answer: The brake lights are a pretty simple system to troubleshoot. Power for the brake lights come from fuse #12 so make sure that fuse is not blown.

The next thing to check is the brake light switch mounted on the brake pedal. Check for power at the red wire of the switch connector. Then depress the brake pedal and check for power at the black/yellow wire. If there is no power there you have a bad brake light switch.

I'm pretty sure you'll find it's a bad switch. That wire branches off further up the line with one branch going to the auxiliary brake lamp and the other branch going to the rear stop/tail lamps.

Question: 2000 Chevy Camaro

Hi Vince. I have a problem with my 2000 Chevy Camaro 3.8 liter V-6. There is always a noise coming from the steering pump.

So I changed the pump. The noise is still there. Today I put a new steering rack in, changed the oil bleed the System. The noise does not disappear!

It sounds like the pump has to work very hard and the oil gets hot. What else can I do?

Answer: If you're hearing a growling type noise then it's probably being caused by excessive back pressure in the power steering system. This is caused by either an internally collapsed power steering line or a bad power steering rack.

Question: 2003 Dodge Neon

I have the battery light on in my 2003 Dodge Neon, I have taken the alternator off and had it checked, it is okay the car has only 15,000 on it. The battery has been replaced and there is a connector behind the battery by the brake master cylinder that isn't plugged in. I also have turned the key off and on 3 times quickly and have gotten he code P0517 something to do with battery temps??

What is causing this light to come on and stay on? I am not originally owner I got the car after an accident I installed the battery new. Not wiring issue that I can see.

Answer: If that connector behind the battery is a two terminal connector with a pink/yellow wire and a brown/yellow wire then it goes to the Battery Temperature Sensor (BTS). Plugging it back into the BTS should turn the light off.

If you can't find the BTS take it to the Dealer and they will plug it in for you. The car should still be under warranty.

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