1981 Cadillac Eldorado problems
The Cadillac Eldorado is a luxury car manufactured and marketed by Cadillac from 1952 until 2002 over twelve generations.
The Eldorado was at or near the top of the Cadillac line. The original 1953 Eldorado convertible and the Eldorado Brougham models of 1957–1960 had distinct bodyshells and were the most expensive models that Cadillac offered those years. The Eldorado was never less than second in price after the Cadillac Series 75 limousine until 1966. Starting in 1967 the Eldorado retained its premium position in the Cadillac price structure, but was manufactured in high volumes on a unique, two-door personal luxury car platform.
The Eldorado carried the Fleetwood designation from 1965 through 1972, and was a modern revival of the pre-war Cadillac V-12 and Cadillac V-16 roadsters and convertibles.
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Common 1981 Cadillac Eldorado problems
The 1981 Cadillac Eldorado is known for several common problems that owners have reported. One of the most common issues is rough running, which can be caused by a variety of factors. The original post in the Cadillac forum describes a car that runs rough, like it's working hard to get up to speed, and has poor fuel mileage, indicating that it may be running rich. The poster pulled the codes and got a 15 and 30, indicating an open coolant sensor and ICS circuit respectively. The idle isn't what it should be, sometimes it's way too high, leading the poster to suspect the issue may lie in the MAP sensor, which they cannot find.
Another common problem with the 1981 Cadillac Eldorado is related to the V8-6-4 engine, which was introduced in 1981 to improve fuel economy. However, it didn't work as well in practice as it did on paper. The system used computer-controlled solenoids to disable the rocker arms of two or four cylinders under low-load cruising conditions, but it couldn't keep up with the demands of real-world driving. The engine would hunt between cylinder settings and generally make the driver crazy, leading most V8-6-4 owners to have the system disabled in a hurry.
The 4-6-8 cylinder deactivation engine of 1981 was another impossibly disastrous undertaking by General Motors. The idea was to shut down cylinders, firing on demand, to save gasoline. However, the technology wasn't refined enough for what it was supposed to do. The engine would interrupt engine smoothness when it went from four cylinders to eight, or six to eight, causing a lag. Despite 13 programming updates, the system was offered for only one year for retail purchases, and it was left for Cadillac's Fleetwood commercial chassis, which were mostly sold for limousines and hearses.
Another common problem with the 1981 Cadillac Eldorado is related to the HVAC system. The poster in the Cadillac forum describes a car that has issues with the heater control module, which will not shut off even though the OFF button has been pressed. The blower fan keeps running, and all of the fan speeds work except that it will not shut off. The poster pulled the ground wire from under the hood, but there are no ideas yet on how to fix this problem.
In summary, the 1981 Cadillac Eldorado is known for several common problems, including rough running, issues with the V8-6-4 engine, the 4-6-8 cylinder deactivation engine, and HVAC problems. These issues can be frustrating for owners, but there are solutions available, such as rebuilding the ECM or finding a replacement MAP sensor.
What years of Eldorado to avoid?
Worst Issues
- rear oil seal leak in the 1994 Eldorado. 1 complaints.
- ac went out in the 1998 Eldorado. 1 complaints.
- dead battery in the 2002 Eldorado. 1 complaints.
- engine uses excessive oil in the 2001 Eldorado. 1 complaints.
- engine runs rough in the 1993 Eldorado. 1 complaints.
What engine is in a 1981 Cadillac Eldorado?
The V8-6-4 was the standard engine in all 1981 Cadillacs (except for the Seville, which had the troubled Oldsmobile diesel engine as the base powerplant and the V8-6-4 as an option).
How many miles per gallon does a 1981 Cadillac Eldorado get?
Based on data from 2 vehicles, 19 fuel-ups and 3,465 miles of driving, the 1981 Cadillac Eldorado gets a combined Avg MPG of 13.87 with a 1.81 MPG margin of error.
How fast does a Cadillac Eldorado go?
1997 Cadillac Eldorado Specs, Features & Options
| Torque | |
|---|---|
| 7.4 seconds | 7.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | |
| 112 mph | 150 mph |
What years of Eldorado to avoid?
Worst Issues
- rear oil seal leak in the 1994 Eldorado. 1 complaints.
- ac went out in the 1998 Eldorado. 1 complaints.
- dead battery in the 2002 Eldorado. 1 complaints.
- engine uses excessive oil in the 2001 Eldorado. 1 complaints.
- engine runs rough in the 1993 Eldorado. 1 complaints.
What engine is in a 1981 Cadillac Eldorado?
The V8-6-4 was the standard engine in all 1981 Cadillacs (except for the Seville, which had the troubled Oldsmobile diesel engine as the base powerplant and the V8-6-4 as an option).
How many miles per gallon does a 1981 Cadillac Eldorado get?
Based on data from 2 vehicles, 19 fuel-ups and 3,465 miles of driving, the 1981 Cadillac Eldorado gets a combined Avg MPG of 13.87 with a 1.81 MPG margin of error.
How fast does a Cadillac Eldorado go?
1997 Cadillac Eldorado Specs, Features & Options
| Torque | |
|---|---|
| 7.4 seconds | 7.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | |
| 112 mph | 150 mph |
1981 Cadillac Eldorado car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Cadillac Eldorado problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine and engine cooling problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1981 Cadillac Eldorado vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1981 Cadillac Eldorado complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1981 Cadillac Eldorado.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-07-18
- Fire: 1
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: ENGINE FAILURE CAUSING FIRE. OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT.
1981 Cadillac Eldorado recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1981 Cadillac Eldorado.
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
- Summary: THE FRONT LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM NUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SECURELY TIGHTENED. THE NUTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF AND WITH CONTINUED DRIVING THE CONTROL ARM FRONT BOLT MAY WORK ITS WAY OUT OF POSITION OR BECOME DISPLACED.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1981 Cadillac Eldorado problems:
Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz 1981 - Disable 8-6-4 & Common Problems
Jul 31, 2011 ... It's externally mounted, it's a simple matter of unplugging it and taping it up, and that will disable the cylinder deactivation, as the ...
1981 TBI problems, toooo rich | Cadillac Owners Forum
Aug 27, 2006 ... This would be very helpful for others. From what I have read, the "running rich" problem is common with the 81 DFI motor... Thanks!
Engine replacement for 1981 Cadillac Eldorado 5.7L diesel : r/Cartalk
Jan 31, 2015 ... Newer engines obviously demand more money. All years are pretty reliable with specific issues related to each generation. 01-04.5 had injectors ...
1981 Eldorado HVAC problems | Cadillac Owners Forum
Feb 22, 2021 ... Rock Auto sells new blower motors and other places also. Pretty common GM part. The other piece to all of this is the programmer module located ...
What common problems can I anticipate if I buy a 1972 Cadillac ...
Oct 20, 2021 ... You can buy an already done 72 Eldorado - they cost $30K. Then you simply need to change the oil regularly and use good fuel and follow the ...
Other years of Cadillac Eldorado
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