how can a simple person tell if their CTS has a sports package

[T2urtle]

I'm doing brakes for my father's co-worker. He isnt into cars or anything.

I got 2006 CTS V6. Looked it up 2 engines 2.8 and 3.6. He told me for sure its a 3.5 V6. So i told him the 2 options we agreed its a 3.6 V6.

Then i looked at parts. I guess the 06 sport has bigger brakes or something. FE1,FE2,FE3 are grouped together and then FE5 is alone. i assume FE5 is sports package. I asked him what size rims and he doesn't know, he knows its not 20's. I told him to go to the trunk and read the sticker for FEx but i dont think he will... Anything i can ask him over the phone that he can tell me.

Googling tells me 06-07 has HID but he wont know that. Or a sport grill.

 

[alkalinetaupehat]

From some digging:

Sport Package - includes: FE3 sport suspension with load leveling,
Stabilitrak, speed-sensitive power steering, performance brake
pads, W-rated tires on 17-inch aluminum wheels ($1,325)

To check what size rims the CTS has, look on any of the tires for something like this - 225/50/17.

The third number denotes your rim size. Those other numbers specify dimensions of the tire size, I looked them up on Tirerack.com

If you have those rims, and the above bits sound like what's on the Cadillac, then you probably have the sports package.

Really, I would get the sports package brake pads anyways, they're going to be higher-performance with OEM quality. It's a win-win.

 

[jlee]

You're doing brakes for the guy and he won't even go to the effort to figure out exactly which car he has?

 

[Kirby]

You're doing brakes for the guy and he won't even go to the effort to figure out exactly which car he has?

Amazing to me that'd he buy the car and not know what it is.

 

[NutBucket]

Take vin, go to dealer, buy pads.

Done.

 

[T2urtle]

You're doing brakes for the guy and he won't even go to the effort to figure out exactly which car he has?

its not that he wont go forth with the effort its that fact that he doesn't know. The only for sure thing is for him to look in the trunk for that sticker. Assuming he finds it.

Amazing to me that'd he buy the car and not know what it is.

Doesn't amaze me at all. Some people (people on car forums) it makes a world of difference if we have the sports package or the upgraded package. The normal world only care about navi, reverse cam and 20's. My GF bought her lancer a while back only reason why she went with the OZ rally edition was due to the white faced gauges and nothing else.

Some people look at cars as point A to be B, even if they drive a E55 AMG.

Well the car is coming here on saturday for me to do the brakes on it. I'm trying to save him money and me sometime getting the parts before hand. Talked to the guy for 3 minutes trying to figure out if he has the sports package or not, i knew already he wasn't a car guy by any means. Guess i'll just wing it, not my money.

 

[speedy2]

There should be a Service Parts ID label on the bottom of the spare tire cover. I think FE5 would show up somewhere on that label.

 

[zerocool84]

Amazing to me that'd he buy the car and not know what it is.

Most people don't even know what year car they have.

 

[sdifox]

VIN lookup is the safest bet.

 

[Howard]

3.6L has dual exhaust, 2.8L has single exhaust on the left

Sport package has the 17" wheels and upgraded suspension (not sure which FE code... but FE1 is definitely for the base model)

If he doesn't know what size his wheels are (does he not know what a tape measure is?) the 16" have wheel weights clipped onto the outside lip of the wheel (behind which the tire bead seats) that can be seen very clearly from outside the car, whereas the 17" have weights on the inside circumference of the wheel\

I believe HIDs were an option for all years - but if he has HIDs, he'll have headlight washers. All years came with projector headlights, so the cutoff won't tell you anything.

base models have these wheels -> http://www.socalwheels.com/content/products/2906/images/IMG_5168.JPG

 

[T2urtle]

howard, thats exactly what i was looking for. i think there was FE1,2 and 5. assuming 5 is sport and 2 is autoleveling or something like that

 

[speedy2]

There should be a Service Parts ID label on the bottom of the spare tire cover. I think FE5 would show up somewhere on that label.

Again.....The ID Label shows everything that went into the car. Wheels can be swapped. Exhaust can be modified. ID Labels aren't something people really switch. lol

 

[SpatiallyAware]

You're doing brakes for the guy and he won't even go to the effort to figure out exactly which car he has?

This x1000... Don't get taken advantage of.

 

[Vette73]

OP the differance between the pads can be told by also looking through the wheel and at the pad itself.

If the pads have the little metal ears on the bottom side of the pad that is without the performance. If they are in the middle of the side then that is with performance.
Go to rockauto.com and look up pads and you can see the pics of each.

Also make sure to have him, or you, call the dealer about the rear diff seal recall. His 2006 has a bad rear seal if it has not been replaced yet. Just give them the Vin and ask if there is a record of it being done.

 

[T2urtle]

thanks marlin for that. I think he bought it new and has been to the dealership a couple of times. He told me dealership wanted $1300 for all the brakes and a flush. So yea might have had it done. i'll call to confirm that for him, he is somewhere in the 70k area.

whats the issue with the seal, it leaks and leaves the rear diff dry?


He found the sticker!!! he also told me its on the driver's door jam as well. FE1 = BASE model. i assumed it was a base model but cant be too sure. Well ordered rotors off amazon and waiting pick up of pads at autozone. I think its going to be a little over $200 for parts and w/e he pays me.

 

[Vette73]

^

There are coupons for Advance auto right now. Just got a set of ceramic pads for my BiLs STS from advance. Check fatwallet for current codes

But yes the seal leaks and the diff runs dry and kills it. The leak can be very small and by the time you hear/see anything its to late.

 

[T2urtle]

yea i always forget about advance's 40% off or w/e it is. I mainly pick up autozone pads cause they are $40 and lifetime. I pick up rotors off amazon because they are normally $30 per rotor shipped.

edit: price difference is about $15 mainly due to tax, might just roll with them since they are local.

How is advance auto at these lifetime warranty brake pad exchanges? At autozone they have me on their computer and i just tell them pads are squeaking and i get new ones if they have in stock.