CadillacConcours1996Overview/cadillac/concours/1996/base/

1996 Cadillac Concours

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Concours.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1996 Cadillac Concours is a passenger car whose engine is serviced with 8 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, a clear maintenance signature for a model that otherwise generates a modest reliability record. With only 8 owner complaints on file, zero recalls, and steering flagged as the top complaint area, this model year sits among the quieter entries in the Concours data set. For researchers, that means the 1996 Concours is less a case of widespread defects than one where steering-related reports warrant the closest attention.

Model year1997199619951994

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 770 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731179. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 770 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731179
Engine air filter19259030
Fuel filter25121468
Spark plug19208535
Front wiper blades25689175 discontinued
Serpentine belt12588412 alt 19172679
Thermostat12559807 alt 03522676

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length209.8 in
Overall width76.8 in
Overall height55.9 in
Wheelbase113.8 in
Curb weight3999 lb
Track (front / rear)61 / 61 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 8 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-7-3-4-5-6-8. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity8 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity8.0 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)90 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)15 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)30 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)14 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub107 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-7-3-4-5-6-8
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5,000-8,000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug TypeAC 41-929
Spark Plug Gap0.050 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Capacity8.00 oz
RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.00-3.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46

Service checks

Pressure Test15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature170-190 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)48-55
Injector Primary Resistance8-25 na ohms
Engine Compression140

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket38 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle81 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake ApplicationWITH DISC
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.433 in / 1.276 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
137 ft. lbs., step 2: 12037 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
1M11 bolts30 ft. lbs
2M11 bolts70 degrees
3M11 bolts60 degrees
4M11 bolts45 degrees
58.9
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 357 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 100,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 100,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
At 15,000 miThrottle Cable (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Throttle Cable (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1996 Cadillac Concours recorded 8 consumer complaints, one more than the 7 complaints filed for the 1994 model year, while recalls and investigations remained at zero for both years. Technical Service Bulletins declined from 9 in 1994 to 7 in 1996, indicating a modest reduction in manufacturer‑issued service guidance. The leading complaint areas for 1996 were Steering (4 reports), Electrical System (1), Vehicle Speed Control (1), and Seats (1), with single crash‑ and fire‑related complaints also noted. Because the complaint count rose slightly but no recalls were introduced, the 1996 year does not show a clear improvement or deterioration relative to its immediate predecessor. Overall, the 1996 Concours presents a mixed but neutral reliability signal, making it an acceptable choice only if other condition and price factors favor it.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
7
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
8
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 8 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Steering4
Electrical System1
Vehicle Speed Control1
Seats1
Engine & Engine Cooling1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 7 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
9909410042000-01-01Air BagsINFORMATION REGARDING SWITCHES TO TURN OFF AND ON FRONTAL AIR BAGS FOR PASSENGER CARS AND…
9909400042000-01-01SeatsGENERAL MOTORS BEGAN PROVIDING CHILD RESTRAIN SEAT TOP TETHER HARDWARE PACKAGES TO…
990866002A2000-01-01Latches/Locks/LinkagesTHIS BULLETIN INFORMS DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THE TRAP RESISTANT REAR COMPARTMENT (TRUNK) KIT…
431701B1998-08-01StructureMODEL YEAR 1994-99 PASSENGER CARS AND TRUCKS , BUMPS OR RUST COLORED SPOTS IN THE PAINT…
9711015333041997-11-01SuspensionCOMMENTS OF A RATTLE/LOOSE NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. *YC

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Concours. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1996 Concours take?

8 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1996 Concours have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.