I've got electrical problems with the GTA (again). I have a bad feeling about being able to repair it myself, and I don't have a lot of time to work on it, anyway.

It's a fusible link from the starter, and a 20 amp fuse for dome light, CCC, and horn that are blowing out.

If I have the car towed to a repair shop, and have them work on it, I want to somehow limit the total cost. I paid $2500 for the car in 1999, and the body is in pretty good shape. So is the engine, except for this electrical prob.

This seems like an open-ended problem, meaning, the mechanic might solve it in an hour, or maybe not solve it at all after 8 hours of messing with it.

I definitely don't want to spend over $500 on it.


If the mechanic says he can't fix it for under $500, what are my options? Sell it as a "project car", I guess.


There is a Vocational Tech school near me that has an automotive curriculum. They work on cars for free, and only charge you for the parts. Probably have to sign a waiver holding them harmless if they screw it up worse than before.


Any comments on the above ? ANy other ideas ? I'd love to fix it myself, but electrcal stuff is new to me, and it looks like a pretty tough problem.


Thanks

GTA88

 

does it blow the fuse and link right away? if so I cant see it taking more than couple hours tops to find.

 

Yep, the 20 amp fuse blows as soon as I connect the negative battery cable. And the fuse link blows either the same time, or as soon as I turn the key on (can't remember now)

Only a couple hours doesn't sound too bad !

 

If it was just the dome light and horn, I'd tell you to check for a penny in the cigarette lighter...

 

this might not help but i was tinkiring around and cut the wires to my blower motor (battery connected and popped the starter fusible link. have you added any stereo equip or any thing electrical near radio or heater controls? could have a short like i created just a thought

 

Your problem doesnt sound all that bad. I doubt it would cost close to 500 bucks to fix. The technical school would probably only cost you 20 bucks but then again that can be a big risk.

 

Thanks. I bought this car used. All I've done to it is to punch in some staples into the ceiling to keep the headliner up. But that was about 2 years ago.