I must jump in here and say something about the advice to get an extended warranty. Most of the posts I see about the frustrations of an extended warranty revolve on the differences between what the warranty salesman says is covered, and what is actually covered. Read the items covered very closely and decide if you think one of those giant cost items are covered, if you think it will fail, and if you can self-help a repair on that high cost item yourself. In all my dealings with people with extended warranties, the mechanics where the car was brought either denied coverage, or replaced many many items until it was either fixed or not (leaving the car in the same shape) making the owner have to make other arrangements. As a rule, I have seen advice from folks who bought them say they would never again buy one. I also have seen folks who have them, say they got the thing fixed and they are happy. Check the coverage carefully, check the deductible, make sure your interaction with the mechanic outlines as close as it can, the reason your there. Having them fix something covered will cost you the deductible. Having the car back for the same reason numerous times may cost you numerous deductables (and may still not fix the car). This forum has seen just about everything that can go wrong with the car and if no one has butchered the wiring/mechanicals then with a good detailed description of its symptoms, you can narrow it down pretty fast. Good luck with your car, listen to the advice about not taking it to a dealership (they reference most of them as 'stealerships').


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