After many years and many miles of faithful service, my '85 GT suddenly started to develop problems last week.  First one of the headlights started to give a terrific "clunk" that shook the car each  time it closed. Then the "check engine" light started to glow (seems like  when we hit a large bump in the roadway), then the "battery" light began to glow lightly, then off, then brightly, then off etc. And finally a loud groaning started coming from the back end every time we braked hard or turned the car left. To top it all off, we got hit in a parking lot, damaging the rear bumper of the Fiero!! All of these during the time span of one week!

Since I have Parkinson's Disease, fixing these problems by myself is out of the question.  Does anyone know where I can take it to get repaired and not get ripped off.

The car is completely stock and was in near excellent condition before biting me in the a**.  We don't have a second car to drive, so we will have to rent one for the duration.

HELP!

Thanks for the tips.  Tomorrow it's down to the brake and suspension shop to investigate the groan in the back end. Then off to the Pontiac dealer to get an estimate on fixing the conditions that are causing the warning lights to come on (if I can find a Pontiac dealer in North Van who will touch a Fiero!). Then finally off to a bodyshop to fix the rear bumper.

If it comes to too much money, then there will be another Fiero for sale and I'll be driving a new Honda Fit Sport (an ideal car for someone with Parkinson's).

Just kidding about selling the Fiero guys and gals - the Fiero goes to my 25 yr old son, Mike, when I can no longer get into it.

David,

Cpt has for the club the ECM unit that can read all the codes and details of your car, I would suggest waiting for him to come back from his trip instead of asking a dealership to do so.

The club also does tech days where we all help each other out, this could be one of those days where we could assist you in some of the repairs you have, even tough most of us have Spring/Summer lists to take care of ourselves...lol

Brian ...

I hear what you are saying, but we need the car to get around since it is our only car.  It is in at Carter GM right now getting an estimate for a few of the things that are wrong with it.  If it survives and comes up running again, we will try to make it out to the Captains to get a true look at what ails it, and also to one of the tech sessions to seek some help.

If not, then when our son graduates from Emily Carr in a few weeks, we will help him put his new engine in the modified (but engineless) Chevy Cavalier that is in our drive way and use that for awhile. A Cavalier with a newly hogged out V6 engine in it should be a fun run!!! Too bad I can't drive it.

Cheers

Well I got my Fiero back from the dealer without having to take a second mortgage on my house (almost but not quite)!

In summary, they said I need: a/ A new EGR valve and solonoid, b/ A new RH headlight assembly c/ New rear strut mounts (they say the old ones are rusted, although I can't see it) d/ A new (or professionally welded) right bank exhaust header and/or manifold e/ A 4 wheel alignment f/ The labour to re and re the parts (above)  g / About 4 hrs of other work on various things, (squeaks, rattles etc.)

My question: Do these things seem reasonable, and would it be possible for an old man with Parkinson's (me) to fix them by myself (with help from a good mechanic friend of my sons)? I plan to buy the parts I need from The Fiero Store at about half the price that the dealer charges (he will be importing them from the USA also!). I have the factory '85 Fiero Shop Manual for instructions (if I can read them!).

Below is a somewhat different picture of my car.

Actually just over $4,000 with the bodywork repair.  I agree - too much.  We (my 25 year old son, the retired mechanic and now photographer, his friend the mechanic, and I) are going to try to do the fixes by ourselves.  We would be eternally grateful for a little advice every now and then, and if some of you have good parts we could use, we will be pleased to purchase them from you.

Because my son is in his final stretch at Emily Carr (LOTS of work on projects and graduation activities), we will just be doing "keep it running" jobs on the car until the 3rd or 4th week in May. We can live with most of the problems until then, now that we know they are not critical.

Regarding the exhaust header: The dealer simply referred to it as "R/Side header is broken. Needs new one"

Thanks to everyone who has helped me with these problems. You are a great bunch. I panicked when all these problems appeared at the same time (especially since my illness leaves me unable to even handle a screwdriver or a wrench).

Cheers

For stuff I don't have tools for, I bring my cars to Fred's Automotive in Vancouver.  They've managed to keep my Buick running and (since Dr Fiero doesn't really have a business fixing Fieros anymore) I've had my water pump and a few other things on my Fiero fixed by them also.

I graduated from high school with Gord (the main mechanic) and know the family.  Pricing is reasonable.  Certainly not as sky high as the dealers.  For stuff like suspension or engine work, I trust them.