Hey gang. I couldn't work out where to post this - there is no "electrics" forum thread. Feel free to move it, mods?

I have an Oct 99 Fairmont AU Wagon with half a dozen small electrical problems (brake lights failing, power windows intermittently failing, instrument display dimming out etc).

I live way out east of Melbourne in Yarra Junction (past Lilydale, near Warburton), and to cut a long story short, I want to pin down an auto electrician with a bit of experience with these cars, and a GOOD reputation. I got badly stung with shoddy and unnecessary work (original problems not fixed, while just causing new problems) and it ended up costing me a small fortune (approaching $500 for effectively nothing) just recently. With our first kid running around the house and limited work options out this way - I just cant afford this sort of thing to happen again - it would probably end up with the car off the road for good (its unroadworthy now as is!).

I have put together around $300-$400 to get the beast properly looked at (just the electricals). For me to come up with anymore than that is gunna take some serious effort.

Any help/suggestions from the community out this way?

Cheers all!

Psinet

It does sound like a Body Control Module. It sits to the left of the steering column under the dash.

You won't buy one new so it will more than likely be second hand.

Are you sure? All these various probs that occurred at different times (over a year or so) have just one cause? I am a little dubious - plus I cant afford to be wrong. Anybody else? Concur? Different opinion?

Edit: dbl post

I am thinking you may be right. Time for a new post.

Hi,

To me it sounds like separate issues. The brake light switch it prone to failure on many models. $20 or so from Supercheap. Power windows ? The switch's get dirty contacts. I think there is a Tech article on fixing them. Dash lights ? Could be anything, loose cable or bad connection. If you dont use the dimmer function, I would bypass the crap and run them from the Parking light circuit.

Regards 96ELGli

Prize goes to you 96ELGli - the solution to all the problems were generally unrelated. Now the electricals are ALMOST 100%...