Modifications and Repairs
note: goes from newest to oldest now

1. Coil -- 5/1/2009
   At another attempt to figure out this car's dilemna, replaced the coil... still runs the same, still heats up and shuts off.

2. Battery terminal and battery -- 7/12/2008
   Battery would no longer hold a complete charge for more than 24 hours even if driving vehicle. Terminals corroded, battery leaking from positive terminal. Cut wires, cleaned corrosion, put new ends on cables. New wal-mart battery, buttoned up.

3. Front brake rotors -- 6/15/2008
   Rotors shot. Too warped to machine. Nephew helped me replace with new ones.

4. Rear brakes -- 4/15/2007
   Calipers in the back stuck, tore apart the rotors. Had all the brakes fixed on the back, and an inspection. $500.

5. Windshield Replaced --3/2007
   Inspection coming up, huge crack in windshield spreading. Full glass insurance. You do the math.

6. New thermostat installed -- 9/8/2005
   Had Mike put the thermostat in since the last one popped. Car still shows ice cold when I'm driving. Need to make sure he didn't accidentally put the old one back in, or, that the sensor is just bad. Car still has hot heat.

7. Sears to redo alignment -- 9/7/2005
   Had them redo the alignment, under warranty (6000 or 6 months). Much better now.

8. Transmission Flush/Fill -- 8/25/2005
   I had Hoffman full service car wash do a transmission flush on this. It has not been done since I had the transmission work done Nov. 2003.

9. Put new lug nuts on and had wheels rebalanced -- 7/30/2005
   Car vibrates at higher speeds. Helped a little, but not much.

10. Replace Driver front Power Window -- 7/29/2005
    The window motor burned out about February after it froze and stupid me kept trying to open it. For the last 5 1/2 months I've been manually opening and closing it. Gary Meier and me helping got this fixed with the motor and tracks from a different car. Cost for this and next fix for headlight: $125.00

11. Replace headlight switch -- 7/29/2005
    My headlights weren't working right. If I put the brights on, then tried to switch them off, they'd stay on. The dimmer switch under the dash fried itself. I smelled it burning about a week before this. I got it from NAPA. It's the one for a 94 Cadillac, not a Caprice. The Cadillac one is identical except has an extra positive power contact to allow for flash-to-pass.

12. Sears finds ball joint connector to knuckle bad -- 7/1/2005-7/8/2005
    What a saga this ended up being. I brought it in for a simple alignment and find out they won't let me drive the car away for a safety issue. 8 days without a car and back and forth problems, incorrect parts, and incompetent staff, I got the car back in good condition and a much more solid steering. Also talked them down $100. Total cost, $370. new ABS sensor for driverside also done during this; they broke mine taking the knuckle out. my cost, $80 + free installation.

13. New Tires installed -- 6/30/2005
    Ordered 4 Firestone Indy 500's from Tirerack, had Wal Mart put them on. $400 total.

14. Fan Motor replaced -- 6/15/2005
    Figured out why my car had been overheating. The passenger side "primary" fan wasn't coming on... likely for many months. I don't know why I don't realize these things sooner. Replaced the fan, no more overheating. The car hit a high temp a day it was 90 outside, popped the thermostat so now it stays open. When I'm driving fast for a while, the temp. needle barely sits above the "C" (cool) line. With the fan fixed, it isn't moving that much anymore. I need to replace the thermostat sometime. $105 for both fans.

15. Fuel Pump Replaced -- 5/31/2005
    Car died in front of my house. I was able to get it going, brought it to my mechanic's and left it there. He called me and said "it's fine" and I drove it home.. at least that was my intention. Made it as far as the gas station. Hit the tank a hundred times, didn't help. Luckily Pete was home and came down and pushed me back to the mechanic's. Fuel pump was dead. Dropped the tank, replaced it, put all the other necessary parts in. Said and done, $660 out of my pocket. Injectors also cleaned during this repair.

16. Emergency Brake Repair -- 4/25/2005
    On Feb 11 I brought my car to Valvoline Instant Oil Change to get an inspection. They failed me for the emergency brake, which I had removed because it was locking up and didn't work. Also, a tail light out and a cornerning light. In any event, they removed the expired sticker so now I was driving with no sticker. The '85 was also expired which didn't help either. I had no NY legal car. Ordered 2 brake repair kits (I assumed one for each side, the kit includes both sides) $364 total. Another $160 on top of that for the labor to install it. Inspection passes. I test it, and it won't unlock. The brake cables are still bad. Ugh *hits self in head*

17. Front Brakes -- 3/20/2005
    Had a guy redo my front brake pads, cost me $25 for the pads, $60 for the labor.

18. Belt Tensioner and cobb-job on Tranny Cooler lines -- 8/25/2004
    Not sure if this was caused by the power steering pump or just a tensioner pulley assembly that was going south. The tensioner pushed down, stayed down, and cut into the tranny cooler line. I cut the line and put fuel line over it with 2 clamps on each side. Temporary fix.

19. Coolant Temp Sensor -- 7/15/2004
    Overheating problems. Figured I'd try that, didn't help. Also did the thermostat which helped stabilize the lower end, but at idle and sitting still gets too hot.

20. Replace Axle shafts -- 7/13/2004
    Ugh. $671.16. This was the passenger side.

21. Summit Airbag / Spring Kit -- 6/26/2004
    This is a cool add-on. Its basically the poor-man's version of air shocks for the rear of the car. An air spigot is hidden behind the license plate. Air bags inside the springs blow up and raise the car. Got to test it on the big trip taken just after they were installed. Had 1000 lbs of soda in the trunk, and you could not tell from the outside! Man though, driving it, the car felt a LOT different!
    
    I got this from Summit Racing, the part # is AIR-60755. It cost $73.44 shipped. And good-old Midas installed it for way more than I car to mention here!

22. Replace Axle shaft -- 6/26/2004
    Before the big trip, replace driver side axle shaft. Install airbag supports onto the back shocks/springs.

23. Rear end -- 6/15/2004
    "Complete Rearend Overhaul" - $1111.61

24. Flow Restricter -- 12/5/2003
    $15 part. Steak Knife. Clamp. Performed surgery on my car's water pump to heater core hose at 1:00am in a church parkinglot. All better, for now ;)

25. Transmission Rebuild -- 11/25/2003
    Yay. $2150 later (+250 for 36k warranty) and my car is as good as new. Long story, short version. Rapid City, South Dakota AAMCO got me back on the road. On my way home from my cross-country trip, everything turned into neutral. 100 miles flat-bed through snow and ice, 4 days in a hotel over weekend and during repair Monday and Tuesday. Home in time for Thanksgiving!

26. Lots Of Stuff -- 11/15/2003
    Manifold Gasket Replace
    Flash-to-pass Light Mod Added
    Wired in Rear-View Mirror Lights to door wiring
    New rims and tires
    Transmission Pan Seal replace
    Replaced Power Steering Pump (still bad)
    Replace broken door arm rest on pass. rear
    Norm Landry's Seat Slider Kit for driver seat
    Soldered inside of instrument cluster (still flickers, not nearly as badly)
    Installed New Transmission cooler lines
    Installed new front springs and shocks
    Installed 2 new o2 sensors
    Installed new optispark
    New Oil Level Sensor (mine was leaking through)
    Installed New Fuel Filter
    Fixed Window Switch (plastic broke off on driver window switch)
    Fixed trunk lamp
    Installed engine oil cooler lines
    Lube up passenger side spot light
    Installed pass. side wheel well flap
    

    10/21/2003 -- transmission seal/drain, new rotors, pads, rear pass. caliper replaced
    09/15/2003 -- rear springs replaced. awaiting to do fronts
    07/24/2003 -- starter sticks, rebuild junk, fixed/replaced
    07/18/2003 -- power steering pump replaced again
    07/02/2003 -- starter dead, replaced
    04/23/2003 -- radiator replaced, primary fan replaced
    01/10/2003 -- transmission rebuilt / torque converter replaced due to shaft split
    10/18/2002 -- waterpump replaced / egr replaced
    10/2002 -- centerlink tie rod
    09/2002 -- new a/c delco decent battery
    

27. Power Steering Pump replaced -- 09/25/2002
    Not more than 2 hours after I replaced the A/C compressor the first time, the power steering pump goes "clunk" and makes a grinding noise.. doh!
    
    Got an aftermarket one, put it in, didn't bleed it right, but, that shouldn't matter, should it? Going to get another one.

28. A/C Compressor replaced -- 08/18/2002 & 9/25/2002
    Within 10 minutes after picking up my car from Stephens, the A/C clutch starting to not work... It about 3 days time, I fried the clutch completely. The local shop wanted ~$650 to redo it with a rebuilt compressor. The A/C was ice cold up until it stopped working, but no one wanted to just replace the clutch/pulley on the compressor itself. Screw it. Also, at this point my funds started to wear thin, so, a good friend told me he'd do it at cost. $50 for the initial shop just to look, and $350 later, I got my A/C back...
    
    ... but, my friend put too much R134a in and the compressor didn't like it. I let a lot of it out, probably spent over $50 for R134a and the hose and gauge, and now it seems to be working fine. I am hoping there wasn't irrepairable damage done to the compressor with the few "backfire" runs (what I feel it does when there isn't enough room to expand and compress the freeon which is what I assume is what was happening to cause that horrendous low-pitched vibration followed by the compressor disengaging for a couple seconds... once that passed, it cooled and ran fine). We used the warranty and got another one. Works fine now.
    
    So much for saving $200 ;)

29. Tranny cooler lines patched up. Brake Job, Rotors spared one more time -- 07/20/2002
    Stephen's Garage... took him forever to get the job done, but done it was and not too shabby. My transmission cooler lines rusted along the side of the radiator, so I had new lines made and patched into the existing lines. Yes, I know, I should have just had all new put in, but, this guy who did the work worked on the Caprice cop cars as long as there has been a Caprice cop car, so, I put my trust in him.
    
    He also fixed the brakes which started to fail on me. Turns out the brakes were okay, it was the bridge-thing that rusted off the car. He was able to resurface the rotors (last time I did the brakes I was told that was the last time) and all new pads, etc. The car stops very well now.
    
    I had asked him to do the manifold, but he claimed it wasn't that bad... I can't stand the ticking anymore.. so expect to see that fixed soon.

30. EGR Cleaned out, Radiator flushed and cleaned -- 06/16/2002
    Paid Gary to work on my car for me, the problem I had is now gone ;)

31. Spark Plugs replaced -- 01/28/2002
    A good friend of mine, Mike, said he could do the plugs in under an hour. No one could believe it... so.. I took him up on the offer. I bought the A/C Delco Platinum tip plugs, and we drove up to his friend's garage in a snow storm. Got the place warmed up, and he indeed delivered on his promise :)

32. Fuel Filter replaced -- 01/28/2002
    Same day and place

33. Plugged Home Base access -- 01/28/2002
    Same day and place. Used this horn button thing from Autozone.

34. Axle bearing replaced! -- 12/13/2001
    Flew back to Nebraska on a whim, pretty much. My mechanic told me it was finished, and I instantly decided I was going to fly out with 3 days notice. Called in sick at work from Cleveland, OH ;)
    
    Took 14 hours to get to Scottsbluff, picked up the car, drove it for about 200 miles around town to make sure it was okay, then not more than 24 hours after arriving, left. Took my time getting home, making the usual grocery store stops for mrPibb and the like, stopping only in Illinois at my aunt's empty house for a shower and shave and hair cut, then continuing on to New York. Made a stupid choice and took I-86/Rte 17 instead of the Thruway, tacking on probably at least an extra 120 miles to my trip, but it was fun.
    
    Made it home in 47 1/2 hours. This was the first time I have driven across the country and arrived home fully rested. If you didn't know I had been driving, you wouldn't have even noticed by looking at me that I had just done it.
    
    The car was fine across the US, but now I have to contend with the sirenesque whine/hum I get from the rear end. That will be taken care of as soon as time and money allow.

35. Axle bearing worn out! -- 11/14/2001
    At least I made it to my destination! Driving 2000 miles across the United States, about 1/2 way I started to hear a noise from my rear driver-side wheel. I kept on going anyway.
    
    When I got to Scottsbluff I tracked down my friend and mechanic Art, who kindly brought me and my car back to his place where we took off the back wheel and brakes. That is when he noticed the play in the axle and immediately told me not to drive the car, and that this is "very bad".
    
    Art was kind enough to take a pic of it for me.
    
    So, I ended up catching a flight back to Albany (yay, 2 stop-overs) and now have to fly back to get the damn thing sometime in the next month. Yay. :)

36. New front tires -- 11/12/2001
    Great deal from tirerack.com, which incidentally I drove right by on the way out to Nebraska 11/13. Goodyear Aquatread III's, 70,000 mile tires. They kick ass in the snow. I need to order 2 more for the back. I still have the ones from last year on there, and they SUCK now!

37. ABS fixed -- 11/10/2001
    Can't believe I forgot to list this. Gary Meier, engineering genius, was able to fix the connector on the wire on the driver-side just under behind the back seat which happens to be an ABS sensor connector!

38. New Dash Pad Installed -- 11/10/2001
    Can't believe I forgot to list this one too. Gary found me a nice dash pad with no holes in it, $50! :)
    
    I still have the old one if anyone needs a blue dash pad.

39. 4 new shocks, Monroe's "police/taxi" grade -- 11/11/2001
    Cole Muffler installed. No problems with them, I like. I originally ordered the Bilstein super shocks that everyone recomments, but, I wigged out and sold them and got these cheaper ones. If I had more money it wouldn't have been an issue, but as it ended up, I spent over $900 on that Nebraska trip, not including tires and shocks.

40. LT4 Knock Module -- 11/01/2001
    Great deal thanks to Gary Meier, popped it into the computer, drove a little to let it relearn the system, then noticed the slight increase in gas mileage and more "instant kick".

41. Installed SSpeakerSS -- 10/14/2001
    Took out the 9C1 speakers, put in the Impala SS speakers. It's amazing what a ONE number difference in part # sounds like. The stock 9C1 speakers are 10 ohms, the Impala SS speakers 8 ohms.
    I guess that's enough ;)

42. Bought fuel bib and Impala SS rear speakers -- 09/15/2001
    Purchased the fuel bib and speakers.. have yet to install them :)

43. SEO 9C1 Wiper arms/blades installed -- 09/15/2001
    Thanks to Norm, the Canadian connection -- GM original parts, $11 a piece! HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!. These wipers are awesome.. they never stop making contact with the windshield. I was even having problems at relatively slower speeds, about 45-55. No problem anymore. Thanks Norm!

44. Replace idler arm with "Moog Problem Solver" -- 09/15/2001
    I have always noticed an uneasiness in the steering at higher speeds (above 65) so I figured I'd get in on a relatively cheap and efficient modification. And yes, it did work. My friend John installed this at Mod Day II. Got the idler arm from discountautoparts.com for less than $30 shipped. Is a GREAT mod and would highly recommend it.
    
    Funny thing.. when removing the old idler arm, noticed it was NOT the stock idler arm. It was too thick to be the stock idler arm.

45. Replace passenger-side spotlight with same kind as driver side -- 08/23/2001
    Someone owed me a favor and let me swap out the newer passenger side spotlight I had for an older one that matches the one on the driver side :)

46. Add aftermarket trim/molding to the front doors -- 08/23/2001
    Got my hands on some really cheap molding to test on the doors. Problem is, it isn't reflective so at night you can barely notice it.

47. Fix horn -- 07/29/2001
    I asked some guys at Mod Day how to fix the horn. They said you can't, that the horns "just go". So, luckily I had the horn out of that 85 I scoured parts from back in February. I removed the air filter completely to get to that fender, removed the old horn, and bolted in the oldER one. The brackets were different so, it's a cob job by definition ;) Then, today I got bored and took the one that still worked that was from the 94 and spliced off the horn positive and ran it to the front of the radiator and put the other horn there. They are all different tones, it's cool. I have yet to lay it down since I am home in a residential neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon. I have a feeling it will not sound pretty, but oh well. :) At least now it will be a consistent sound and not just the high horn with the low coming in and out like it was. That was annoying!

48. Fix air vent right side of center -- 07/21/2001
    Have had a replacement part since March and finally got the chance to install it, thanks to all the great guys who showed up to UNYISSO's first official event, MOD DAY at John Wutzer's house July 21st. (see old UNYISSO.com in the photos section). Nick Campbell helped me remove the lower dash to get to the panel that the vent piece needed to be installed in -- it has to be installed from the back of the panel.

49. Remove VZ2 Speed Limiter Program and change some PCM settings -- 07/14/2001
    Bryan Herter reprogrammed my PCM at the Englishtown Dragway event that me and 11 other UNYISSO members caravaned down to. Changes included removing the 130 MPH speed limiter (VZ2), dropping the fan temps 10°, removing the "stock GM program that makes the engine run too rich", and increase the line pressure in the transmission. That one I am skeptical on and may have him change back at the next event August 25th.

50. Replace passenger-side muffler. -- 07/09/2001
    The good olde Mark Gottenberg brand new mufflers are finally on their way out... only 2 years and 46,000 miles later :-) Apparently NOT the best brand or calibur! The guy at Cole Muffler said the driverside one was following quickly behind...

51. Replace passenger-side rear blinker light. -- 06/14/2001
    Simple light bulb replacement.

52. Replace Winter Wiper Blades with Normal "Car And Driver" ones -- 06/01/2001
    With what I have left on my Target card, bought their cheap-o wiper blades to replace the worn out winter ones.

53. Blinking lights in trunk. -- 05/25/2001
    The relay wiring box that it needs is not there. But, little did I know that a "$25 SEO Relay" is nothing more than just an ordinary $1.50 blinker relay! Thanks James Kern for that suggestion!

54. Replace license-plate light bulb -- 05/23/2001
    Thanks Ken Faro for pointing that one out, and for giving me a bulb too! Done in the parkinglot of the Mt. Ivy diner in Pomona, NY :)

55. Fix rear Driver-Side Window -- 05/13/2001
    Identical problem as with the other window with the plastic track-guide cracking. Luckily for me John Wutzer was at a mod-day for the Long Island Super Sport club and had performed 10 of these repairs. So, when I showed up to his house he said "want me to fix your window?" to which I replied "Hell yes!"
    
    $5 part. Would cost $250 at a dealership cause they'd replace the whole track assembly and not just the simple little plastic clip.

56. Replace rear-passenger side Door Arm Rest --05/05/2001
    I went to the junk yard to pick up the front seats out of the 85 I have so diligently parted out, and the rail got caught on the door and put a HUGE scratch down it. I had since gone back and snagged an identical door arm rest from one of the Albany County Sheriff cars that was there. The piece was sitting in the back window waiting for me :)
    
    Steve put it on while I Rain-X'd his car for him

57. Replace Harmonic Balancer --04/16/2001
    Ordered the balancer, had my friend John install it for me at Craig's shop. Put it on....
    
    ... SAME PROBLEM. :(
    The belts still squawked as loud as before, even with cleaning all the pulleys.
    
    So, the problem of the vibration is NOT being caused by the balancer but either the hub that the balancer is attached to, or worse-case scenario, the block in the engine is cracked.
    
    Put a brand-new GM belt on and no belt noise, so I leave it at that.

58. Older driver-side Spotlight fix --03/14/2001
    
    I was driving through zero degree temperatures with 50 MPH winds in rural Nebraska in December. The windchill was fifty below and the snow was blowing all over the place perpendicular to the interstate. It's a lot of fun trying to drive above 50 MPH with snow slamming into the side of your car and the steering wheel at a 45 degree angle :-) Anyway, I really needed more light to see the reflectors (since I couldn't see anything else on the road) and did my best to try and move the spotlight up. Of course, I didn't realize it was frozen internally, and I ended up busting the line that connects to the light for turning it.
    
    Master metal craftsman Gary Meier to the rescue! He knows how to take these lights apart and replace the internal parts. Cost, $30.
    
    I need to take the passenger side spot out now and lube that one up before the same thing happens to that one.

59. Replace right 0₂ sensor (and left one while I was at it) --03/09/2001
    Found out why the car had been sputtering around and eventually throwing the Check Engine light. I noticed the car would drive terribly, then shake, then the check engine light would come on and then the car would drive fine. After about 5 minutes it would happen again. My friend and I deduced that a sensor was throwing out false data and then the computer would throw the car into "default basic driving mode". He also mentioned that the exhaust will smell like rotten eggs if it's an 0₂ sensor, and smelled both sides... the right side wreeked! Pete, you nailed it!! Driving down to my friend's house with the code scanner was interesting. 50 miles with 5 gallons of gas, doh! Anyway, my friend Gary scanned the codes, and sure enough
    Code 63: R Oxygen Sensor Or Circuit
    Code 64: R Oxygen Sensor Too Lean
    Pete nailed it. I got 2 oxygen sensors for a great price from my buds at PAW, and had my mechanic in Ballston Spa install them for me. Car is fine now :)

60. Tighten Transmission Cooler line again! --02/23/2001
    Transmission began slipping and I thought I was doomed. After much testing and checking, found the tranny cooler line was coming off.. again. Had it fixed once, remember? ;) Tightened the line, dumped 3 quarts of tranny fluid in, and the car is fine. I'll have them professionaly fixed pretty soon.

61. Replace passenger-side visor. --02/15/2001
    Just a cosmetic fix, the visor that came with the car had a rip in it. Found a junked cop car at a junk yard that actually had the visor still in it. Grabbed it for $5 :-)

62. Change fuel filter. --02/15/2001
    Was having problems with the car sputtering. Process of elimination determined fuel problem, so as a precaution changed the fuel filter.
    
    Good maintanence item, but I think this was the beginning of the O₂ sensor saying bye-bye.

63. Put On Snow tires. --12/16/2000
    Traded in my Motorola Talk-Abouts for $170 in Sears credit, and used it to buy their cheapest snow tires for the rear of the 9C1. Also installed those Anco Winter windshield wipers.

64. 6J6 rear window lights rewired correctly -- 12/14/2000
    Light-bar's push-pull switch is used to activate/deactivate as needed.
    Switched into the push-pull switch up front that WAS used to run the police lights/light bar. The switch is NOW hooked into the positive line running into the relay box. I used an extension cord, running it along the driverside under the trim. Spliced the red positive running into the relay box and likewise spliced into the push-pull switch. Works PERFECTLY!

65. Resurface brake rotors and replace brake pads.--9/28/2000
    Major pulsating going on when braking, depending on speed. Finally brought car in in September when I received a $500 credit limit increase on my visa. Turns out rear brakes were frozen (probably rust as usual) and the fronts were handling all the stopping, hence warping the hell out of them. Take apart rear brake assembly, "unfreeze", resurfaced / cut rotors, install new heavy duty brake pads. My ABS light still is on because I need to replace the speed sensor in the rear.

66. LAME Sears Flat Tire Repair -- August 2000
    You'd think I would have learned by now not to go to Sears for car repairs, but since I am poor and have a Sears credit card, I always show up there for some reason :) I went to have a hole in my front passenger-side tire patched. It had been leaking since February and finally wouldn't hold air anymore. So, I go there, they charge me $15, and within 12 hours the tire is flat again. What is even funnier is that the nail was STILL in the tire! Dumb asses...
    So, I go to Wal-Mart the next day, buy a $3 bottle of fix-a-flat, and the tire is fine. Still is fine as of November 1, 2000, lots of miles later. Sears is INCOMPETENT!

67. Replace driverside front speaker.--12/21/1999
    Killed two birds with one stone. Bought a cheap-o $10 speaker from Radio Shack. You know how the size of the front speakers is weird; they were the only one's who had a cheap 6X9 speaker. Wal-Mart came in second with a $40 Phillips.
    
    Of course when you think about it, the speakers that come with the car are cheap to begin with ;)

68. Fix driver-door window switch cluster.--12/21/1999
    The window switch broke for the driver-window in the 4-switch assembly. Got one out of a '94 from a junk yard in Glens Falls, NY for $35. Took door apart to replace switch, even though it wasn't totally necessary to take the door panel off.. because...

69. Hook up ash-tray light.--12/21/1999
    Cops pulled the light bulb and assembly out. Simple hook up.

70. Replace driver-side rear blinker light. -- Dec 1999
    Simple light bulb replacement.

71. Removed 1K5 1st gear lockout on transmission. -- Dec 1999
    Car can now be manually shifted into 1st gear.

72. Trunk lights rewired minus blinking relay. -- Dec 1999
    The red lights in the trunk now come on when you open the trunk. Normally on the police vehicles, these lights would flash back and forth. The relay was not present in the car when I got it. Simple wiring into existing trunk light circuit.

73. Replace seals/gaskets in oil pan. -- Dec 1999
    Car was leaking oil from the pan. My mechanic determined it was the seal on the pan and replaced it. Est. cost $100

74. 6J6 rear window lights modified -- Dec 1999
    Light-bar's push-pull switch is used to activate/deactivate as needed.
    Switched into the push-pull switch up front that WAS used to run the police lights/light bar. The switch is hooked into the negative ground of the relays. Works for the most part, with the exception of braking and blinker simultaneously. Unpredictable blink patterns result.
    
    NOTE: Rewired the correct way (to the positive) 12/15/2000

75. Light in dash behind headlights switch. ($1.50 part from Radio Shack). -- Dec 1999
    Had to remove dash to get to switch assembly. Of course Chevy says you have to replace the whole switch for $70. Wired in like a Christmas lightbulb.

76. Back passenger door lock assembly replacement (cost $65). -- Dec 1999
    The back door lock assembly was all messed up; the door wouldn't close all the time. To get the door to close I would have to lock it manually first.

77. Tail light bulb replacement for pass. side back wrap-around light. -- Dec 1999
    Simple light bulb replacement.

78. Install new radio. (On sale at Sears $100).--11/15/1999
    Remove GM standard AM/FM Stereo radio for non-expensive JVC Tape deck. Wiring harness installed very easily. Dash kit did not, however. Had to sand down the mounting bolts for the dash kit to almost nothing to get the radio to fit in. Looks okay, not perfect, as expected.

79. Trunk light works now (just needed new bulb). -- Nov 1999
    Found the original bulb while cleaning out the trunk. Worked fine. Cops must have hanked it out.

80. Got dome light cover for ticket-writing light. (cost $4.50, new light would be $30). -- Nov 1999
    Light didn't have the light cover on it when I got the car.

81. Moved passenger seat back to stock location. -- Nov 1999
    (unbolt seat, take special rails off. bolt back in).

82. Tightened e-brake cable so it doesn't sink. -- Nov 1999
    Emergency brake wouldn't go all the way up so the e-brake light would stay on. I had put a rubber band around it when I first got the car (spring is in cable so my mechanic tightened the cable and that held it up).
    
    NOTE: This only lasted until the next 2 times I used the e-brake!!!
    I need to replace the e-brake cable now.

83. Removed 7Y6 dome light door jamb inoperable. -- Nov 1999
    Lights now come on when doors open. (Just had to hook the wires up, they were disconnected and wrapped in electrical tape -- just like everyone said they'd be).

84. Passenger side rear-window fixed, plastic guide for window-track replaced. (cost $12, replacement window track assembly would have been $250).
    --Nov 1999
    One of the plastic guides broke off and the window wouldn't go up correctly. One side would go up and the other would stay down... not good! My mechanic found the same plastic clip from an entirely different car part.

85. The mounting bracket on the front sway bar driver side (as always) came off. ($90) --Nov 1999
    The threads in the frame rusted and the bolt couldn't grip. Had to weld the hole shut, and tap a new hole. Same thing happened to the passenger side bolt for the sway bar once the driver-side was fixed, but luckily there is a nice hole in the frame that we slid a nut into :-)

86. Fix driver-side parking brake drum - seized up. ($90). --November 1999
    The car had a terrible noise and vibration from the back driver side wheel that came and went... it finally stayed. Sounded like when you drive over rumble strips in the highway, and felt like it too. Loud screeching noise. The brake was stuck in place apparently, or was trying to move or something. My mechanic took the wheels and discs off, sandblasted the brake pads (part that contacts the wheel, not the brakes!), removed the workings to the parking break, sandblasted them and coated everything with a copper substance that prevents moving parts from seizing, and put everything back on. Also tightened up the discs a little. There is some wear on the bracket that holds them so occasionally I got a rattling noise. That has subsided considerably.

87. New Serpentine Belt (~$35)--October 1999
    The belt that came with the car apparently was just waiting to snap. My mechanic got to see it off while working on the tranny and oil coolers and noticed the holes in it... it was massively shredded. Thank goodness he did notice! It also explained the loud whooshing sound coming from the belt that belt dressing and adjustment wouldn't relieve.

88. Reflare transmission cooler lines --October 1999
    I was on my way to my girlfriend's apartment to stay the night when I noticed that my car was appearing to slip out of gear. Nonetheless I made it there and parked outside her apartment. The next morning I leave for work and get about 2 blocks before drive became neutral. I walked from there to my office and called AAA and they came with a flatbed and brought the car to my mechanic's. He checked the car out and immediately noticed the transmission fluid line into the cooler had come off and spilled all the tranny fluid out. It was a mess on the road in front of my girlfriend's house, and when I went home later I noticed the nice bold trail right from the front of my house till about 5 blocks from hers!
    
    Luckily no damage was done to the transmission. My mechanic flared the ends of the cooler lines and reattached them with better clamps.
    
    Apparently the coldness of the night combined with the starting pressure in the line caused it to snap off. It has been okay since... so far :)

89. Floor Mats. Cheap Wal-Mart $24 blue floor mats. --08/15/1999
    Car has rubber floor. These floor mats match the car and are adequate for my usage.

90. Highly Recommended: RainX windows at least once a month.

91. New windshield wiper arms and blades installed. --08/15/1999
    Nothing major, average brand. No-name Wal-Mart brand blades now installed.

92. Console. Very nice cheap ($24 at Wal-Mart) --08/15/1999
    Console fits perfectly between the bucket seats. And even better, "made in Arlington, TX" :-)
    
    NOTE: Wal-Mart no longer carries this product in blue :-(

Stuff to do:

1. Harmonic Balancer / Pulley wobbling NOT cause of balancer.
   This is so annoying cause it makes the belt vibrate and make a very loud annoying chirp-ish noise. Next option is to change the hub.

2. Replace E Brake Cable.
   Doesn't spring back anymore, and brake doesn't work anyway, so...

3. Fix Emergency Brake.
   The cable not getting enough tension...

4. Rear springs
   It's about time... 206k

5. Fix dent in back.
   Remember "the bitch kick incident"?

6. Tighten up driver-side front seat.
   Found out it is a plastic bushing between the seat and the seat-frame that is broken. The seat now tends to move a bit when jerked. Mostly the back support section.. wiggles when you move it. It isn't tight like the passenger-side seat support is. Possibility of being welded?
   
   Will have Norm Landry work his magic on it.

Stuff that didn't work:

1. Passenger side Spotlight move.
   My passenger spot is one year newer than the old one, and from the looks of how it is on you can tell it was put in later, and not a factory-job. Obviously a quick fix to a broken spotlight. The light sticks out a little further than it should, which causes it not to sit flush on the windshield when folded down. It also creates a draft from the small pocket where air can flow around it.
   The ring that keeps the light in place is welded and cannot be moved. I wanted my mechanic to move the spotlight into the car more so it would sit flush on the windshield like the driver side one..... and when he went to loosen the bolt on the spotlight, it broke --- RUST!
   As usual, this car is a New York piece of s*** rust bucket.....
   LONG LIVE THE CHEVY CAPRICE!!!!!! :-)