Well, for the record...I do happen to have access to what might as well be a shop---we've replaced engines, performed untold amounts of maintenance...and dad has every tool known to man...okay, maybe a little bit of an exaggeration, but, we nearly everything a person would need---except the equipment to do ANYTHING with the thing's electronics.
Parental assistance for funding isn't likely, but I do intend to take the car to a shop and have them at least analyze it. I was just wanting to see how hard this is gonna hit me in the wallet