Short background:
2000 Miata purchased in March 2003 with 27M miles. Now has 44M up to now completely trouble free miles. Was a certified used car purchased from a large Houston dealer.Wife took car on trip two wks ago. Died and would not restart. Had towed to nearest dealer, Moffitt Motors in Shreveport, LA. Initial diagnosis: Bad fuel pump relay Still wouldn't start New diagnosis: bad computer- Ka-ching! $1300.00, but not to worry, covered under the certified warranty Still wouldn't start. Maybe not computer after all New diagnosis: Fuse block partially melted with damage to wiring. Ordered fuse block. Still covered. Latest update: Needs wiring harness. Ka Ching! $2,400.00. plus labor, hours not even found in flat rate book. Dealer has never done one of those. Not covered under extended warranty because after market alarm system, (which was on car when purchased) was, according to the Moffitt motors technician, spliced into every wire under the dash, so an altered wiring harness is not covered. Computer could might still be bad, another now non- covered $1,300.00 So...I could be looking at a $5,000.00 repair bill for a car that's probably worth $9,000 tops. My plan for now- Talk to selling dealer tomorrow. Find out if they installed the alarm system. Rent trailer and tow car to selling dealer for a second opinion.
So...what would you do? Any advice would be appreciated, including best (cheapest) way to transport a non- running Miata a distance of 200 miles.
P.S. The sad part? I just spent $1,000.00 putting on new Heliums and T-1 S's less than a week before this happened.
Thanks in advance for your advice,
Clark Smith