Over the last year my 95 ls has been experiencing no start symptom on and off since last winter. Puzzled, I let the car sit for a few months and during the spring/summer it ran like a charm. With fall in full affect the same issue has returned. Got the car over to a repair shop for diagnose, and was notified that the fuse box has burned and the starter will need to be replaced. I was quoted around 1300 for both of those to replacement with oem parts. My question is it worth it? Body/interior is in great shape, Timing just done 11 months ago 252k on the dash. Awesome car to own but is it worth it?

 

Tough question... borders on the 'are you an owner or an enthusiast?'....
What's your commitment level? Do you have an amount where you draw the line to say enough is enough?
What is the condition of the rest of the car? Being in Michigan, is rust consuming key suspension/body parts?
If you do the repair how long do you expect it to last before the next big thing? TB at 300k?
Seems like you have other car choices as you can let it sit for months without using it. Perhaps this is not a vehicle you need at the moment.

Not really able to see how fuse box burned/needing a starter relates to your cold weather performance though.

Is it worth it? Seems like only you may be able to answer that question.

 

How much did you pay for it? It really depends. If any repair is worth a substantial amount of of the price of the vehicle its not financially worth it. But financials are only part of the equation. I paid 1500 aud so around 900 usd for my 90 celsior.

I replaced fuel pump, afm, leads, coils, caps, rotors, ect sensor, o2 sensors, the cats and exhaust, serviced the injectors and did the plugs all in 3 months of ownership. Those were way more than the value of the car. Financially stupid but all had to be done. In hindsight would I have purchased a different vehicle? No.

 

Did you confirm that your fuse box was burned? I find it highly unlikely but anything can happen. If you are on the original starter I wouldn't doubt it's gone. Again how did they confirm that diagnosis? Out gets tougher to justify if your not a diyer thigh.

 

Paid 2k for the car, paid around $600 for timing and tuneup components. Since ownership I put on maybe 9k miles. The car was a daily driver but i'm in the process of adding a 3rd vehicle to my fleet so I can sit on it for a year before I choose to ditch it. Car is virtually rust free being that it spent most of it's life in the south. I was hoping the engine would go first so I can 2jz it. After speaking to the mechanic he said he saw burn spots underneath the fuse box.

 

If you just want to put a 2jz in it you will be better off buying a gs300 to begin with . If you are hoping the engine will die you will be waiting about another, oh i dont know, 300k miles of neglectful servicing and bad driving. Starter motor could be an issue, Im not sure if there is anyway the starter could relate to the burned out fuse box. Maybe it could but Id check that for yourself. DOnt just take a mechanics word for it.