Is my electrical system going out?

BUSHSARA

MEMBER
1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA
6 CYL
AUTOMATIC
130,000 MILES

I have a 1998 Chevy Lumina. It has about 130,000 miles on it. It has been running pretty good for being kind of old. Except, it seems to have some problems. My automatic door lock buttons on my doors are not working most of time, sometimes randomly they work. The button makes they noise even when its not working but won't unlock/lock the doors. My windshield wipers only work on the "mist" setting and you have to hold the button in, the other delay settings do not work. My passenger side front headlight is not working most of the time (rarely and randomly it decides to work). The brights work however. The hazard lights button randomly just quit working (you have to hold the button in for the flashers to stay on). And my temperature controls work, but not on the A/C settings out the front vents (the front air vents blowing on you, no air comes out), air only blows out on the windshield or on the floor. I don't know if this is all electrical stuff or if I need to change some fuses or what.
I would like to have them fixed but am worried about the cost. I would like to buy used parts or get my boyfriend (who has worked on cars several times) to fix it. Not sure what I need to do to fix these issues. I want to find out what is causing these problems and how to fix it.

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,179 POSTS

It sounds like a lot of simple issues that have collected. As far as the lights and wipers, I feel the multifunction switch on the steering column is bad. If the hazzard lights work when you hold the switch in, the switch is most likely bad. As far as the issue with the locks, have him check to make sure the grounds are good in the door. Also, have him check the wiring between the door and the door frame for problems. The air flow issue is most likely a vacuum related problem. The air flow is determined by the position of vent doors in the HVAC system. They are actuated by vacuum. If there is a leak, all or no positions will work. The default setting is usually the defroster. Have him check under the dash for vacuum leaks in the HVAC system.