How much should it cost at a shop to replace the fuel pump on a 1989 244 DL? I had this done on my 1982 242 about five years ago and recall it costing around $600. My fuel pump has been whiny for a few months now and I was hoping (in vain!) it wasn't going bad, but my car refused to start last Friday after my dad and I had been working on a headlight problem*. Everything else is fine -- fuses are all good, battery is cranking, added some extra fuel to the low tank. We can't hear the pump turning on, though. I think it could be the relay or one of the fuel pumps.

Much as I love this car, I decided a long time ago that once the fuel pump went, I would rather just start sinking money into another (newer) vehicle. Either these problems are simple, or are symptomatic of widespread and mysterious electrical problems. Do you think it's worth it to tow it to a shop for diagnosis?

* Not sure if this is relevant at all, but about two weeks ago, my headlights stopped working. They had been flickery for a while. Now only the high beams & parking lights work. Fuses are all great, tried a new headlamp switch from IPD, still the same issue. My dad, in a typically Tim-Taylor-meets-MacGyver moment, decides he can get me home by wiring the headlamps directly to the battery. The headlamps work! BUT... now the car doesn't start.