Camera Turns off and flashes light soon after turning on then freezes

Yesterday I wanted to take some special pictures only to find that my camera will not operate consistently and correctly. The main symptom is as follows:- Turn on in Auto mode ? lens extends. Try to take picture ? both viewfinders blank, red light flashes several (exactly 11) times and then the camera locks until I press the red (startup) button, then the lens closes. The same happens most of the time even if I try something simple like: - Turn on ?lens extends Flip up flash ? camera locks up, both viewfinders blank and red light flashes ELEVEN times. I have had the following also:- Turn on ? lens extends Take one or two pictures ? ok Suddenly the viewfinder and lcd go blank and the camera locks. I have not noticed the flashing light in these cases. I have also had occassions in the past, even when the camera was quite new, when the camera will hold the shutter open for aaaaaaggggeeeessss resulting is a whiteout picture. I found on this site a link to a recall for this kind of fault but that only seems to apply to Canon cameras. The camera was bought 25/09/2004. Serial Number is 186095297. I have replaced the batteries and also allowed the whole thing to sit without batteries overnight. This has not had any effect. I have also swapped the memory card over. I am not aware of any jolt or mistreatment of this camera. 1.Please advise the best course of action or any further checks which I can do? 2.Is there a diagnostic tool which can be used from my PC via the USB? 3.Also do the number of flashes of the light tell anyone anything - its always 11 flashes before the whole thing locks? I have been told minimum repair cost - regardless of what is done - will be over £100. This seems absurd if it is a simply corrected fault. 4.Does anyone have any comments on why these repairs should have a minimum charge, after all if the garage change the oil in my car I would not expect them to charge the same as a full service!?