Ya heated garage is good....key decision will be base on future damage if not fix...my initial question...
This is a real think twice when you have to spend 20% of the value of the car in repair....and i dont think any mechanic will warranty 100% sure that this massive job will fix the problem. This can easily turn into a financial desaster...

I stiil have this in my head...you and me have the same vehicule (mine even recent 2006) same kilo/miles....if the problem (intermediate lever) occured only when temperature come very cold, is that mean that you can have the same issue with intermediate lever but you don't know because you live somewhere where climat always above 0?....is the only way to know that intermediate lever need to be changed is cold temperature ?...if so than live with it is a no brainer....thank you for your time