The Dreaded Check Engine Light

I hate it when warning lights start showing up on my dashboard. If the car manufacturer's were really honest, when the Check Engine graphic on the dash goes on, it should read, "Plan on spending anywhere from $125 to $500 to get this light to go off. You will probably have to go back 2 or 3 times to the repair shop, and then for weeks after you spend the money, you will glance down at your dash every 30 seconds because you think it will go back on. Just as you finally decide that it really is fixed, it will go back on, normally the week before you have to have a safety check in order to license your car for another year." On Saturday I was able to get a warning light to go off that indicated that I had a tail light, brake light, or other light out. I checked and checked and none of the lights were out. Then, after I pulled my car into the garage to see the lights better in the dark, I noticed that one of the brake lights was dimmer than the other one. Being a devoted DIYer, (do it yourself) I took both sets of lights apart and tried to figure out what the problem was. After an hour or so, I finally noticed that one of the wires going to the affected light socket didn't look like the other one. I took it apart and actually fixed it. Another DIY victory. I can't imagine how much that would have cost at a repair shop. Since this is a safety item, it needed to be fixed in order to license my car by the end of October.

This morning I took my car in for the safety inspection, paid my $12 and smugly awaited a positive outcome. Alas, it wasn't to be. I have a right front axle that needs to be replaced, Grrr. Since I take my vehicles to the same mechanic, they let it slide and passed my car anyway, with my pledge that I would get if fixed, soon. I sense another DIY project... Then it was on to the Check Engine light. 3 hours and $257 later, my check engine light was off. I learned all about EGRs and compression modulators and still felt taken.  

On the way home I noticed I was looking at the dash every few seconds. Maybe if I stop looking at it, the check engine light will just go on and I can start the "taking it back to the mechanic" routine. I love my car, I hate my car. :)