Well then, I apologize. It seemed like it might have been a facetious question.

No, sorry. I was referencing the topic of the thread. You posted the thread, it had exactly the reference I was looking for so I quoted it, crediting you. There was nothing at all facetious about my post. Credit where credit is due. I asked my own dumb car maintenance question.

Indeed, with the help of the others here, including you for creating the helpful place to post my question, I believe I'm well on my way to fixing this problem. I benefitted from a bit of conversation about the light and the code reader, etc etc. Now I have an appt with the clerk at Auto Zone after work. They still provide this service, no doubt hoping to sell the part indicated as defective, while I'm there in the parking lot. I would be happy to give them the business and solve the problem.

My immediate concern was how to interpret the inscrutable light. Now I have a plan. No jab at you Cloud, really. Ok?

see apology above. Glad other people have dumb car questions!

Or PM me. :cool:

Apology accepted.


It was never needed, but I accept it nonetheless.

It's good to have a spare or two sometimes.

like money in the bank.

okay, well--not really.

but, still!

How come everyone else's check engine light is always some false alarm? Every time mine comes on, the car is dead within a few days if I haven't already taken it in because of shuddering or other obvious accompanying symptoms. I'd like a false alarm once in awhile.

it's not a false alarm. It usually means something in the emissions equipment is bad. Mine came on once for a vacuum leak. Some cars allow you to input a code via the ignition and the light will give up the code(s) by flashing. Online, Google OBD II diagnostic codes and you'll find the meaning, although it may or may not tell you what you need to know.

Primary culprits are gas caps, O2 sensors and vacuum leaks. Usually. The free diagnosis is a good thing, let them tell you the faults and if you can make sense of them, fix away. If not, I took mine to a mechanic friend in Cherry Hill (plug plug) at John's Car Care.

So is this a forum for useless griping - or where the diagnostic code number results in useful replies; ie a list of potential suspects? Those diagnostic codes always report a failure. Even when the car still starts, the diagnostic code still reports a failure. When the mechanic says nothing is wrong, find a mechanic that knows how that car works. What is the code number?

thanks for the tailpost there T-dub. We already covered that, but as your sig says- - - "tw Read? I only know how to write." Truer words were never spoken.

And the question was answered where? Oh. Another post from classicman that did not answer the question.

What were the diagnostic codes?

I gave the same advice or direction to assess the issue, not the answer. That, of course, can only be derived from the source - the vehicles on-board computer.

we have a forum for useless groping? (looks around) well? where is it? (heads on over)

Isn't all groping useful, at least in some small way?