Da Goddess

Turn ignition key on, do not start car, push accelerator pedal to floor three times. Turn ignition back off, then start car.

That's actually the manufacturer giving you the finger. Planned obsolescence.

David, I laughed when I read your comment, and then my face grew long: this is just too f*$#ing true.

I've worked in a garage for a year - a year too long for my taste.If I ever become wealthy, I'll buy a car/truck made after '79.

Ha, thats the "Tell women drivers to change the BLOODY OIL light", I had one car I bought for $50 cause the owner a woman/nurse did not know that the bonnet/hood opened. There was no oil, no water and the transmission was below half, She had driven it for 3 years till it stopped, just three blocks to work and back each day.

After filling the oil, water and trans up, we used that car for 5 years with no problems. Not bad for $50. Go on get it serviced, go on, you know you should, it won't cost much. The lever to open the hood/bonnet is.......hey watch what you're throwing....

Well, my car's had that damn fucking light on it for about 6 months, still runs the same as it did before it came on... Yeah, I'm stubborn, maybe I should take it in? What kinda car do you have again, m'dear?

Same thing happened to mine while I was driving to school Wednesday...."Check engine" light came on. "Check it yourself you lazy bastid" I told it. "You're the one with the computer brain."

And no it's not due for an oil change for another 1,000 miles or so.

My oil was changed last week. Go figure.

It's the plugs. It's always the plugs. And those were done less than six months ago.

If its a Check Engine light , probably your gas cap , believe it or not.

James, that's crule.You know what I mean...:)

Our van decided it would be cute for both sets of brakes pads and rotors to flake out simultaneously. After that nice $1,200 adventure (Volkswagen Eurovan, doncha know), it realized it wanted a new front right tire - which it made known by sacrificing the old one.

You watch MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE, and ya gotta wonder.

Car will soon reply...."You keep up the crap and I'm gonna break down on your ass when you're on the freeway doing 70+!....."

(Hope I don't become some predictor of doom for you.)

As you'll remember, I too have a Saturn.
Not to dismay you, but when I got the "Service Engine Soon" flip-off, it cost me $2500.
It really did.
Btw, crying in the waiting area at the dealership does nothing to reduce the bill but it will get you a free donut.
I hope your SES light is an empty threat.

actually the SES light is linked to the emissions systems, not the oil, etc. as described above.

Get it to a service station with an analysis machine, have them hook it up, but tell them to CALL YOU BEFORE FIXING/SERVICING ANYTHING. I do mean, anything. When they call you back, if they say it's the catalytic converter or another majore piece of hardware, get a second opinion. If it's an O2 (oxygen emissions) or other sensor, find out how much they charge to replace it, then have it done.

The sensors are extremely important (as are all the emissions pieces of shit), since they're tied to the general engine performance. A simple bad O2 sensor can cause the computer to mix too little oxygen into the fuel mixture and do some serious damage over time. the other sensors can do the same with other emissions components, particularly on a CA emissions-compliant vehicle... they are the strictest in the nation.

which reminds me, I'm getting my truck serviced for that stupid light on Thursday... I told the mechanic it was only on "a week or so..." LIAR!

I know the ins and outs, doesn't mean I practice what I preach!

seriously, get the thing checked!