caryking

From the page: "It's just a little amber lamp in the dashboard, a tiny bulb behind a plastic pane the size of a postage stamp, inscribed with a very big message.

Depending on the car's make and model, it might say "CHECK ENGINE," as if you possessed the ability to pry open the hood and make a snap diagnosis. Others say "SERVICE ENGINE SOON," worded just vaguely enough to enable us procrastinators.

No matter how it's communicated, the effect can be unnerving. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of engines? Only the computer knows.

But unraveling the mystery of the enigmatic little lamp is considerably easier - and usually less painful - than most people think. While there's little reason to shut the vehicle off and sprint for the nearest mechanic, the light shouldn't be ignored for long.

"It's your car's way of telling you, 'You might be meeting Larry the tow-truck guy soon,"' says Bill Jaap, owner of Good Carma VW and Audi Repair in Minneapolis. "It's a warning, and it can be menacing. Even though the car still runs well, I think it's a good idea to bring it in.""