The ‘Check Engine’ light came on in my car on Monday. I got on the freeway ’cause it was Columbus Day and I figured there would be very little traffic. I decided to switch lanes and felt I had plenty of time since the semi approaching was far enough back. As I headed into the second lane, I accelerated…except the car wouldn’t. And the semi was almost on me. I kept pushing the gas pedal and telling the car to move, and then finally it pushed into the next gear and started moving. And then the damn ‘Check Engine’ light came on. Everything seemed fine until I got off the freeway and then the car began stalling every time I came to a stop. Well, shit.

I asked people at work about what had happened, and Nader told me about a device he had that he could plug into a spot under the dashboard that could pull the CEL (check engine light) codes and then we could get online and figure out what was wrong. We did this, but I still wasn’t sure what was wrong even when I knew what the codes meant, so I made an appointment at Whitie’s.

Had to wait until Wednesday to get the car in since I had to attend the staff conference all day on Tuesday and knew I couldn’t be interrupted with phone calls from the mechanic. So I took the car in today and was told I needed an O2 sensor–whatever that is. Apparently it has something to do with how much oxygen gets into the fuel. So I had it replaced and had an oil change.

I picked the car up tonight on my way home and everything seemed ok, except that I was $350 poorer. When I was about a mile from the mechanic’s the car stalled when I stopped at the first red light. I kept going home, thinking this would stop as I drove a little bit more. The car stalled at the next red light. Finally I managed to get the car home and into the driveway after a few more stalls.

I turned off the engine and then noticed the smell…and then the smoke pouring out from under the hood. I ran in the house and called Whitie’s and (thank God) they were still there. The result is that they don’t know what was causing the smoke and the chemical smell and I will be getting the car towed back in to them tomorrow. I’m afraid to drive it even though they are only about 2-3 miles from my house. And that’s why I have AAA after all.

I’m thinking I’ll probably stay home from work tomorrow. I brought home a bunch of work stuff, so it’s not like I’ll actually be taking a day off since I have plenty to keep me busy. It would be better if I went in, but then I’ve got to ride with the tow truck driver to the mechanic’s and then have them take me to work. And I have enough paperwork here at home so that I can get probably more done here than what I’d be able to do at the office. So I’ve just about convinced myself to stay home and work here.

And I’ll be hoping that whatever is wrong with the car won’t cost an arm and a leg. I have a bad feeling though.