re: #6 Slumbering Behemoth

Interesting. My car has a little cable with an open “plug end” just under the dash. If I jumper it, then the check engine light will flash an error code that I can look up.

Don’t most cars have something like this, or was Honda just being nice in the early ’90s.

Some OBD-I cars (late 80s-about 1997) had that function; I don’t know if any OBD-II vehicles (all passenger cars/trucks made since 1997) can flash you error codes through the check engine light.

For OBD-II vehicles, I think you have to use a code reader to get the error code, which is no sweat because, as snowsmith advised above, you can go to most of the national parts chains and they’ll pull your codes for free (AutoZone will even give you a printout of them, gratis). It’s not as specific as going to the dealer, but it gets you in the general area of what the problem is…and it doesn’t cost you $50-100 for a diagnostic fee.