Check Engine

So many of you know that we have had repeated problems with our car of late. We bought a 2004 Saturn Vue in June 2009 when our Altima lease was up. And for the record, this is my 3rd Saturn and only one that has ever given me problems. We paid it off this past June. And somewhere in there, the check engine light came on. Then it would go off. Then back on. *sigh* Figures.

We decided to get it checked out ($100) and found out it was some kind of ignition something + the spark plugs/coils. So we replaced it to the tune of $340. Then the light came back on. Ugh. We took it back and found out it was one of the coils/plugs they replaced. Easy, right? They replaced them. Done. Then, the light came back on. Took it back again and they added insulators b/c they said it was saying the same coil was bad, meaning it could be some module thing near it overheating, not the coil itself. Does that mean that initial $340 was for something that wasn't wrong in the first place?! So they put in the new module (for a reduced price, apparently). Ash picks it up, gets around the block, and guess what? LIGHT ON AGAIN! So he went back in for the refund. And now the light has been on for two days until last night when it magically went off. Or burned out. There is still a faint image of the check engine symbol I can still see, but I can't tell if it's just burned into my brain or it's dash lights mocking me.

So I think Ash will be making a call to Car Talk this weekend. I'm taking bets on Click&Clack's ability to solve this mystery. And also for Ash's ability to clearly describe the problem to them. Any takers?