Don't ignore your check engine light

That’s the best advice that I can give anyone who is traveling or about to travel. Followers to this blog will know that in the summer of 2009 my daughter and I struck out for Alaska from East Tennessee in my little PT Cruiser. Blog followers will also know that my timing belt snapped when we were in Minnesota.  


The light had come on a few hours earlier. Since the car was running fine I decided to ignore it until we got to the next town. Ultimately, a tow truck pulled us across the state line into Fargo, ND.


Not knowing how much the repair would cost only added to my anxiety. Later I found out about a site called Repair Pal. This site will give you a ballpark estimate on how much your repair bill might be. Because San Francisco auto repair might cost more than in Tennessee the system adjusts to allow for the price differences.


I’ve now started using it routinely to estimate my car repairs. You can use the site for any type of car. It doesn’t matter if you are driving a car like mine, a Honda Accord or any other type of vehicle, Repair Pal can help you estimate your cost just when you need it the most.

Don’t ignore your check engine light just because you are in an unfamiliar area. Get it checked and then compare your estimate with what you find online. That’s what I’m going to do if I ever (Heaven forbid!) get stuck on the road side again. 

See also:
Stranded in Minnesota