Check Engine Light... what's it really mean?

Yep, my bad. I forgot about the VTEC cutout safety function. The check engine light still isn't a maintenance reminder, nor is it an oil level light. Oil level dropping far enough to affect your pressure is bad news and hardly a routine occurence, and all Hondas built before 1991 did not have VTEC, and therefore would not have check engine lights reacting to oil conditions.

Even if the cause is a short in the indicating circuit...something is wrong, because you have a short. Fords are retarded in that sometimes you have to bring the car in while the light is on to be able to pull a code. You can't even shut it off to park it. Virtually everyone else has memory codes that stay in history until cleared... but not most pre-1996 Fords, where only some of the codes set to memory. Fords also need more scan time to pull codes and with longer scanning routines than GMs, which take all of 60 seconds to pull codes from.

Also, shops and dealerships will deny something's wrong if they don't want to get stuck fixing a problem-child car. If they try to fix it and it isn't sucessful, they "marry" the car and if the problem is designed-in they get multiple comebacks, which piss of the mechanics and the owner. This is why it's difficult to get a dealer to admit squeaks, rattles, intermittent driveability problems and the like exist and make an attempt to fix them. Nobody likes these kinds of headache jobs that pay nothing, take lots of time, and have a high risk of comeback.

VWs have had a lot of recalls in recent years, most recently a huge one for bad engine coolant temp sensors. That and the earlier massive recalls for bad coil packs and faulty mass airflow sensors could trip your check engine light. Other VW recalls that may or may not apply to your car include faulty hazard switches and faulty seat heaters that could set the car on fire.

It's worth calling your dealer and running your VIN to see if any of these recalls apply to you and if they've been done yet. New Beetles seem to have a healthy appetite for headlight bulbs, window regulators, interior trim parts, oil pans, underbody plastic up front, sunroof sunshade sliders, etc etc...

Better hurry up, Ford ends GT production in September.

Doesnt mean he cant buy an older model that still runs all spiffy

No, I meant if you just take it to some random shop to get a free diagnosis with no intention of having them do anything to it.

I was under the impression that you took it back to your regular mechanic....in which case I don't think a tip is necessary. In other words....you don't suck.

That depends on which O2 sensor it is. If it's the pre-cat, then the PCM will go into closed loop and run really rich for safety, therefore killing gas mileage. If it's the post-cat sensor however, she'll be fine. All that one's doing is (erroneously) telling her that the catalyst efficiency is poor. After-cat O2 sensors' readings aren't used to adjust fuel mixture.

There was a big parade
Everybody got laid
And they burned all the books and the Chevrolets...

The onlyl thing about Fords I don't like is that they put a speed limiter on their vehicles. I liked when I could go over 100 MPH in my Expedition!