A few weeks ago my way home from work my Service Engine light came. At first thought It was something serious. My engine did seem to start funny.
What was really strange was that the car was just about to crank over to 100,000 miles. I guess it is true that you should change the spark plugs at 100 grand.
So I took it to AutoZone and they hooked it up to the computer for free and they said there was a misfire in cylinder 1.
I bought six Motorcraft spark plugs from them for $28, the original ones that the car uses.
The next day I went to A&A and bought six Autolite spark plugs from them for $9.
After removing the first spark plug from my car I realized that the cheap spark plugs did not have the correct threads.
I returned to AutoZone and returned the expensive plugs, after realizing I had been ripped, and asked what other options they had, so I found Bosch spark plugs from them for $13.
So after two pairs of incorrect or costly plugs I finally found correct, cheap plugs.
A week after replacing them the light came on again.
After coming on again, I rechecked all the plugs and found the spark plug in cylinder one was loose. The cylinder one spark plug is in the hardest one to get to in my car!
Anyway the moral of the story is to shop around for the CHEAPEST, CORRECT parts.
Also if your engine light ever comes on find an auto parts store, such as AutoZone, to see if they will tell you what the problem is for free.
I have a few other stories too, such as when my previous car died coming home from work at 2:30AM without a cell phone to call home.