I have 78 k miles onm the car and the engine light just came on along with a flashing cruise control light. I've noticed that my MPG have fallen quite a bit.

 

I am not sure if this is a sohc or dohc and worried about cost. Should I take it to the dealer, there is no factory warranty.

 

I think the computer code said 02 sensor and heating coil or something like that.

 

any thoughts?

is this something a person with limited car knowledge would be able to address?

up for thoughts?

My first thought is that patience is a virtue.

 

Based on what you posted, it seems that there is a heater circuit problem with an O2 (A/F) sensor. That could mean either the sensor will need to be replaced, or there might be a wiring/connection problem. The actual trouble code (Pxxxx, not the code definition) might be helpful.

where other than a dealer would it be safe to get this problem addressed? I do now that it was a heating coil and some thing about the catlyst. He asked if it was front or back and if it was sohc or dohc. That's all I know

 

I went to the dealer they said 99 dollars to diagnose and more to repair.

 

I could go to another place I've taken less nice cars to and they alwasy get the work done. They said they could diagnose for about 25.

 

Thoughts.

 

If you are in minneapolis I like to go to rongos.

Most larger automotive stores (AutoZone, Advance, etc.) will read OBD-II trouble codes for free. With that information, it would be a lot easier to make appropriate suggestions. Please write down the code(s), which will be in the form Pxxxx (where the x's are numbers), and get back to us with that.