While cutting across the southeastern tip of Nevada I noticed that my engine warning light was on. It's usually a reminder to replace the oil. But I'd just gotten that changed a few weeks prior, and so I spent the twenty-seven miles into the next town both perplexed and worried. When I pulled into the next gas station, I saw that the dipstick was coming up only a tad shy of the HOT marker. For good measure I bought a bottle of 5W-30, glugged a small dose of it into the car, and set out again. But ten minutes further north on I-15, plenty of time for the oil to heat up and join the rest of the system, the light remained on. Omnious!

Web search via cell phone revealed that many cars' CHECK ENGINE or MAINT REQD lights are hard-programmed to turn on at ten or fifteen thousand. I cycled the odometer over to the cumulative display and, bingo: I was 13 miles over 15,000. Sneaky bastards.

Turns out that I have notes from the same thing happening on the Camry at 100,000. For all the girls (and guys) out there keeping it country:

1. Turn ignition to ON (but don't start it), enough to see all of your meters.
2. Make sure odometer is showing, not your trip meter.
3. Turn ignition OFF.
4. Press and hold odometer button.
5. Turn ignition ON.
6. You should see a pattern of "----" blinking down to "---" and then "--", "-", ""; whereupon the warning light should go off.

(a.k.a. How to Tell Your Engine Warning Light to Stop Crying Wolf)