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Ah, cars. Driving an automobile is a fundamental part of 21st century life, but unfortunately, dealing with the issues that come up under the hood is just as fundamental. It’d be great if all of us were mechanics—and maybe we should be—but unfortunately, most people don’t know the difference between a drive shaft and an idle jet, which means that car issues can quickly become a confusing, costly mess.

It’s early in the morning, on a Friday. You’re tired. You’re ready to get this last work day over with. So once you’re done feeding the dog, getting the kids on the bus, or whatever else is part of your morning routine, you hop into your car, start the ignition, and drive to work. But halfway there, something terrible happens.

When you first turn 16, all you can think about is how fun it’s going to be to sit behind a steering wheel, rev up the engine, and take all of your friends to cool places without needing to ask your parents. Of course, if your first automobile was an old clunker, you learned the hard way that maintaining a vehicle can be a pain in the neck. If you don’t watch your dashboard, check under the hood every few weeks, or pay attention to weird sounds in the engine, it won’t be long before you wind up stranded on the side of the highway, phoning up AAA.

When funky lights pop up on your dashboard, whether they say “Check Engine,” or “Brake,” it’s enough to freak out any wary driver. These lights mean that something bad is going on, and while every once in a while you’re lucky enough to have that “bad” thing be as minor as a faulty gas cap… well, usually, the problem is a lot more expensive.