[Charlie OK]

Thanks for any help you can give me...

[El Sordo]

It sure wouldn't hurt to change the air filter.

[familyof5]

My experience has been that the light comes on when either the O2 detector goes or the PCV valve goes. Both throw off the fuel mixture and result in acceleration problems. Both are easy to replace and are not too expensive.

[T. P. Pole]

On cars made after (I think) 1996, there is an on board computer. This is mainly tasked with emissions (smog). The check engine light goes on if the computer thinks you are polluting. This can be anything from a misfire or the PVC valve, or the O2 sensor, all the way down to a gas cap not being tight.

Some car parts places will let you plug into the computer and scan the codes (in the computer). There is a base set of codes, as well as a few custom ones. You look up these codes and it will tell you what is likely wrong.

If a repair shop cleared the codes and then the light came back on, then you likely have a "real" problem. PVC or O2 sensor is the most common cause.

Good luck.

[cdefreese]

Other than the acceleration, do you hear or feel anything that may be wrong?

My old car sounded like it needed a tune-up real bad. I thought something bad was wrong, I had no acceleration, the engine was a little jumpy, and I thought it might be the timing. Luckily I found out after a little investigating that one of the spark plug wires had came off...

Another time I had a real clogged fuel filter, and gas wouldn't get to the engine fast enough to accelerate like I'd liked. Check that, and any cuts in the fuel line.

I'd hope that the diagnostic place would had found that. I'd replace all the filters and the PCV valve.