Oh, I didn't say pollution control devices were bad..I said CARB was staffed by idiots! hey, I have respiratory issues, and grew up in L.A.! (cough!)

No, what I meant was that the average, middle-class CA consumer is really getting stiffed for getting the last 15% of tailpipe emissions out; (we already have 85% out compared to, say, 1965...I mean, we spent 15 billion to do _that_...now, we're going to spend a _larger_ amount for the last 15%? Besides just being bad science, CARB is more concerned that a truly pollution-free car might oust them froma job, mebbe!) When a guy who drives a ULEV little "Protee" has to shell out over $850 to get a "cat" problem fixed, well, it just makes me think that maybe some of the burden should shift to another place...some state pollution abatement assistance program, or something...or maybe these SUV and Hummer cavemen/drivers with larger engines...(!)

...in any case, the light is off, has stayed off for 1000 miles, and we may be at the end of this set or horrors. The morals of the story are:

1. "Random Engine Misfire": SHOTGUN THE PROBLEM, DON'T FOOL AROUND WITH PIECEMEAL FIXES!

2. A 2001 Protege is no economic match for the 1990 I had. (so far.)

Thanks to all who inputted.