car trouble

Coming home from the game I covered this afternoon, the engine light came on. The car is running fine. There are no indications something is amiss other than the light being on.
How big a chance would I be taking just going about my business for the next few days rather than taking it to a mechanic? I called Triple A to see if they could have somebody come out and look at it, but they don't have mechanics (I thought they did once. Sometimes they can be fucking useless.). Obviously on Sunday night there are no shops open. Amazing how in this world where there are so many 24-hour businesses how there are still some obligations that can only be met Monday through Friday 9-5.
What might it be and as long as it's running OK, should I keep driving it?
It's a 2001 Ford Taurus with about 98,000 miles.

 

Take it to a car parts chain store like Advance or Pep Boys. They run a diagnostic that determines why your check engine light is on, free of charge. Mine popped on during a long drive about two years ago, and I took it to Advance. Diagnosis: one of the cylinders wasn't firing right. Solution: A $4 bottle of fuel injector stuff. Hasn't given me a problem since. Here's hoping that'll be your issue.

 

My check engine light came on once . . . I didn't have the gas cap screwed on tight. Check your owners manual and see if it has stuff like that listed to try before you take it anywhere. I'd have saved $50 if I'd done that.

 

As long as the car is running and sericeable, don't worry about it until you can get up enough money to have it fixed.

 

I echo sc on this one. Check the gas cap.

 

This is a common problem and almost always is a minor issue.

Mine came on when my car was three years old. I took it to the dealer, and they charged me $75. They hooked it up to diagnostics and determined that there was crud (leaves, I think) in my air filter.

Three months later, the damned thing came on again. It's been on ever since.