Our day of good and bad news

1. Van inspection done (no emissions tests in MO).
2. New plates put on.
3. Lunch at Pizza Hut.
4. Drive to mechanic because of "service engine soon" light that comes on periodicly. Unfortunately it didn't come on any time before we got to his shop (2.5 hours after leaving home). He checked and got a #32 code from the computer, but that didn't help. He test drove it on bumpy roads, up some hills, but the "light" never came on for him. He did look underneath to see why we have to add a quart of oil every time we need to get gas after a fill-up and found that it *really* needs an oil-pan gasket and stuff with it that can only be done with the engine out, but that would/will cost *about* $400 in parts and about the same in labor (several days of work, unless it's a busy time, then no more than a couple of weeks). Plus we have a engine rattle that he says means the van's on it's last legs. *sigh* Now we need to come-up with about a $1000 for van repair and maybe $1500 to get a second vehicle to replace the van when it gets even sicker or dies completely, but mainly to drive while the van is in the shop. But the "s.e.s" light DID come on when we were about 5 miles from home. All in all though, it's "okay" to drive it but does need the engine serviced as soon as possible. Not a happy day really.