Mitsubishi Repair: SERVICE ENGINE SOON, new car owner, stick shifts

Question
HELLO EXPERT , IAM A RESIDENT FROM NY,
I BOUGHT A 2005 ECLIPSE gs STICK SHIFT FROM LOCAL DEALER IN QUEENS , NY. ON THE 7TH JAN 2010. i DROVE FOR 40 MILES ON HIGHWAY. i HAVE DRIVEN STICK SHIFTS ALL MY LIFE IN INDIA.

THE CAR DRIVES PERFECT, NO COMPLAINTS BUT THE LIGHT " SERVICE ENGINE SOON" SCARES THE NIGHT SLEEP OUT OF ME.

IAM A MEDICAL RESIDENT AND AM USING THIS VEHICLE TO GET TO WORK THATS IT.  PLEASE ADVISE....I PAID 5000$ CASH DOWN ON THE CAR.
HAVE HIGH INSURANCE BECAUSE IAM FIRST TIME DRIVING IN UNITES STATES.

I SERIOUSLY CANNOT AFFORD ANY ENGINE,TRANSMISSION ,POWER TRAIN PROBLEMS. WHAT CAN I DO IN THIS SITUATION ?

PLEASE ADVISE AS IAM NEW CAR OWNER IN THE COUNTRY OF UNITED STATES.

Answer
Bharath,
If the car drives fine, but the service engine light comes on, that typically means the car's computer has detected an emissions problem.  This may be something as simple a loose gas cap.  If you have an AutoZone in your area, take your car there and they can check your car's computer for free.  You may also have luck taking your car back to the dealership you bought it from and have them check and fix the problem.  If you only had to drive the car 40 miles before this happened, my guess would be that the dealership knew about this problem when they sold you the car.
Good luck!