Valve job sounds about right. To be honest, I'm not sure this car has been serviced since the 70K mile mark. It's up to 155K now, and I can only imagine what type of issues will surface when I take it in.

Now, the NEW issue is this: I went driving last night and on my way home, let the engine rev higher than I probably should have, given my problems I've already been facing.. so I start the car this morning, and see the coolant light on. I add coolant, something I've been having to do for a while now as it is, right? I think, "no big deal". I go to take my roommate to work, which is about 8 miles down the hwy. Not 4 or 5 miles miles into it, I notice the coolant light comes on again.

When I drop him off at work, I check the coolant level and, low and behold, it's as though I never put more in!!

Here's the funny thing--

The coolant reservoir is on the left-hand side of the engine. I notice green puddles of antifeeze on the right side of the engine, close to windshield.. where I believe the brake fluid reservoir to be.

Does that makes sense to anyone?