Thanks for the insight and for understanding the situation. I followed my intuition today at work when it told me that I should wait a day on calling for a tow truck and instead just leave the car parked safely where it is in front of my apartment building while i think again over what to do. My brother-in-law popped over not long ago to have a look at it for me. After some consideration and trying a few things, we are quite certain it;s the cylonoid (sp?) that went. I think I'll try buying a new one and having him put it in for me. If that does the trick then the matter is at least solved for now.

If these issues, (they tend to always be annoying little car issues but still not good to keep having to deal with,) keep happening as a result of somehow accidently allowing it to manifest, how on Earth might I stop it?