A6 Dash Light help

[CTDiesel at aol.com]

Upon starting a 98  A6  (45,000 miles on it with great maint.) the other day
the "Check"  light for emissions came on.  Not the check engine light but the
symbol looks like a cat coverter with a lighting bolt thru it and says check
under it.   Anyway the local shop wants $65 to pull the fault codes and then
$65 bucks and hours to fix it.  Is there anyway I can figure out whats wrong
without that much expense?

TIA
DJ