Help! Check Engine Lite Is On!

[strmrdr23]

so i was driving along yesterday and all of a sudden my check engine lite starts flashing and my idle is real, real ruff - the entire vehicle is shuddering...lt's like she is not firing on all cylinders or something...this happened to a friend of mine on his honda but it was because he had cleaned his engine and water got on something (spark plugs?)...he dried everything off and it seemed fixed. i'm not sure if the same thing is happening here...i had gotten my car washed earlier in the day but i didn't have my engine cleaned as my friend had before, tho...it was driving just fine at that point...i went out later that day and as i was coming out of a parking lot, i drove thru a big dip in the parking lot right before this happened...i didn't hit anything but it was a rather large dip in the road...anyways, today when i start my rx the check engine light isn't flashing, it just stays on - and i can smell something funny from the exhaust...like it's too rich maybe...any ideas?

[RX in NC]

You need to get your trouble code read and identified first before any troubleshooting can be effective for you.

[strmrdr23]

yeah, i figured that part out...i was just wondering if anybody had something similar happen...the ride's in the shop now so i'll put up my results...pray that it's not too much $$$$ :(

[Unlisted]

lift up the oil cap and check for sludge.

[strmrdr23]

ok, the service guy at lexus just called me back...it's the #4 spark plug...it died and coil for that plug shorted out too...not too bad, $300+ :(

[Ericok]

Just for the record, you cannot "lift up the oil cap and check for sludge." There's a baffle plate under the oil cap. When you remove the cap and look in, you're looking at the top of the baffle plate. Sludge, if any, would be hidden underneath the plate. You have to remove the valve cover(s) to see if there's any sludge.

[Unlisted]

sludge shows right under the oil cap . it gums up and can be detected that way.