I own a 2002 tl type s with 65,000 miles. Yesterday I drove my car through the car wash and two blocks later the check engine light came on and the car's idle dropped to around 500rpm (it is typically around 750rpm). Luckily the car wash place was close to my house, so I could attempt to diagnose the problem when i got home. After I parked the i got out and the car was blowing a significant amount of white smoke. I then tried to rev the car and more smoke was coming out. Reving the car caused the engine to stall. I then went to autozone (in a different car) to grab a code reader and when i came back i hooked it up but no codes were read. Then this morning i went to start up my car and it had a really rough idle at first, but after a minute or two the idle settled down. I drove the car around to see if i could get the check engine light to come on so I could read a code. Eventually one did (1399). But the car didn't experience the same problems.

Anyone have any advice? From the research that I have done, it appears that it could be an O2 sensor or the egr valve.

Any suggestions.

 

Maybe you got some water in the air intake?

Bob

 

that could be possible cuz i have a cai and it has been raining a lot.

 

Sounds like a little water got where it wasnt supposed to be. Should be fine if its running normal now. Run the car long enough to dry every thing out

 

ya that is probably what it is because it is running fine now? I really appreciate everyone's help.

This is probably a stupid question, but is there anything i can add to my engine to make sure all the water is gone. Is that seafoam that everyone talks about here a good idea?

Also, after looking into several things it looks like it is a good idea to replace o2 sensors and egr valve as a "preventative maintenance" kind of thing. Is this true? And how difficult are they to replace?

Once again I appreciate everyones expertise,

Thanks all

 

No there isnt any thing to add.

And i wouldnt touch the EGR or O2 unless there was something wrong with them. They are costly to replace just because

 

wow i wish i could get someone to seafoam my car while they are washing it.

 

good thing everything is better now.