I was driving along and I noticed a smell, like a sulphur match igniting. Then the engine light started flashing and the car seems to idle roughly. I went straight home (2 miles) and turned the car off. When I started it after a few minutes the engine light started flashing again and it souonded rough. I looked under the hood and the plug wires seem fine and nothing jumps out at me.

What should I do first?? This is my only car and I need it working.

Cheers,
James

96 SE

Get is scanned for codes. But a quick guess. The cat is shot.

Dan, would a catalytic converter go that quickly? I had just purchased fuel from a new source and ran it through their brushless car wash. I made one stop then got out on the freeway to dry it off.
One short burst of speed then exited, drove a short ways and noticed the sulphur smell then engine light flashing and rough running.

Cheers,
James

If it comes apart ya. If you can, knock on it and see if there'* a rattle.

Well, I went to Baxters Auto parts and borrowed their code reader. The code reader said 3 was misfiring. I took off and inspected both ends of the sparkplug wires, they looked fine.

then when I started the car the check engine light was on and stayed on.. I drove the car home about 2 miles and it ran smoothly and seemed normal.

Do I need to reset the engine check light somehow??

Cheers,
James

You my have had a bad connection on that plug. I would suggest pulling the plug and inspect. If the misfire is no longer happening, the light should go off after a while, but it'* still best to have it reset. Places like autozone will scan it and should be able to reset. The sulfur smell most likely came from that cylinder not firing and raw fuel made it to the cat and over whelmed it. Has that smell gone away or gotten less?

you have to get it cleared with a scanner that plugs into your computer

The smell has gone away, I read that you can disconnect the power to the PCM or remove the negative battery lead for 30 secs to reset the system.

Anyone done this? I have my radio programmed just right.

James

Reset the computer by disconnecting the ground, Everything is fine,

carWashes!!!

Cheers.

You may want to consider new plug wires.