Carbon build-up

[ctrigger]

I've had bad idle problems and my check engine light is on!! I checked the spark plugs and noticed alot of carbon build-up. Could this be my problem? I added Seafoam cleaner to my carburator and my gas tank, it ran fine all night no shakes or bad idling then the next morning it started again after the car had warmed up after about 20-25 miles of driving. Anyone know what else it could be? My guess was the idle control system. What you guys think?

Should i buy the other spray seafoam product and sray it directly into the spak plug ports? It says that it would be a more thorough clean option!!!

[Flashmn]

No, I think the problem is, that you're trying to guess what the problem is. I think the problem is you have a malfunctioning sensor which is causing the engine to run rich. With modern emissions controls, that would be a critical error and cause the engine light to be on.
Why the heck would you use seafoam, I have a 10 year old car and I never put any shit like that in my engine.

[ctrigger]

Good for you!!!! Congrats pal !!!!! Why are you so hostile? I was asking a question and get all mean on me!!! The reason i put Seafoam in my car is because of carbon build-up and i thought it might help!!!! Excuse me for trying to fix my own car!!! I was just asking for advise and if you don't have a valid answer then GET LOST!

[Chris Corolla S]

Settle down folks.

He did have an answer, he suggested that a sensor is malfunctioning.

perhaps the oxegen sensor?

[Flashmn]

It might be the o2 sensor, since that can cause an error reading in from the exhaust emissions that could trigger the ecu to think that its running lean and then pump up the juice. Caused bouncy idle, bad idling, bad acceleration on the mercedes I had.
I'm not being hostile, I've just told people already so many times, maybe you few times too to check the errorcodes before doing anything else, because in modern cars the ECU watches over almost everything in the car, so if something breaks you get the info from it. Carbon build up isnt that big of an issue in modern cars and modern fuels, and carbon build up wouldnt trigger the check engine light thats for sure.
If there was carbon build up you certainly wouldnt get it out, by spraying seafoam through the sparkplug holes, you'd have to take a scraper and scrape it off, it really sticks hard to the pistons/head/valves.

[ctrigger]

I checked the f'n error codes and one code was for the o2 sensor and also the others were for all 4 cyliders misfiring!!!!! My engine is toast right?