Well it's probably a quick and easy answer

[S14 Wannabe]

but I'll still post my little dilema. I also have an idle problem. I think I might be running off of 3 cyl. but I'm not sure.

When in park my car idles a little above 1,000 without the air conditioner. With the air conditioner on it jumps to 1500. When in drive the idle sits at 900, just below 1,000. It is a very rough idle and it I checked all the vacuum lines and the spark plugs and they are fine. But what I did find is something wrong with the wires for number three. The third wire plug was black and the rest were fine/all the same color with the exception. Now this morning I start my car and I see white smoke coming out of the car exhaust. It wasn't much but it was noticeable enough. Could it be the plug wires? I seriously doubt they have ever been changed.

BTW I drive a 1995 240.

[NISTECH]

white indicates coolant in the exhaust but it would be constant. it could be condensation but it would have to be pretty cold over night to create it. was it the spark plug or the wire that was black?

[gore]

just say new gasket

[S14 Wannabe]

white indicates coolant in the exhaust but it would be constant. it could be condensation but it would have to be pretty cold over night to create it. was it the spark plug or the wire that was black?

Well it wasn't cold, but it was so humid I was sweating for just 2 minutes outside. The wire on number 3 was black. The plug that connects to the spark plug. I know the outside of the wire plug is supposed to be colored black but it had a powder on it. Like carbon. I can smell it if you want...

A friend told me that I might need a new gasket but the white coming out of the exhaust wasn't constant. I guess it just happend that one time but the idle is still rough/off.

[p00t]

carbon build up on the plug end where it plugs into the spark plug? maybe your spark plug is loose and is leaking some dirty exhaust out. take out the spark plug and check its condition, if its fine try torquing it down 12-16 ft/lbs.

check the wire closely, if its just carbon u can wipe it off with cleaner, if the wire itself is burnt then it is shorting out and causing that plug not to fire. you need new wires if this is the case.

[S14 Wannabe]

Thanks.