Brake lines & Idle/Running Problem Ford Mondeo

theLearner_3

as a keen money-saver i try and do as much as possible on my own car, a 1998 Ford Mondeo Ghia Automatic which has now got 172k on the clock.

After recently taking the car for its MOT, the brake lines were flagged as an advisory, with the advice of greasing them - What sort of grease do i need to use? And can i just brush it on?

The car's also developed a surging/lumpy idle (up and then down between approx 600 and 700 rpm) - but it only does this when HOT and when it's in Park or Neutral. I've changed the plugs and HT leads but it's still doing it.

I can do the basics but i'd probably struggle with anything more. Can anyone point me in the direction of the likely cause or causes please?

thanks all;)

ManAtHome

Spooky - similar model but much lower mileage and I had "lumpy idle syndrome" this morning, but relatively cold and in drive. Really got the wobbles at a couple of sets of traffic lights - had to lightly press the throttle to keep a steady idle. Behaved itself coming home after sitting in the sun most of the day. My first thought was fuel, last fill was at a station I rarely use (I'll be filling up at 'normal' garage tomorrow).

Hope it's fuel, gunked injectors or air filter, starts to get expensive if automatic choke and/or EMU.

Conor_3

Normal grease can be used on the brake lines.

It's the idle control valve or the Mass Airflow Meter that's defective.

theLearner_3

Conor wrote: »

Normal grease can be used on the brake lines.

It's the idle control valve or the Mass Airflow Meter that's defective.

thanks for that - do i just brush the grease on?

Are there any simple tests i can do to see which one is playing up? Or is it just a case of replacing one at a time to see which one is defective.

theLearner_3

ManAtHome wrote: »

Spooky - similar model but much lower mileage and I had "lumpy idle syndrome" this morning, but relatively cold and in drive. Really got the wobbles at a couple of sets of traffic lights - had to lightly press the throttle to keep a steady idle. Behaved itself coming home after sitting in the sun most of the day. My first thought was fuel, last fill was at a station I rarely use (I'll be filling up at 'normal' garage tomorrow).

Hope it's fuel, gunked injectors or air filter, starts to get expensive if automatic choke and/or EMU.

to be fair and considering its mileage, mine runs very well when being driven. it's only when in Park or Neutral and the cars come up to temperature (in between C and H) that the problem shows itself

hope it's a quick fix for you!

ManAtHome

Looking very much like the fuel for me (or a big coincidence) - filled up at usual garage this morning and idle has been steady so far.

Could be worth listening to the injectors when it goes lumpy - something I tried years ago with a Rover auto with a length of plasic tube from the wine-making kit (bit like a stethoscope). Apparently it's obvious from the sound (irregular clicks) if one is duff - at least that's what the local/pub mechanic told me. They all sounded the same anyway, turned out to be something else.