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1998 1.4 erratic idle

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:42 am
by johnnybaby
Hi. My 1998 1.4 has done 12000. It has a very erratic idle, sometimes almost stalling. The revs can go from normal idle down to 2 or3 hundred and then will pick up again. It has stalled a couple of time, that's in neutral, the clutch is ok. It drives ok and the fuel economy doesn't seem to have suffered. I've swapped the throttle body and inlet manifold. It's has a new cat and lambda sensor for the last MOT and I've fitted a new MAP sensor. I've checked the air hoses and they seem ok. Any ideas please before I go crazy? Thanks, John

Re: 1998 1.4 erratic idle

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 6:25 pm
by alexperkins
have you had it scanned for faults?

Could be a faulty earth amongst a variety of other things including coil, leads, sparks, fuel pump etc

Re: 1998 1.4 erratic idle

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 8:25 pm
by johnnybaby
Yes it was scanned and no faults showed up. It hasn't had its plug leads changed but since the problem is only really at idle I'm at a loss...The air filter is new, the engine breather at the back has been cleaned out and it has a new hose. It has a new cat and lambda sensor and MAP sensor.

Re: 1998 1.4 erratic idle

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 8:26 pm
by alexperkins
Have you checked the pipe that goes to the brake servo as these have a habit of cracking

Re: 1998 1.4 erratic idle

Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2016 9:21 am
by johnnybaby
It looks ok but I'll double check it. Thanks.

Re: 1998 1.4 erratic idle

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 8:57 pm
by johnnybaby
Sorted! A garage I know used a smoke test to find the leak. Exhaust manifold gasket leaking, close to the lambda sensor! It needs a new exhaust system too. New gasket and it runs as it should.

Re: 1998 1.4 erratic idle

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 8:59 pm
by alexperkins
Excellent