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My mum has a 2002 Ford Laser GLXi auto which has travelled 190,000 - it is regularly serviced and well maintained, but recently has developed an intermittent rough idle issue which the garage cannot resolve as it didn't fault while in their workshop. The idle speed will occasionally drop from 750rpm to about 600rpm [when stationary at lights or in slow traffic] and appears on the verge of stalling, but then the engine management computer recognises the low idle speed and it picks up - the other sympton observed is an occasional sticky accelerator pedal [when depressed it fails to respond and feels like it has bottomed out]. Would appreciate any helpful advice.

Hi there,
It does sound like the throttle body and idle bypass may need a clean out or checking. They do get a bit dirty over time, or it could be a misfire caused by old HT leads or sparkplugs.
It is very hard to find an intermittent fault, and may require a workshop to test the vehicle over a few days. It would definitely need diagnosing before replacing anything.

Thank you for the advice - spark plugs have been replaced and throttle body has been cleaned, but I will get the idle bypass checked along with the HT leads. Just wondering if any of the following may be the culprit - EGR valve and sensor, MAF sensor or even the manifold air intake my be damaged?

Hi there, it could potentially be any one of those. It will just be a case of checking all these things till you find the fault, or waiting until it shows itself for a technician to diagnose.