Q: I have a 2000 Dodge Neon. It idles rough when I am stopped at a light or stop sign. It even does it when in park. If I give the car a little gas with one foot and hold the brake with the other, the idle smoothes out. But as soon as I let off the gas it goes rough again. I have changed the plugs, wires and air filter and it did not help. My gas mileage is also bad. I get about 250-280 miles per tank. I think it should be closer to 300 miles per tank. The car has 127,500 miles on it. -- J.S., email

A: J.S., with a rough idle, the first thing I'd check for would be vacuum leaks. The best way to check for vacuum leaks is with a smoke machine. By blowing smoke into the intake manifold, any leaks will be easy to find. If there aren't any vacuum leaks, I'd suspect the EGR valve. It's common for the EGR valve to get stuck and not close all the way. If that happens, it will affect the idle but not open-throttle operation.

Q: I bought my 1996 Saturn new in Nov l995. With the money I have put into it over the years, I could be driving a Mercedes. My latest problem is with the oil consumption. It seems that every week (250 miles at max) I have to add a half to three quarters quart of oil. The car has about l50,000 miles but I have always religiously changed oil, had tune ups, etc,. I have the oil changed every 3,000 miles at the most, often more frequently than that. I have put in Lucas oil treatment and the last time I changed oil, I ran through NAPA Fast Engine Flush. Nothing helps. The car runs good and does not emit any smoke. It just drinks way too much oil. Any suggestions? I will not put any more big money into the car but the body is still in good condition and I would like to get another year out of it. Also, the car takes 5W30 oil. Does it matter if I use l0W30? Will heavier oil make it burn less? Please advise. -- R.J, email

A: R.J., unfortunately, there's not much you can do to fix this problem without spending some big bucks. Your engine probably has worn valve guides and possibly stuck oil control rings. We're talking major engine overhaul. But, obviously, it's not worth putting the money into this car. Just keep driving it and keep checking the oil level. According to service information, 5W30 is the preferred oil. But you can use 10W30 oil at temperatures above 0" F. The 10W30 is a bit heavier and may slightly reduce the amount of oil that's being burned.

Q: I have a '96 Mercury Grand Marquis and the turn signals won't work. The fuses are good and I have replaced the multifunction switch. I have checked the wiring and it appears to be good. Do you have any ideas? -- G.C., Calumet City

A: G.C., if you're sure that the fuses, wiring, and multifunction switch are good, the only thing left in the circuit, besides the bulbs, is the Lighting Control Module or LCM. And since I doubt that all the bulbs are bad, it's more likely that the LCM is the culprit.

Questions for Ira Siegel? Call the Auto Adviser Hotline at 708/633-6839 or e-mailAutoadvisr@aol.comAutoAdviser: Ira Siegel is an Automotive Instructor and ASE Certified Master Auto Technician