Engine starting problems

[SD1too]

Phill, you need to monitor your coolant temperature during the warm-up phase and normal driving. As Matt has said, an accurate digital reading can be displayed in the instrument pack.

Here's how to do it, copied from T-Cut's "How to ..."

Enable Trip Screen Diagnostics:

a) Put key into ignition and turn it to position 1 (instruments activated).
a2) If you intend driving with diagnostic mode active, start the engine now.
b) Press and hold the trip reset button. This is the button sticking out near the speedometer.
c) Your LCD display will show "test 1.-"
d) Immediately press the reset button every half second until you get to "test 19.-". (19.0 allows access to diagnostic mode)
e) The display will now show alternating "Log 1 -on" / "Log 1 -off"
f) While it shows "Log 1 -off" press the reset button and. .
g) With no delay press within a half second (repeatedly if necessary) to get to the required section.

The required section is 7.0

Please report back with the maximum temperature reached when driving the car for at least fifteen minutes.

Simon

[Phillilun]

My problem with that is no mot as trying to sort it out for mot so can’t drive it but can run it on drive
Thanks phill

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by Phillilun

... can’t drive it but can run it on drive

That will be better than nothing. It will take a much longer time for the engine to reach normal running temperature though.

It concerns me that you've reported unburnt fuel exiting the exhaust. That is not a good prospect for your O2 sensors. How this can happen together with sooty sparking plugs (suggesting an over-rich mixture) when there's no engine management light on is very strange.

Edit: Have you checked that your ECM isn't sitting in a bath of rainwater?

Simon

[Phillilun]

No plenum chambers are dry I have recently changed the cat but not the o2 sensor the thing is once she has started she runs ok not perfect but ok I do have a bit of an exhaust leak but it’s past the o2 sensors it doing my head in as I really want to get her back on road
Thanks phill

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by Phillilun

... once she has started she runs ok ...

Does "ok" mean no smell of fuel at the exhaust Phill?

Originally Posted by Phillilun

I do have a bit of an exhaust leak but it’s past the o2 sensors ...

But that leak will cause the engine to run irregularly (you've reported misfiring) and it could be that the fuelling is trying to compensate for that fault.
Your next move should be to eliminate the exhaust leak as top priority. If it's a corroded part, renew it. If it's a leak from a joint, separate it, clean the surfaces and apply a little exhaust assembly paste (not GunGum).

Simon

[Phillilun]

Ok wil do that before I try anything else got to wait for rain to stop might be waiting a while lol
Thanks phill