First breakdown in 3 years

[paulathome]

Got home from work on Friday afternoon about 1 o'clock no problem.
The hotel manager phoned from work to ask me to pop to the local shop for bread and eggs for weekend. 2:30 jump in car turn key engine splutter briefly then nothing.
Left it ten minutes in case of flooding then tried again and still engine would not fire.
Removed plugs to find all were soaked in petrol.
I cleaned them up and heated on the stove (checked to make sure I was getting a spark at the plugs) and then replaced. The engine fired up but not running on all cylinders. Removed plugs again and most were wet with fuel again. Bu@@er.
Got a lift to local shop and ordered new plugs.
These arrived Saturday morning. Fitted them and started the engine.
Took it up the road and it was still missing a little until I booted it and it then cleared and ran perfectly until this morning.
Started the car this morning to go to work and engine was running rough.
Drove up the road and after 3 or 4 minutes it cleared and ran perfectly again.
Came out of work at 4:30 today and started the car which ran fine all the way home.
ECU temperature sensor was replaced last year, original plugs changed 3 months ago.
Any ideas as to what may be causing such a rich mixture at start up.
Lambda sensors?
Air flow meter?
Coolant sensor?
Air leak at plenum?
Thanks for reading.
Cheers.
Paul.

[CaptiV8ted]

Fuel pressure regulator stuck "open"?

Unfortunately, I don't think there's any way of testing it properly. It's possible when you took it for a thrashing, it may have freed itself only to restick again.

[/straws/clutch]

Nick

[kenny Chim 4]

I'd check the simple things first- namely the condition/ state of the HT leads and plug shrouds. These items degrade quite rapidly due to under-bonnet heat.

[blujay10]

100 amp fuse starting to break down?

[paulathome]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Plug leads are Magnecors fitted last year together with plug extenders.
Hundred amp fuse replaced last year as well and looks ok.
I'm going to give it a damn good looking over this weekend and will let you know how I get on. Fingers crossed.
Cheers,
Paul.

[GreenV8S]

Sounds as if you may have far too much fuel pressure. Check for kinks in the fuel return line, and also check that the vac line to the regulator is intact and connected at both ends.