Best mate has a 1.8 pb Digi converted mk2 , originally a 1.3 . Bone stock running gear. Bought as a non runner, it needed vac lines replaced, a hall sender, external fuel pump and general tidying up. We got it going, running nicely, and sailed its NCT(MOT). However, since getting it , it's sometimes hard to start, spinning but not firing, and anytime its started cold/cool , it runs roughly. Especially if you give it any throttle, it'll immediately start to misfire even worse. Leave it idling and it'll gradually smoothen out as it warms. So far we tried a different ECU, injectors, plugs, and airflow meter, and nothing made any difference . When warm , it pulls well, smoothly and crisp, no smoke. We've flushed the oil a couple of times , in case it was sticking tappets, although it doesn't really sound tappety. Only other thing, it's using a little coolant, we fixed a few leaks, but still a bit going from the bottle. Oil isn't getting milky though. Any thoughts?
Closing this one out, I stripped it, as the headgasket started to fail. Replaced the tappets as they and the cam were utterly destroyed with pitting . Which is insane as it ran smooth when warm . End result, it starts and runs from cold like a metronome. A VERY happy owner now
