Trouble starting after a longish journey

[maxp]

Car always starts fine first time whatever the weather at the beginning of a journey.

However as soon as ive been driving for more than 30 mins, its almost impossible to start it again.

For instance today, after i stopped to pick someone up, when trying to restart it 2 minutes later, i ended up giving it three 10 seconds bursts in the ignition and then finally on the fourth try, after about fifteen seconds of starter motor it fired into life.

Concerned if i ever stall it, its not gonna start again.

Seems like i have to wait a good 20 minutes after a drive before it will start first time again.

Anyone have any ideas?

[danny_p]

if it's j ket the accumaltor is knackerd   it's not holding pressure in the system and allowing vaporlocks to form while the engine isn't running and hot

[maxp]

Nope it's a digifant/pb

[sidecarphil]

mine did something like that a few weeks ago

was the ECU connector was full of water and green

stripped it cleaned and all was ok 

[maxp]

Just checked it out, connector seems dry and contacts fine.

Things i am thinking of at the moment:

• Maf sensor giving faulty reading
• Fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator on its last legs
• ECU on its last legs

Also cant tell if its not starting because its flooding the engine or the opposite and no supplying enough fuel.

Any one got any ideas?

[danny_p]

turning the ignition on/off/on  makes teh ecu prime the pump a few times.   whitch circulates fuel normaly means vaporlock.

the other possoblity is duff temp sensor if it thinks the engine is cold it'll give it loads of fuel when it dosent need it

[maxp]

Didn't think digifants really suffered from vapor locks as the pump is inside the fuel tank - i.e. the entrire circuit is highly pressured.

[Conker]

Tired spark plugs ? Aren't they supposed to be worse when hot?

[maxp]

Tired spark plugs ? Aren't they supposed to be worse when hot?

They are only about 4k old tops.

Adding faulty lambda to the (growing) list of possible culprits.

[rubjonny]

no lambda on these, unless yours is special! #1 thing on the list is new blue temp sensor from vag as danny said