Mk2 GTI 8v starting issue

[fosterd39]

Right, i'm no expert so be gentle with me, however I do know a man that can so if its beyond me (highly likely) I will refer it back to him.
So, issue is that the old girl starts fine if the timing is adjusted but runs like a bag of spanners. I can then adjust the timing so that it runs sweet but the damn this wont start, at the moment i have a semi happy medium of running okish but not starting great although it does start every time.
At the moment when i start it from cold I have to turn it over twice and on the third time it will fire every time. Starting it from warm/hot is a little harder, when i turn it over it just doesnt seem to spark up, it will spin and spin and not start, if i keep turning the igniton on and off  and on and off (repeat several times) it will eventually spark up and away she goes.
So I have just had an MOT and my emissions were high, 6. something i believe, could all of this be over fuelling??
Sorry if this has been posted before, I have read lots of sort of similar threads but none quite the same.

[Sgt_Lemon]

The blue temp plug advances the timing by 30 degrees so this will obviously be affecting it if it isn't working.

Kinda need the car running to sort the mix, but go follow rubjonnys guide about how to set up an 8v. It's not hard to do and will make a world of difference.

Blue temp senders are just under £20 at vw atm if you ask for trade.

[fosterd39]

Thank you for that, I will get onto it asap and let you know how it goes.

[Mr Blue]

Hmm sounds odd if you have to flick the key a few times. It's like your priming the fuel pump and building pressure.
Had this once and was the lift pump in the boot. When hot...failed to fire. Idle on cold was fine but misfire when revving.

Did the new blue temp sensor work and is the plug on the right sensor?

Cold start should fire right away. Set the timing to the basic TDC mark.

If still problematic..
Check earths, check blue temp sensor wires, ignition switch and ecu relay number 32 or 30.

I had an identical issue with my g60 and couldn't find the fault even after swapping everything. It turned out to be broken wires inside the injector loom that were shorting together (under the heat shrink)