Originally Posted by Beadybc (Post 2791106)

Yeah you're correct about the MoT part, completely forgot about that screw you mentioned before I was struggling to think of new ways to adjust the mixture. Cold start valve came up when searching for a fix but no where did it say how to test whether that was the problem so cheers for that.

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby (Post 2791069)

I suspect someone has played with the mixture adjusting screw on the fuel distributor to keep it running due to the clogging injectors. Also check the cold start injector isn't staying on past 8 seconds as that will flood the engine.

Bear in mind it could be burning off previous excess fuel from aborted start attempts.

As a first "go/no-go" test of the cold start injector, i would suggest getting it started from cold then pulling the plug off the cold start injector - squeeze the wire clip and pull the plug away from the injector at the same time.

If you locate the mixture screw on the fuel distributor, use an Allen key to make the mixture leaner once it's warmed up a bit until it sounds "happiest" once hot and idling. Bit of a Heath-Robinson method but should get you to a paoint where you are able to adjust the mixture in the MoT bay. Once you've done that, reconnecting the cold start injector plug will show whether it has a permanent feed or not, if it does, a quick solution would be to install a pushbutton switch on the cabin that you can press for cold starts and release once running.

I am guessing the important bit here is to get it MoT'd/drivable so while these methods aren't ideal, they will get you up and running and the rest can be sorted properly after you have that vital bit of paper from the MoT station.

Originally Posted by Beadybc (Post 2791867)

Sorry I didn't notice earlier but the problem with this method is that the car is putting out an excess amount of fumes which fill the entire street pretty quick. Is there no possibility of adjusting the mixture screw whilst the car isn't running or is that going to cause further damage? The car doesn't idle and will eventually die so getting it warmed up is quite hard but if that is the only way then so be it.

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby (Post 2791895)

You could try turning the mixture screw anticlockwise one flat on the Allen key and then starting it. That should make it a bit leaner and reduce the fuems somewhat. As it warms up, you can tweak it anticlockwise a bit to keep the fumes down as it warms. If memory serves it's a 3mm Allen key you need.

Originally Posted by Beadybc (Post 2791911)

Had a look into the tube where the screw sits and it was filled with a few mm of fuel, is this normal? I tried turning it but it's fixed solid so the 3mm allen key is just stripping the head. WD40 time or will warming it up first loosen it?

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby (Post 2791914)

Shouldn't be any fuel in the tube, also the Allen key should turn it fairly easily.

I'm not a fan of WD40 as a penetrating fluid, i prefer a 50/50 mix of acetone and synthetic ATF. I'm wondering if it was in fact water that was in that tube and it's partially seized teh adjuster?

Originally Posted by Beadybc (Post 2791919)

The liquid was black and the inside of the tube is coated black also, probably was just dirty water though. I've seen you mention that mixture as a penetrating fluid in other threads, would you say that it works better than WD40?

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby (Post 2791923)

Definitely! I can't remember the lsat time i bought WD40 except once in my local fasteners place and there was a minimum charge of £5 for a card transaction. The nuts/bolts i was buying came to a couple of quid and i literally had no cash on me apart from two old £1 coins so i bought the nearest thing to hand which happened to be a small can of WD40 for about £3 to bring the total just over a fiver.

I put it in my "(Get me out of the) Sh!t Kit" toolbox and there it has stayed for the past 5 years or so!

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby (Post 2791914)

Shouldn't be any fuel in the tube, also the Allen key should turn it fairly easily.

I'm not a fan of WD40 as a penetrating fluid, i prefer a 50/50 mix of acetone and synthetic ATF. I'm wondering if it was in fact water that was in that tube and it's partially seized teh adjuster?