slow to start

[Jacob]

Over the past year my car is getting slower to fire up when hot or cold. New plugs at service etc and no difference.
What else should I try?

 

[bones]

Assuming the starter is turning the engine over properly and it sort of rumbles into life instead of just 'bursting' into life as it should, get your hot and cold fuel pressures checked.

 

[Jacob]

is this something a novice mechanic can undertake (note no spanners!) or shall I get the pro's to do it

 

[bones]

It's within DIY capabilities if you have pressure testing equipment but if you really are a novice put it into your favourite specialist then you can have the other possibilities looked at simultaneously it may be an electrical component breaking down, a DME issue etc. Can you rev the engine past 3000rpm when stationery , is it backfiring, what does it sound like? Post back with the diagnosis.

 

[Jacob]

I have no testing equipment so looks like an indy will be doing the work for me.

Diagnostics
Engine does not burst into life when turning the ignition
once running - revs freely, plenty of power but has a tendency to stall (only occasionally and only when cold - which incidentally got much better when i changed back to a normal air filter from a cone filter)

Thanks for your help bones