My daughters 02 plate ford Ka has developed a starting problem after being used. If you leave the car for 5 minutes after any trip where the engine gets warm, when you return to the car it wont start. It will turn over but wont start. If you turn it over and get it to catch by revving it, it will start but will die as soon as you stop revving the engine. leave it to cool down and it will start first time.
When she has the problem the engine management light comes on - if the car is left for a day or so the light goes off.

Any ideas anyone?

Paul, December 2011

ford ka , this is a real problem. If your car is loosing water/coolant and when the engine is warm cann,t start, this happen because the valv top cover guasket is damaget and water is going to engine and it effects to plugs, so it mins the car cann,t start. Ckeck the engine cup ,if the oil color is getting white and oil level is increasing,this is the problem. many people thing the car has electrical promblems? is not true.

Fatos, November 2013

Coolant temp sensor, but to be sure get it onto a diagnostic code reader £20 from most independant garages, there will be a fault code logged in the engines computer due to the light being on.

nigel, December 2011