I would be very grateful if you could give me any advice over a starting problem with my 1991 Rover 216SLi (Honda D16 series engine) which has covered 206000 miles.

In warm or hot weather, say when the temperature is above about 22°C, the car is very difficult to start from cold. Turning the ignition key to position 2 activates the electrical circuits as normal. However, the Check Engine instrument warning light will go out after a second without the usual accompanying sound of a whirr followed by a click from the main relay. On operating the starter motor the engine turns over but fails to start. On turning back the key to position 0 and then turning it again to position 2 several times, the same result happens. I do not depress the accelerator pedal at all during this process.

Eventually on turning the ignition switch to position 2 the “whirr and click” sound will be heard and on turning the key to position 3 the engine will fire but then immediately dies. After hearing the “whirr and click“ sound three or four times when turning the key to position 2 followed by the engine starting and then dying, the engine will eventually start and continue running without any further problems.

As a result of this problem starting the car in warm weather can take up to ten to fifteen minutes. On one occasion it was impossible to start at all until the outside temperature had cooled in the evening.

The problem can also occur at all other times during the year after the car has been running and is then re-started a few minutes later, eg after filling with petrol.

I have changed the main relay but this has made no difference.

Have you got any ideas?