So I whipped my plugs out at lunchtime today (you were right, only took 20 minutes)... Photos below of the plugs, certainly weren't wet which is not what I was expecting.

New plugs arrive tomorrow...

 

There a little bit blacker than I would like to see.

 

Pic number 3 is not nice at all.

 

From looking at the photos what does it tell you? I've never known what they all mean etc...

 

It seems to be running rich and the no3 photo looks like it MIGHT be oily. They do look like there on the verge of not allowing it to start.

 

 

Thanks both, very helpful. I know the car had always run rich... I had been in contact with my mapper to get it mapped as it was previously mapped by somebody I know nothing about... Hopefully the plugs are the reason it won't start. New plugs arrive tomorrow so will pop them in and see what happens.

Cheers guys.

 

Ooooo those plugs look narsty ! Thats 1 unhealthy running engine lol ( not in the sense of going bang ) but cant be great

These were my plugs removed the other month , running 1.4 bar





Im hoping its plugs that are the issue but ive never known sooted plugs to not start a car as such, run rough yes, not to start, hmmm but fingers crossed for you bud

 

So... put the new plugs in lunchtime today................ First time, fired straight up.
Do you think the plugs ended up in that way due to a poor map? or due to a mechanical component not working correctly?

 

Possibly poor map but as said don't like pic 3 I'd be getting a compression test and leak down test done.

 

Uh Oh, I don't like the sound of that.

 

Once you foul NGK plugs they very rarely recover, yours look like they have not been up to running temp & been idling for long periods, or starting & switching off while still on cold temp fuel correction.

 

That seems quite likely, its my daily car and my commute to work is <5 minutes.