........' would a failure in the throttle body as you are suggesting (that seems to be a common problem) result in the leads not sparking? Isn't that a bit like the old carburetor area. Could that cause that outcome?'
Yes - as the engine warms up, so does the throttle body (radiator water...
Sounds exactly like a case of 'dry solder in throttle body'. It only takes a few mins to check and repair, and you don't need to remove the throttle body itself. Remove the air filter body and air inlet pipe to get access to the throttle body. Remove the sealant on the panel cover with a sharp...
You should be able to pick up something suitable for less than £100 (2nd hand).
Make sure you see it working before shelling out and get a good auto-darkening face shield.
You need one that will get down to 25 amps for auto work.
I have a Cebora (Snap-on) 130 which will do thin panel work and...
Could be a faulty coolant temp. sensor. I have a similar problem - starts up fine, but after a mile or so the engine becomes hesitant as if it is starved of fuel. After 10-15 secs, its back to normal. I suspect the sensor has a fault, but havent got round to sorting it yet.
Just bought a 93 1.3LX with a genuine 19k miles on the clock. Apart from a small repair to the O/S rear wheel arch and a couple of parking scuffs, it looks pretty minty !