Misfire mystery

Q My 2003 Honda CR-V 2.0 petrol has a lack of power and what appears to be a misfire (kangarooing) about an hour after engine has been switched off. The engine is perfect from cold, but when it is left for anything up to an hour, the problem appears at a low throttle setting and when pulling away in first gear. It then clears up and the car drives perfectly until the next time.

I have fitted iridium plugs, cleaned and inspected the coils, and fitted a new air filter. All electrical connections around engine – or, at least, the ones I can get at – have been checked. I have also replaced the thermostat as the original had failed, not because it was not overheating. All fuses have been checked and the ECU has been reset a number of times.

I am an ex-aa patrolman and traffic police officer dealing with vehicle inspections. I wasn’t brought up with all these sensors under the bonnet, so I am on a learning curve. Is it possible to get a diagram showing the layout of the sensors and what happens if they develop a fault? Barry Allchin

A There are two possible scenarios that spring to mind. The first and simplest is that the temperature sensor is faulty and providing incorrect information during the latent heat period. The sensor is located at the rear of the cylinderhead. The second and more problematic possibility is that the camshaft VVT system is sticking.

Autodata also advises that the cam lobes on the CR-V are known to wear. You do not mention the mileage of your car, but given your former career I am assuming the oil change regime has been regularly carried out, eliminating the possibility of oil contamination being the cause.

Haynes offer a lot of free information on your vehicle at http://bit. ly/2avdpzz. The company publishes a manual for the 2002-2009 CR-V, but this is for the US market, but emanualonline.com can provide the 2003 Honda CR-V Service & Repair Manual to download for £18.99.