Here goes. Thermostat, thats a commen issue, check the oil level. If its too high can cause the issue you have. If not then yes its your thermostat. you can spend a day changing the original one or fit an in line renualt one thats a bodge but works fine and takes twenty minutes. Go to muddymods...

I normally use a rag and petrol. Unless you remove the head its dangerous to be doing too much. People may have better ideas but I dont want bits sat waiting to be injested on startup..

I have had a few mercs in my time and virtually all of them broke springs at some time when I had them. sometimes you knew, sometimes only found out at MOT time.

Above was just one example of unexplained things I have come across. We probably spent half a million pounds in tests and man hours trying to figure that one out and failed. Now dont get me going on the creation of widmanstatten structures in titanium. Thats had multi millions spent without...

There are things in life you cannot explain, it happens. I was the Manufacturing Engineer technically in charge of a chemical machining department. We used to do an internal etch 3 mm deep on a component that was the size of a builders bucket. We etched it a 5 x5 x 6 foot tank and scrapped loads...

A mate of mine nearly had a serious injury changing a front shock on a Renault Fuego. He removed/ unbolted all the parts at the wheel end. undid the bolt or bolts not sure how many there were under bonnet, the strut flew out and the spring just missed him and embedded itself in the side of his...

Basically and I am no expert in this. The sensor sends a reading to the ECU which in turn uses it to optimise the running of the engine. The ECU has defaults for some sensors if they stop sending readings so it will run but not as well. Thats why people are told to unplug sensors like the MAF as...

not my words, taken fromt net The manifold absolute pressure sensor (MAP sensor) is one of the sensors used in an internal combustion engine's electronic control system. Engines that use a MAP sensor are typically fuel injected. The manifold absolute pressure sensor provides instantaneous...

This is very very interesting.. Just wish I had understood more when I did a year 1 of an engineering degree.. well done with the work so far.

Pictures of the MAP. It's down there

I am talking about the MAP sensor, not the MAF. Just been and taken a couple of pics. Its on the inlet manifold to the left of the Air temp sensor. I will upload the pics from my phone.

Oh just to add, when I cleaned the spare MAP I had I didnt push anything down the hole, just used brake cleaner. Having cleaned the one this morning for photos the other thread. against advice I did cut some matchstick down and very carefully used that, The hole geos a long way down the sensor...

seriously the o rings had actually GONE comletely. wow. The bits of rubber could well be stuck in the injectors causing some of the issues, but never having stripped an injector, I am guessing. Have you not noticed any improvement at all in any area of its running having replaced the o rings. I...

just cleaned it with brake cleaner, you can see the difference.

In answer to the original OP's question. First I would clean the MAP sensor. This is the one I removed from my car uncleaned. It is supposed to have hole down the centre, they get clogged up and mine was doing similar things to yours until I replaced it with a clean one.

I am fairly sure its an air temp sensor.

You mean this one???

Rubicon, There is a trick used on the K series by the MG guys. Not sure if it works on the the V6. You can use 15mm copper heating pipe cut to length and the original head bolts to hold the liners in place. stops you having to worry about dislodging them.

Yes I can wait, it's the HSR version, there is a 6 CD changer but never tried it. PM me and let me know what you might what. I can sort out some pics.

I would think your prognosis is close to the facts. Brushes probably worn out.