In the morning, when I first start my car, its like its pinging or miss firing while it idles, and it keeps doing this until it warms up.

When I finish work if its cold outside it will do the same thing till the car warms.
Today it wasnt that cold so it didnt do it that bad when I went to start the car.

The colder it is, the worse it is until the temp gauge reaches its normal position.

Its really got me buggered, thinking its the spark plugs, i was running it very advanced for a good while because it was only being run on gas and PULP.

Any clues to what else it could be?

Could be the computer temp sender. The temp gauge sender is on the top of the inlet manifold on the passengers side. The computers temp sender is hidden on the bottom of the inlet manifold under where the gauge one is.
You put a multimeter across the 2 terminals.
It should read about 2 - 3K ohms or 2000 - 3000 ohms at 25 degrees (engine cold)
Once warmed up it should be about 300 ohms.

If its out by miles its dead.:D

In the worlshop manual it talks about a coolant temp gauge unit and coolant temp sensor on the manifold, but thats on the 6cyl. (Im guessing thats what your talking about)

I have a 4cyl and in the workshop manual it doesnt say anything about these on the 4cyl. So im thinking the 4's dont have these?

No its on the 2.6. Ive got one on my TR. its just well hidden.:D

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22796&stc=1&d=1151114925
The one i circled in red is one of the sensors yes? the one i circled in blue is a clip and when I took it off im pretty sure it had two prongs so I dont think this is the other one?
Do both the sensors look the same?

The red circle is the sensor for the temp gauge and the one underneath (blue cirle) is the sensor that tells the computer when the car has warmed up.

The two prongs on the sensor (not the cable) are the ones you do the resistance readings on.
Use a mirror or take it out and test it in air then in hot water. (you will lose some coolant when you take it out but not too much.):D

You can imagine that if it has gone low or short circuit the computer will think the engine is at operating temp and will run too lean until it actually does warm up.

When its cold the computer should make it run rich to warm it up and keep it runnig properly.

arhh, I was trying to read the resistance between the two different sensors. But its the two prongs on the bottom sensor.

Okai yeah it all makes sense now, thanks heaps ol fart, your a legend. Always got the perfect helps, thanks heaps again.

How old is your battery too?

I've had something similiar from a battery on its way out

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22796&stc=1&d=1151114925
The one i circled in red is one of the sensors yes? the one i circled in blue is a clip and when I took it off im pretty sure it had two prongs so I dont think this is the other one?
Do both the sensors look the same?

Hi Ascension
From the pic it looks like the rubber cover for the wires entering the distributor has perished
This is a common fault, and it could be moisture 'shorting out' the circuit board.
When the engine heat dries it out - it runs better

Suggest you get that fixed asap, as continued water entry will cause bad corrosion on the inside, where you can'tsee - BIG $$$ to get fixed

Cheers, Barry

It took me about 40 mins just to get the sensor out, its in the most akward position and none of my sockets fitted it so I had to use a spanner and I could only make an 1/8th of a turn at a time because of the limited space.

But I finally got it out, tested it and their was NO continuity what so ever, hot or cold.

So went to the wreckers and picked one up and now shes running beautiful again, better then ever before :D

Thanks again Ol' Fart!