Hello there,
Thanks for all the replies. I ended up having to put it into a garage to get the water pump etc changed.
I needed to get a cam belt and was told when it was removed I would have to get the Cam kit. I agreed this as i had accepted my fate and trust the guy who was doing the job.
After he had replaced all the parts he said it was out of timing and was overheating due to the water pump seizing. I was lucky that the cam belt didnt snap with the obvious consequences. The thermostat was seized also so due to the increasing temperature it was throwing the sensors out and affecting the mixture. As it was running too rich it had the knock on affect I was experiencing. I am picking the car up this afternoon and fingers crossed that will be the end to the problems.
The breather pipes for the crank case were slightly clogged with oil residue but not of major concern. I throroughly cleaned all the air intake and breather pipework as a matter of caution during the yearly service I give it. As it was only doing low mileage I had neglected the engine slightly for about 18 months and I think the main problem is the lack of use.
I will be more careful in future and give it a bit more TLC. They are a great car both in looks and drive so I think I will keep it for a few more years. It has been a great car for 8 years until this past year where it has cost me the best part of 2 grand. With that in mnd it should be worth holding onto for a bit longer and get some more enjoyment out of it.
Pity the weather is crap cos it feels good with the roof off bombing along the motorway.
Hope this has been a bit of help for anyone suffering similar problems. If you are a half decent mechanic then attempt the repair yourself as it is quite a good engine to work on. If you are only a half decent tinkerer then forget it. You need specific tools for the Cam replacement alone so its just not worth trying and messing up.
Cheers, Mick