:ok i put the whole motor together. it fired up i drove it down the street it had a slight white smoke out of the driverside exhaust but was clearing up... I noticed the temp gauge started to creep past the half way mark and made it home and turned it off.. There is spark and there is fuel in the lines. its cranking but not starting anymore.. I am really lost for ideas. when i put it in the ON position there is no CEL at all and the light on the ecu isnt flashing either when i try and do that test.. please help I had a similar problem, car would start cold, but not when hot. Checked ECU and had a temperature sensor fault. Replaced the temperature sensor and all is OK now. It's the temperature sensor that goes to the ECU, not the gauge. Jim