Today my car was hard to start on two occasions, its a ford escort xr3i.
The immobilizer was very hot when i took it out.when it did fire up it cut out after a few seconds,three tries later it fired up ok..any one any ideas ?fuel pump maybe ? it goes great once its managed to fire up.........thanks

If it goes fine after it is started I very much doubt it is the fuel pump.

Go checking all the normal items such as dizzy cap, rotar arm, and HT leads.

checked them,car started first time,parked up on flat road,wouldnt start again,no weird noises clicks or anything started after four more tries,seems like its getting no fuel thats why i thought it might be the pump............. thanks anyway for suggestions

Well it was a maestro/montego or a K series I would be able to help further :D But it isn't :(

My suggestion would be for you to try the escort forum, I am sure there must be one. More people specialised in your engine would be able to help then.

A quick search on google bought up this

http://www.escortpower.net/forums/index.php

and this

http://pub7.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=575504751&cpv=2

thanks a lot just joined their forum on escorts and posted request for help......going back over now to see if any thing turns up...many thanks again

I had something simliar with a rover, it was my fuel tank cap, its hair holes were blocked, try starting without the fuel tank cap off.

thanks every one for the advice,i think its ok now.there was a piece of foam in the air filter box,i cleaned this of the oil it had in it and then w d 40, id the whole electrics.even the imobalizer fob.seems to be working ok now......thanks again to every one