Tipo doesn't start after idle

My friend has a Tipo that doesn't start after idling few hours (start motor runs though). The solution: push a few meter in first gear, then step into the car and start. Works well, but my friends gets crazy. Any help is welcome.
Please reply to hans_feil@hotmail.com

One of the possible causes could be worn teeth somewhere - subsequently when the engine spins down to a stop it is unfortunatley stopping at the same point every time. Push it in gear and the teeth on the starter fall into a position that isnt worn.

Just a theory...

Is it a pre-engaged starter ?, if it is then it's probably a worn portion of the toothed ring on the flywheel as rudearing says.
If it's not a pre-engaged type there could be 2 problems.
The toothed gear is not travelling down the shaft to engage in the flywheel ring either due to general muck and dirt on the shaft or the solenoid in the starter (this pushes the gear down the shaft) is not working.
Some types have a spiral shaft and inertia "throws" the gear down the shaft, these don't work because the shaft gets clogged with dirt / oil etc.

Take the starter out, (remember to disconnect the battery first - many sparks if you don't) and have a look. Yo can test it across a battery if your brave enough, otherwise stick it in a vice and test it. Clean the shaft as required.

It could be the crankshaft sensor.

I had this problem on my 1.6 '89 DGT. When the car was cold
the engine would start up fine. After warming up and stopping
the engine for a few minutes, restarting it was very difficult.
It got to the point that you'd either have to push start it,
or wait for the engine to cool sufficiently - perhaps 30 mins.

It turns out the original sensor seemed to be about 5mm shorter
than a new one. I'm guessing somehow it wore down even though it's
not meant to be making contact with anything.
On the DGT it was just a short wire that enters a plastic moulding
screwed to the side of what looks like the flywheel casing on the
the windscreen/firewall side. It should come out easy. The new
one has a metal piece extending probably about 6-8mm. The worn
one was about 3mm long.

You could try picking up a new one from a wreckers. Otherwise they
are quite expensive. Take it down to an auto electrician and see
what they can do for you.

Matt

hi had same problem,check all the rubber pipes at the back of the carb for small cracks