so here we are i was told by the aa man the head gaskets gone but there are no symptons even i know that but after looking for a problem i cant seem to find one so start to strip the engine

When OMG theres a massive two holes in the air filter pipe that connects the air filter to the fuel system now i know this is all held togther with jublie clips to make it air tight so my question is would these holes stop the car from starting??? i need to know as its either rebuild and put a new one of these on (the cheaper option lol!!) or carry on stripping down to the head gasket??? so please somebody tell me if those holes would stop the car starting see photos below thanks

The holes themselves, no, but - depending how long they've gone unnoticed - untold amounts of dirt and debris could have gotten into the engine (which would normally have gone through - and gotten caught by - the air filter housing).
What actually happens when you try to start the car?

it just turns over and over and somtimes sounds like its almost going to fire

Do a dry & then a Wet compression test, see if all the abrasive dust that has been sucked in has damaged the seal between pistons / rings & cylinder walls or valve seats for starters (scuse the unintended pun)

Prior to it failing to start, was it running rough at, lumpy idle or difficult to start?

What engine is it? If it's an 8v, the cam belt could have snapped - the engine would still turn without any nasty noises and, depending on how badly the belt has snapped, it would sound like it's trying to fire every now and again - had the same problem on a 106 once, didn't realise 8v engines don't usually destroy themselves when the cam belt goes so was stumped and called AA guy, he was stumped too until he eventually took the belt cover off. Playing on my ignorance, he told me it was shagged and offered to take it off my hands for £50 - which I stupidly accepted (it was old and falling apart anyway )

Must be a 1242 16v looking at the ECU

Adrian Bravo said:

Must be a 1242 16v looking at the ECU

Click to expand...

not sure what you mean, it is the 1242 16v

It may stop it from starting, I have come accross a few cars that wont start with out the air filter in, as it is sucking to much air, simple and cheap wayto find out is t otake off this pipe clean it up and wind some carpet tape around it to seal the holes, pop it on and see if it starts, while you are there have a clean around inside the throttle housing, just to make sure the flap on the throttle is not stuck open, it will have been sucking unfiltered crap into the manifold so there maybe some dirt keeping the throttle flap open, I am guessing you have done the usual tests with plugs and leads and coils.
Done any work on the car before this happened.
Check on cambelt but I don't think it will be him, sounds more of an fuel/electrical problem, If I remember right the 1.2 does not have a fuel filter, but worth a check just in case previous owner put an inline one in some where, filter is in the tank may do you good to just have a look at filter and pump inside fuel tank access is from under rear seats, has it got fuel presure, if it is not on the fuel side then may be worth a look at the sensors, may be worth a look at the MAF sensor on the inlet manifold opposite side to this inlet pipe of yours, again with holes in the intake it will be sucking a lot of crap through so this sensor may well be dirty.
if it is spining and spining then almost firing sounds like it has not enough fuel so it could be as said fuel pump side or sensor side, so to me step one would be to clean out throttle housing, clean this MAF/MAP can never remember which one it is on the 1.2, tape up the air pipe and try again, would just cast an eye over cambelt just to cancel that out.