The symptoms you are having do not sound promising to me. This engine really should work just fine hot or cold. There should be zero difference whether cold or hot in how it runs. It sounds like something is seriously wrong with your engine unfortunately. I do appreciate the effort you are putting in to potentially save this car. However, without a compression and block test, you really are flying by the seat of your pants hoping it's going to be something easy. Do the tests first and then go from there.

 

hot start issues are only indicative of a previous overheat and coolant seal failure.. nothing else. please dont ignore this and keep driving unless you want to replace the whole motor not just the coolant seals

i bought the 2007 CWP with the same situation thinking i could just tune it up and clear it up but its not gonna work. once i took apart the motor it was VERY clear it had been leaking coolant and trying to compress/fire it at the spot it was leaking so both my rotor housings are trash now with giant chunks eaten out of the coating from the coolant...

a low compression engine will still run fine until coolant gets back in there from the same failed coolant seal opening... then when it cools off the pressure from coolant is not there to keep from firing... if you have determined it has indeed a hot start problem like this.. STOP DRIVING IT

 

also note a compression test will probably show ok numbers at first because there IS compression but the less air and fuel thats in a chamber and the more coolant thats in the chamber will be much harder to fire... harder to start..

the only real test is a spark plug pull after driving and seeing if there is coolant coming out of the holes when you crank but i dont see any point if youve identified the hot start problem

 

Would there not be steam from the exhaust if coolant was getting into the combustion chamber?

 

nope this is what you will get . again.. already been there done that either take the advice or not :P

 

You don't need to take out spark plugs or anything to know that your engine is drinking coolant. Discoloured coolant, low coolant level and 150W vape cloud behind your car are dead giveaways.

Just make sure you do the compression test when the engine is still hot, as housings expand a bit when hot and that's when the compression becomes lower.

Edit: A little late now, but you shouldn't have knocked out the catalyst if it's still good. A member near me (Meat Head) got close to CAN$2k for his OEM cat. Those things are worth some good cash nowadays at junkyards.

 

i dont think any expansion of housings will cause a car to go from running fine to not even starting but what do i know... good luck ! let me know when the rebuild starts :D

also.. yes what were you thinking gutting a thousand dollar cat out!!! im selling one cheap at 600 tryin to help someone get a good deal. there are many aftermarket options if you dont live in california ..smh