Car Turning Over But Not Firing

[Wideboy]

Car is 1996 P reg 2.0 Petrol Sharan,had this problem bout a week ago and it cleared now its back,car turns over but sounds like not firing will eventually start but once it has is very lumpy and misfiring,last time this happened it just cleared eventually after about 20 mins running.Now mrs has phoned me this morning saying it doing exactly the same on her way to work and that bad she has had to leave it in a car park,and walk the rest of the way.Any advice and thoughts would be greatly appreciated.Thanks.Will see about rying to fetch the car later if all else fails a call to the aa will be on the cards.

[Wideboy]

Oh well had to get the aa out but as i was waiting for them i noticed split in breather pipe that comes off the top of rocker cover,showed aa bloke it but he not convinced its that the problem,he taped it up put it back on car and car was still doing it,said he thought fuelling problem told us to try drive it up home and he would follow,drove it back home and problem seems to be gone,and been fine since,any ideas where i can get a replacement breather hose from?? Obviously i know vw place i will get one.

[seatkid]

Most likely ignition problem. Check for healthy spark at each plug lead end - big fat and blue. Plugs and leads are first to check. As its a sharan its a VW engine and uses a distributor based ignition system. Check the distributor cap/rotor for obvious signs of tracking. If the spark is weak or missing, the hall sensor (located where the points used to be in old style distributor)is next suspect. It may be cheaper to replace the entire distibutor unit (I got one a few years back for a 94 golf for