Ford Ka cold start issue

Hard starting and poor running when cold definitely points towards a fuel delivery issue. Since it's only during cold starts, have you considered the cold start injector? Do you know if the fuel rail is getting proper pressure when the engine is cold?

Thanks for the quick reply! The cold start injector... that's a good point. I am not sure about the fuel rail pressure. How would I go about checking the fuel rail pressure accurately during a cold start? Is there a specific tool I need?

You'd need a fuel pressure testing kit to check the pressure at the rail. Given the symptoms and the age of the car, a defective injector is a strong possibility. It might be best to take it to a workshop. They'll be able to diagnose it properly and replace the injector if necessary. I hope this helps.

Thanks a lot for your advice! I took your suggestion and brought it to a trusted workshop. They confirmed it was indeed a defective cold start injector, just like you suspected. The repairs including labor and parts ended up costing 515€. Runs like new now!