well oh well after ordering up parts to resolve the running problem it was decreed that bump starting was a bad thing and the dicky starter needed to be replaced.
NEVER EVER AGAIN.
bastid thing.
the starter is held in place with allen key bolts. first of which is stuck behind the gearbox quadrant(which you need to remove to get into it. then its noted that the started cannot physically be removed without removing the bloody inlet manifold . arrgghhh nearly 2 hours to get the hooring thing out of the bloody car (includes swearing and praying time)
i want another xr2 they were no where near as bad