A tooth on the flywheel can be broken by the starter during start-up. Since I need a long key for start-up when the engine is hot(leaking injectors?) that seemed very possible. The first thing we've done was to reverse the two RPM sensors but the car behaved the same. My mechanic tells me that the car would not run with a faulty sensor. Then we checked the flywheel through the small window where the sensors are located and we discovered two teeth that are broken (about one third of the height), both having a fresh cutline. I decided to go ahead with replacing the flywheel on Sept.23rd. I do agree that replacing the sensors first makes sense if you try to find the problem by the method of elimination but my mechanic suggests that the RPM sensors are OK. I will let you know as soon as we get the job done.
Thank you,
Florin