Turn the key and nothing, sometimes starts. urgent HELP

[midge]

on my dci the first few times you turn the key it wont start, but then it will, what happens when it doesnt start is nothing (sometimes here a relay clicking)

when the car is warm it starts 100% off the time.

the battery earth isnt very good and isnt clamped very well but it is making full contact, and of course theres the fact that it starts fine when warm.

when metal is warm does it have less resistance? is it possible that this is literally just the earth at fault?

the calmp on teh battery cant go any tighter but it isnt tight enough :|

 

[Macester]

sounds like you need a new set of glowplugs mate, when you go to start the car in the morning, wait till the glowplug light on the dash goes out, when it does it means the engine is hot enough to start some combustion!

edit: reading too quick, hmm i'm not sure about the less resistance but it would be a good idea to check out the wires to make sure none of them are corroding. had this problem before but it was a wire to one of the injectors..

 

[midge]

defiantely not the glow plugs! im going to sort the battery connections today and hope it fixe's it!

 

[clioruss]

the battery earth isnt very good and isnt clamped very well but it is making full contact, and of course theres the fact that it starts fine when warm.

when metal is warm does it have less resistance? is it possible that this is literally just the earth at fault?

the calmp on teh battery cant go any tighter but it isnt tight enough :|

If you are ever wondering if it is a bad earth trail a 8 or 4 guage wire from neg of battery straight to the engine mount, or block - it does not appear a battery fault but rules out this problem in the mean time, if you not got the wire use a jump lead cable from battery to block.

 

[Karashi]

Sometimes get this in work's Transit, think the starter is not engaging properly. What I do is put it in gear and take it out again, without the clutch, just to move the flywheel a little.

Seems to work, although your problem sounds more electrical but it's worth a shot.