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Fellas,

I have owned my 1998 2.1td estate for 4 years and every 6 months or so it wont start 1st time.

If it winds over for more than 2 seconds then it aint gonna start, turn ignition off and it will fire up next crack straight away.

Last night it did exactly that,
This dinner time upon leaving work to go and get a sarnie it started on the 3rd go.
Upon trying to leave town to come back to work it started on the 6th go and on go's 3,4 and 5 the heater light was not showing on the dash, on go number 6 it was showing and it started.

(the previous times it has not started the heater light has been showing)

I got back to work and have just started it 6 times in a row 1st time.

I dont like it when your car 'sometimes' starts, its always in the back of your mind that its going to let you down.

I dont think its glow plugs,
where is the relay for the glow plugs - is it worth replacing this?
I can hear a couple of bits clicking when the heater light appears on the dash but i can hear nothing clicking when the heater light goes out. - is that normal?
Do the plugs stay on after the engine is running for a while? - reason i ask is that i turn the key until the heater light is on, then turn the key off and after approx 30 seconds i hear a couple of clicks from under the bonnet and i thought it may be a timer to de activate the plugs.
Any pointers or advice will be greatly received as i want to try and eliminate any intermittant starting issues.
Thanks

Could be an immoboliser issue.

Can you elaborate at all captain Jack?

Are there any known immobiliser issues with these cars?

It does not have a keypad immobiliser if that what your thinking may be at fault?

I had a similar problem with my 2.1TD - it just wouldn't start. And the engine sounded like it's not pumping fuel. Had to take the key out, turn it over (!) and try again. I never really resolved it but it was so intermittent, that it didn't bother me. Could be related to a transducer in the barrel or a faulty transmitter in the key.

..I could be talking complete shyte too

so are the key and barrell a matched pair then?

Yes.. and something else (fuel pump or ECU).