My 2004 Multijet has just started playing up. I have to put the key in multiple times for the ignition to engage. All the lights light up, battery is fine.
Occasionally it just starts first go. Is there something loose in the barrel or could it be more serious?

When you turn the key - the engine doesn't crank you mean?

It could be a barrell issue

or it could be the Wire to the Solenoid on the starter motor failing
Sometimes it'd connect - sometimes it didnt
So random starting

We need more details tho

Does it crank?
does it sound like its nearly going to fire?
does the lights Dim at all?
Have you tried adding a Jump lead from the Body of the car (ie engine mount) to the negative of the battery ? (isolates a potential earthing issue)

Ziggy

No, it doesn'r crank, or sound like it's going to fire. Plus the lights don't dim. Not tried the last, will give it a go. Ta

macfly56 said:

No, it doesn'r crank, or sound like it's going to fire. Plus the lights don't dim. Not tried the last, will give it a go. Ta

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If there is no cranking, and there isn't any dimming of the lights

it does sounds like a potential failure to activate
Solenoid could be stuck - or the Wiring has become damaged

Or the ignition barrell still could be at fault

Ziggy

You say occasionally it just starts and goes?
Like Ziggy122 said it could be a barrel problem, but if not that I'm thinking it sounds more like the crank sensor if your particular model has this (think it has). Buy a cheap one from the scrappies and swap over. Then you might save a lot of grief, as it is a relatively easy fix if that is the problem

Won't turn over but all electrics seem fine very occasionally works or you can push start the car means you engine earth strap has corroded (which happened to my 1.3 multijet)

Take a jump lead when you can't start the car connect it between the engine block and the battery earth/negative terminal and it should start if so invest in an new engine earth lead

do the dilithium crystals need a recharge?

s and b said:

do the dilithium crystals need a recharge?

Click to expand...

Mk2b has a flux capacitor instead

Dark_Crusader said:

You say occasionally it just starts and goes?
Like Ziggy122 said it could be a barrel problem, but if not that I'm thinking it sounds more like the crank sensor if your particular model has this (think it has). Buy a cheap one from the scrappies and swap over. Then you might save a lot of grief, as it is a relatively easy fix if that is the problem

Click to expand...

Why you saying Crank sensor?
If the car isn't even turning over - or is intermittantly NOT turning over - the crank sensor wont be the cause

AndyRKett said:

Won't turn over but all electrics seem fine very occasionally works or you can push start the car means you engine earth strap has corroded (which happened to my 1.3 multijet)

Take a jump lead when you can't start the car connect it between the engine block and the battery earth/negative terminal and it should start if so invest in an new engine earth lead

Click to expand...

Or when you have a weak lead - it can go Pooof as the last few strands let go....
as a result no body to battery earthing
But a negative lead test will soon sort that

s and b said:

do the dilithium crystals need a recharge?

Click to expand...

AndyRKett said:

Mk2b has a flux capacitor instead

Click to expand...

Are you sure its not the whatyamacallit? Often fail on punto's

Ziggy122 FYI 'Why I say that?'

I suggested it as one possible solution because it was a similar situation that happened to me as well? I did not specifically route that as the main specific problem, but it is also a common fault with Puntos?
Just trying to help like everyone else on here, nothing more nothing less.

Anyways macfly56, hope you got to the root of your problem