Car starts after 3Rd turn of key

[FPU]

2004 1.4 fiesta zetec. Most of the time I try to start the car, I need to turn the key 2 to 3 times, it turns over but just doesn't start

[njw1]

My missus old Fiesta would sometimes turn over but not fire, even though there seemed to be plenty of juice in the battery and it would turn over quickly fitting a new battery cured it.

[swooshiain]

Same with my friend's Fiesta. Would definitely consider a new battery.

[FPU]

Yeah was thinking that but doesn't seem to be turning over slowly or anything, just sounds like it normally but except it's not actually firing

[njw1]

FPU said:

.......doesn't seem to be turning over slowly or anything, just sounds like it normally but except it's not actually firing

This is exactly what my missus car was doing, I was scratching my head for weeks trying to figure it out as I was convinced it wasn't the battery. I fitted a new one on the off chance and it cured the problem.

[FPU]

Okay thanks. Will try it

[swooshiain]

Likewise with my friend's Fiesta, and my brother's C-Max actually did the same too. Garage was convinced it wasn't the battery, even after testing it and measuring the output. He eventually changed it anyway and the problem was cured instantly. Weird.

[gordyshreds]

Try pressing the throttle pedal for a couple of seconds after turning off the engine. Had a few mk3 Mondeos that sometimes didnt want to start but after getting in the habit of the pedal trick it would start first time always