Vauxhall Astra H intermittently needs two tries to start

[Spathodus77]

Hi,
Please can someone help identify an issue with my wife’s Astra H. The issue is that about 25% of the times she tries to start it won’t catch on the first go. Soon as she tries a second time it fires up fine. There seems to be no pattern to the non-starting - sometimes it happens after the car as stood overnight, sometimes after a short journey and she can’t remember if it’s done it after a long journey.
Fault codes present are:
PO597 Thermostat heater control/open
P0014 camshaft position timing over-advanced or system performance bank 1

Both camshaft position sensors have been changed recently which has successfully resolved another issue. Car is a 2005 1.6 petrol engine code Z16XER. The car has done 120K miles and has a full service history (although Cambelt is due).

Any thoughts on the cause of the non-starting would be appreciated.

[E-bmw]

Job number 1.

Get into the habit of turning the key to the click just before start & leaving it a few seconds before starting & report back the results then.

[tux850]

Sounds like it might be a fuel priming issue, which may well be what E-bmw is alluding to above in giving it longer.

Can you hear the pump priming prior to attempting to start? Different cars do it at different times eg when opening the driver's door, when first turning the key etc. The latter strategy can be problematic if you're too quick.

Edited by tux850 on Thursday 18th January 22:06

[Spathodus77]

Thanks for the advice. We’ll get that data and report back.