I started to notice a problem on my car about two days ago where I would turn the ignition key and the car would delay turning over by about a second or two. Didn't really think much of it at the time as it was intermittent. But it had got worse over the last two days. I'm a taxi driver and this morning it took about six attempts at turning the key until it suddenly started as normal. After that I had to leave it running even when parked up in case I got stranded.

At the end of my shift I came home and parked up. After switching the ignition off I now find I can't start it at all. All the dashboard lights come on as normal and then go out. But when I turn the key it's just dead. When the car was working everything was fine.... no warning lights and it ran sweetly.

As a sidenote I've also had the rear parking sensors fail in the last two days. The reverse light come on but the sensors no longer beep. I don't even get the beep sound when I engage reverse anymore. Could these problems be linked?

Sounds like your starter motor is playing up, that or the flywheel has some teeth missing so it can't engage the starter, does it sound like the starter is whirring at all, way to find out is put it in gear and rock the car a few times then try the key again, if it does start it's most likely to be the flywheel causing it.

Other things to check are the battery terminals, clean and tighten them, also if you get it running but the problem persists after it's been running a while if the battery terminals are hot you have a problem with the terminal clamps which will require you to cut them off and fit new ones, you should see the cableing will have gone black inside the sheath if this is the problem.