Battery, alternator or ignition fault?

[Phs1]

Good evening all. I have a merc vito with problem starting approx every 3-4 days.
It's not used everyday but then I will start it, turn the key & there will be a pause of nothing for a few seconds before starting. The next time there will be a longer pause, but again it will start & so on until one day it won't start. I have a jump starter so I can get it going again, but then the last time even the jump starter didn't work and I had to get the jump leads out & hook up to another vehicle.
I had the problem last winter when it was cold, never during the milder months and I put in a new battery, but having the problem again this winter.
If it's the battery it would attempt to turnover wouldn't it, even if it didn't start.
Which makes me think it's ignition related because there's nothing for a few seconds before turning over.
Or the alternator not recharging the battery?
Any help would be appreciated before getting any work done as I obviously want to throw money at the right place.
Thanks

 

[optimusprime]

Get someone to look at the lights as you turn the key on .Do they dim ?. Or do the head lights stay bright ?..

 

[Phs1]

Get someone to look at the lights as you turn the key on .Do they dim ?. Or do the head lights stay bright ?..

Thanks for the reply. The person looking at them said the were bright, then dimmed when cranking the engine but then bright again...... what does that mean then

 

[optimusprime]

Battery is flat ..check the battery .Here is a chart to go off . And check the altrernator charge with a multi meter . I have had problems like this =- no start , my problem was the regulator inside the alternator . Battery will go flat over overnight if regulator is nbg .

 

[m80]

Is there a misunderstanding here?
While cranking I would expect the lights to change their state.

You turn the key and it doesn't crank, is my understanding.
If that's the case I would suspect a relay, even the starter solenoid.

 

[optimusprime]

Phs2 = Said the lights went dim .No misunderstanding .
I would like to know if the vehicle is used every day ?

 

[optimusprime]

This might be some help , sorry its in foreigne lingo but you can get the idea of it

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[mersum1es]

should we know what car it is (perhaps the vito mentioned OP avatar), age and engine...?

 

[Phs1]

Phs2 = Said the lights went dim .No misunderstanding .
I would like to know if the vehicle is used every day ?

Thanks i appreciate the replies.
It's not used everyday and only had the problem in cold weather (last winter and now)
Mine doesnt turnover & not start, as per the video. My one seems to either start first time or there is nothing with the key turned for anything between 3-10 before it will crank and start....or finally not start at all.

 

[Phs1]

should we know what car it is (perhaps the vito mentioned OP avatar), age and engine...?

It the vito dual liner, 2007, 2.1cdi

 

[optimusprime]

First of all get the alternator charge checked . A problem in the alternator will not charge the bayttery . Might even be the starter motor . Looking in to it , there are so many on YouTube, with the very same problem . .i would ask mercedes to take look at it .