I have an intermittent problem with my 1200 ute.

Sometimes when I get in and turn the key to start it, it doesnt start. All the dash lights come on as they should, and there is a "click" from under the bonnet, but thats it.
I find that if I keep turning the key a few times it will eventually start.

It happens occasionally, and sometimes I nedd turn turn the key 2 or 3 times to make it go. Today I had to turn it like a dozen times!

Any suggestions on a cure guys?

This use to happen to mine, Make sure that the battery leads a clean and on properly

Yep, this is the classic symptom of the battery to battery-cable connection.

Clean the battery posts and the cable terminals. Scrape to bare shiny metal. Use a battery post brush if you want.

Then coat them to help slow down oxidation. You can buy some red stuff that's made for the purpose, it works well, or you can put a light coating of grease on the metail surface of the post and inside the cable end, which works fairly well.

Wait a minute ... on second thought it may not be the connections (that usually doesn't work by trying it again).

It may be the ignition switch, or maybe the starter -- an auto electrician should be able to diagnose it pretty quickly (if you can get it to happen when it's at the shop ...).

Full power goes through the 1200's ignition switch, so they tend to eventually wear out (most cars use a relay so they last longer). The switch is a round thing behind the key part, it unscrews and a new one is put in.

ddgonzal right its most probally the solinoid on the starter motor

check the alternator my dads cruser did the same thing all it was was a bit of dust the thing would conect the power witch was the click but there was some dirt and dust in the alternator and if it was some stuff in between the cable and terminal the lights wouldnt show would they not corect me if im wrong guys and if its not the bat grab some trusty old wd 40 or some thing like it and spray some in the alternatore but first try and figer out were the click is coming from like get a freind to turn he key and keep doing it till the engine doesnt start and it clicks or if that doesnt work and you have some dosh go to the auto electrician

I'd go with most of the fellas above.
The solenoid does wear out.

Pull the starter motor out and pull the solenoid apart. Normally the terminals inside the solenoid are chunky copper. I've never asked if these copper bits are replacable, I normally just get a replacement reconditioned starter from the auto electrician.

These are what throws 12V to the motor part of the starter motor.

Also the old dirty terminals is a good one. Get a cup of CLR or good metal cleaner and soak the terminals in the mixture. That'll get all of the oxide off. Otherwise just give them a good scrub with a battery post cleaner, $5 at the local spares place.

The alternator is there just to charge, it won't affect starting, unless the terminals on the alternator are dirty and corroded.

Cheers,
Chris.

the click you can hear sounds to me like the starter solenoid pulling in. ( I dont think your 1200 would have any relays or anything else that goes click, if the car is pretty much standard)
It could be the contacts under the starters solenoid cap like others have said! this is very common in starters.
If its a "bosch" startermotor you can get the cap off and you can buy a kit which is a new cap and contacts. Most probly its not a Bosch starter though!

My first bet for your problem is the brushes inside the starter need replacing as they are now too short.

The solenoid copper parts can be filed/sanded back to bare metal and sometimes work OK for a long time. Some solenoids are sealed and not designed to come apart though.

But the Bosch starter is 100 times better than the stock A12 starter, if you have a choice it last longer, better quality.

I agree, the solenoid is the master of disaster in this case, had a lot of those 'clicks' and non starts, there is also one thing though sometimes the negative from the battery does not earth the engine that well and can coause the same