This has happened twice over the last three months - go to start the car and it is completely dead. No interior lights, no dashboard, no headlight function - as if somebody pulled the battery out of the car. Lose all interior memory settings (clock, A/C, etc). Repeatedly put the key in the ignition, after a few attempts things would come back to life but in attempting to start the car - back to completely dead. Got my Fluke 87 voltmeter to the car after 20 minutes with the hood up the entire time noting that the engine interior light never came on. Measured the terminal voltage - 2.2 Volts. Wife gets in the car, notice the terminal voltage goes down to 0.5 volts, she plays with the ignition switch a few times, pulls the key out of the ignition, car comes back to life, battery voltage 12.5 V and it starts without a whimper. Dashboard voltage up to 13.5V in less than a minute. I've read all the forum topics on this and would agree the battery is the primary culprit (two years old Excide 84 month $93 from NTB) but once the car has come back to life (which seems to be initiated from the cockpit/ignition switch, banging on the battery terminals did nothing at the start of this problem) the battery acts as if nothing has happened. Key Question: What can pull the battery terminal voltage down to 2 volts without discharging the battery? Battery test run once I got the car to the dealer and it tests good. Connections at battery in superior condition since I personally install all of 'my' batteries. Starter?? Once the car does come back to life after random threats and the starter does turn over, it starts immediately. Any insight greatly appreciated.

 

I had a battery with an intermittent internal cell connector..If you have another vehicle with a silimar battery try swapping them..see if trbl moves to the other car..maybe just a fluke with wiggling the key..Even thou igh sw are a common trbl in vetts.

 

Well if it's not the battery, the only thing that draws enough current to cause those symptoms is the starter. I guess because it's intermittant, it isn't draining the battery.

 

You know everybody tells you pretty much the same thing but you always think your problem is different. Long story short - it was the battery. Thanks for the assistance, the forum searches were also a big help (even if I didn't believe them!!).

 

Are you running the car with the AC on for long periods of time or leaving the vehicle outside or driving during rain. My 98 coupe had the same issues. The reserve water catch was filling up and leaking down the passenger side floor board and soaking the computer. It would stay out for a short period of time then restart. I had the same issues as you are describing.