QUOTE(Coy @ Jul 23 2007, 06:37 PM)
Along a similar vein, I turn the key and get nothing, not a click or a buzz, but the passenger light dims. a moment later I turn the key and it fires up. It'll do this both hot and cold. The dimming light tells me I'm getting a draw somewhere, so I don't suspect the ignition switch. The battery seems strong and when it's not doing absolutely nothing the starter starts strong...
I could try and cross the starter, but that doesn't tell me anything, because it might just start anyway.
I had a similar problem which turned out to be an oxidated connection on the battery terminal. Car would start; car would start; car wouldn't start; no power.
It took a couple of days to isolate the issue. Since a bad electrical connection is hard to measure without a load, one of the times it wouldn't start; I got the dim dash lights; I turned on the parking lights to create a current draw, then went looking for a voltage drop with my voltmeter.
I'll find the voltage drop somewhere between the battery and the lights. Measured the battery on its terminals, not the clamps: 12V ok. Measured from battery terminal clamp to battery terminal clamp: 7V Yikes!
It was the positive battery terminal. It looked ok, clamp was tight. Issue was a thin layer of oxidation/corrosion between the terminal and clamp. I used my battery terminal cleaning tool, retightened the clamps and my no-starts are gone.
So for your issue, once it won't start, turn the lights on to create a load and go looking for voltage drops with your voltmeter. Don't have a voltmeter, buy one or buy a different car.
Spoke