My car FTL.

[Tauni]

Sweet thanks josh!

[Gravy]

I had this exact problem with an S-10 a few years back. I drove to school, turned it off. Half way through class turned it on for some heat on a break(smoke break in -1 weather) and it started great. Went in for another hour. Got back out. Turned the key and nothing. Lights were on inside, head lights were on, no diming or anything. After checking cables, fuses, and scrubing the ends of all the fuses, and relays. Nothing changed... i walked to a gas station to use the phone. Walked back and on the first try. Fired right up. Never had that problem again... of course i changed out EVERY fuse//relay that had anything to do with starting, running or operating anything remote to the vehicle. Nothing like your vehicle breaking outside of Brookdale Mall at 10 P.M. and growing up in the burbs to scare you. Long way from home, unfamilure neighboor hood, and a murder 4 blocks from you 2 days before. :rolleyes:

[TheBlizzard]

Sometimes these starters will develope a dead spot and won't start intermitantly. I have had this happen a few times, though it doesn't seem like your problem. From what you have described I would guess your ECU is going to shit. Since even if it was a loose connection or something it would have atleast clicked or something.

No it couldn't be the alternator either, it would still start off the battery.

[curt_gendron]

I didn't think it was the alternator in my case either. But i took my car to get an electrical check and thats what they said. If i were you I'd just got get an electrical check done. Like 25 bucks at firestone and theyll tell ya whats wrong.

If you throw a volt meter on your battery with your car running, you can test your alternator. With the car off, you get just over 12 volts. With your car running, you should see around 14 volts. If you don't, you know your alternator is going out.

Tauni's problem seems like a loose wire to me. Maybe one of the wires that goes to the starter. It also could be the starter solinoid starting to go. Thats the part of the starter that makes the "click" sound when you turn the key.

later,
Curt