Pretty sure I solved it - probably a loose connection but won't know for sure til it starts reliably for a week or so. Bubbabud's comment made me had a coming to Jesus talk with myself to re-double-check everything.

 

Well the good news is I don't feel like such an *** for having by battery cables not tightened down all of the way, because it wasn't the problem. Was starting just fine since the last post. Today I was at my cousin's house about 20 min from my house and it did the same thing - sounded like one chug from the starter and then a complete power dump. It did not recover by itself this time - had to have my cousin jump it off of his truck. Jumped no problem. Drove it home just fine. Got it home, turned it off. Attempted to start it again right away and nothing - it barely even gave me enough juice to use the power locks to lock it. Off to test the battery tomorrow.

If anyone had any ideas other than connections and grounds, I am all ears.

EDIT: Sigh, the friggin battery clamp to the positive terminal has a sketchy connection. Battery is fine. Need to replace the clamps. Truck started like a champ this morning after figuring out the bad connection.

Once again, hooray for electrical problems. And my stupidity. Roast away.

 

It's tempting, but we all have our moments, so I'd better let it slide.


But - the very first line I wrote in response to your first post is telling. A lesson for us all; assume nothing.

 

I got to thinking about it last night and it kept gnawing at me that dying batteries don't behave this way. We've all had the dying battery that gradually crapped out over a week as the weather got colder. It was so random. So I am glad I listened to my gut (and eventually your advice) and decided to investigate further before showing up at the shop with a perfect battery acting like I know what I am talking about while the guy gives me the sheet that shows my battery is perfectly fine.

If nothing else I learned that everyone should absolutely have that under hood light installed - that was the thing that told me it was all a bad connection. As soon as it lit up properly while wiggling the cables I knew I was a dumbass!!!