I've got a manual transmission '98 Pathfinder SE with about 101K miles. It hasn't given me any problems until about 4 weeks ago when I tried to start it one morning and it wouldn't catch. By the time we got it to the mechanic, the battery was completely dead. Changed the battery but it still wouldn't start. Ultimately my mechanic decided that part of my distributor had gone bad. Replaced it and the car worked fine for two weeks. Then it wouldn't start again -- completely dead, not even trying to turn over. Back to the shop where they recharged the battery, checked the alternator (it was fine) and checked (and coated) all the electrical connections trying to find a short. Left it out overnight and it wouldn't start in the morning. Lifted the hood and let it sit for a couple of hours and then it started fine on its own. I got it back and it worked fine for two days. Let it sit for 24 hours and then when I started it this past Monday morning - a number of the indicator lights came on (battery, brake, service engine soon, and ABS)... but it started. Had to drive it for a couple of hours (was out in the middle of the woods - no mechanic handy) and it worked fine except felt like the brakes weren't working quite right a couple of times. Tried to start it the following evening to drive it back to the garage... and it was completely dead again.

Sorry for the long post, but am at my wit's end. Has anyone else out there had a similar problem in the past... that they were able to resolve. And if so, what was the source of the issue?

I'd have someone else double check all the electricals or have another mechanic check it over all together for that matter. I think personally it has sumn to do with electrical. Maybe loose battery terminal. Always start from source when checking for electrical...sum mechanics can overlook that because its so simple.