Electrical System Problem

Still our same 2000 SE.

When I open the door, the dome light comes on. When I turn the key one click, all the stuff on the dash lights up. When I turn it another click, to engage the starter, the electrical system goes dead.

If I disconnect and reconnect the battery, it all repeats.

Ignition fuses are all OK.

If it was the battery, why would the dome light and the dash lights all work before I turn the key one more click?

Whattya think?

check for a bad wire either to the ground, or to the power distribution box. sounds like it's either the battery about dead, or a loose/breaking wire somewhere.

Thanks.

I guess what I'm really trying to find out, before I run to Wal Mart and get a new battery, is if the battery is going dead, or shorting out, is there a "circuit breaker" in this system, something that breaks, then resets itself?

I've had the battery out, on a trickle charger overnight, and I'm about ready to stick it back in and give it a try.

I'll wait a bit, to see if someone has an answer.

use a multimeter and see if it is putting out a good charge, anything under like 10v isn't going to probably start a car.