Weird electrical issues

My son's 1999 Neon will intermittently just not want to start. The weird thing is that you put the key in and it acts like the battery is totally dead. No dash lights, dome lights, etc. You take the key out, reinsert and try again, sometimes it works, sometimes it takes two or three tries. When it 'works', you get all of the dash lights, and the engine fires right up.

Doesn't make sense. If the battery was drained, it wouldn't work later, and when it works there is no apparent draining of the battery, either.

Any thoughts?

Might be a bad ignition.

I had a similar problem...my 96 neon wouldn't start and the interior lights, radio, dome light etc. would sometimes work and other times nothing at all. What caught my attention was a clicking sound when I turned the key to the off position...I changed the ACC relay and everything worked just fine.

Maybe even check the connection on the battery terminals...might be loose.

Neons are noted for wiring melting under the relay box. I have had two do it and have seen a lot of posts on the net. Some of the symptoms can be so very weird. Like the wipers turning on for a second.

sounds like ignition or at least the wiring to it. or it could be a loose wire in you charging system. bat to ground, batt to starter, batt to relay box., ect