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Thanks everyone for the info! Well, I cleaned the battery terminals and connections (looked new-clean, but roughed them up with a wire brush anyway) and checked all the connections... all tight, at least the ones I could get to.
There is a space between one of the A/C metal pipes and engine block where the wires from the battery to the starter are squeezed in, so I pulled on these to get a better view-- and one of the wires was frayed enough to expose bare metal that had been touching the metal A/C pipe.
I wrapped it with elec tape and pulled the hard plastic covering far enough up to cover it, and turned the wires (the other was worn some, too) so they didn't touch each other or the metal A/C pipe (even with the plastic in between).
Gorilla'd the battery bolts tight, and the car starts and runs fine now. Started 9 times on its own, drove around the block, and still starts, acting fully normal.
So I guess it was the frayed wire or battery terminals not tight enough... or both? Probably the wires. I was going to reroute them just because I didn't like how they were pinched at that point, but seemed like a lot of effort, maybe later. But if other Luminas have the wires pinched at that point (just to the right and above the starter, when facing the front of the vehicle), then others might want to check it out-- before it becomes a problem.
Thanks again for all the help! I probably wouldn't have done it if not for so many people (even in other threads) saying to check the wiring, etc.
--Paul
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