98 Montana/Venture - no start - all electrical dead

[draaaca]

This problem is occuring for the third time now.

Symptoms:
Car is driven as normal - no problems. Get in to start, as ignition switch goes from off throught "on" all dash lights indicators go on, but as key enters "start" everything goes dead. All electrical is gone. If I go back to just "on" the shift indicator for "park" blinks dimly.

If I jump start the car everything runs fine.
When I turn it off, everything will be dead again on attempt to start.
Jump start again, everything is fine.
Turn off and on everything is fine.

The first series of times this happened I took out the alternator to replace it but it tested fine. After puttining it back in, I had no proble for over a year. I thought maybe bad connection somewhere.

Now, about a month ago same thing happened all over.
Took it to a shop and they found that there was a dead battery cell, low voltage.

Replace the Battery and all is ok.

2 weeks ago same problem all over. After the second jump start I did on/offs and it would always restart. Took it to the shop that replaced the batt and no charging system or battery problem found. Everything working ok.

Yesterday all happens again. But now will not restart on its own after jumping it.

Took the battery out to get it tested and that is ok.

Haven't put it back in yet. I need to examine the wires to look for crud.

Anyone have similar problem? Is there a gremlin under my hood? Bad "computer"?

Help!!!

[AJT1961]

Sounds like a bad negative ground cable.