I have a 91 pickup, manual, 4wd, 22re and over the past month periodically i have had the following problem on and off:
When i turn the key to start everything dies, gauges go dark.
I pop the hood, disconnect then reconnect a battery cable, and power comes back on. The same problem may or may not happen the next time i try to start.
Hill start always works, its only when i supply voltage to the starter relay that this happens.
I have a fairly good understanding of electricity, my plan right now is to replace the relay and perhaps some of the wiring, clean the starter contact.
I have the Haynes manual and thats what I'm poring over right now. Perhaps there is a short somewhere, contact where there shouldn't be???
What I fail to understand is why power stays off until I disconnect and reconnect battery. All help greatly appreciated.

PS No other problems

Sounds like bad battery contacts due to corrosion. When you go to start it the additional load from the starter shorts out the existing poor connection on the battery and stays that way until you reposition the battery terminals.

I have also seen corrosion in the actual positive lead from the battery positive terminal to the starter cause this as well. Water penetrates the sheathing and rusts causing the cable to not be able to handle the load of the starter.

Another good place to check is the ground leads from the battery to the engine block and the one from the engine block to the firewall.

Im gonna second the thought of the ground to the block and frame. Possibly its loose and when you reconnect the battery it moves the ground and gets a better temporary connection.

Check this:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f131...-power-230629/