No this is not a joke. It really does happen. I suggest taking the battery to autozone or a kragen for a charge. Next time you take out the battery place it on some wood.

 

FWIW: http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question...=1006042925696

 

It appears I stand corrected. But I do know it has happened to me.

 

It sounds like one of those theoretical possibilities rarely seen in real life.
In practice I've seen more batteries killed/losing charge from heat than I have from cold.

 

Key off = 12.81 volts at battery
Key on = 12.51 volts at battery
Key on/start = 12.31 volts at battery

When I turned the key to test, the started clicked and everything went dim. I hooked it up to my wife's car to try to jump it, nothing.

 

Yeah, I know all about that. I had one explode under the hood of my Taco. That darn sulfuric acid ate the paint, etc. Thankfully the hood was closed and I just went to start it. Everyone at the gas station took cover because they thought someone shot at them.

 

FIXED!!!

It was the stupid terminal. It was so corroded that no current was getting through. The cables are fine. All the fuses checked out (although I broke the ABS fuse trying to remove it). I was beginning the process of removing the cables with I took a closer look at the terminal. I went to the local parts house and bought a new one. It's funny that it took a $3 to fix it. I have a new idea for a MasterCard commercial though:

New battery for truck that won't start - $70
New battery charger for truck that won't start - $43
New fuses, relays, and miscellaneous other parts - $40
Red mark caused by slapping your forehead with your hand after you realize it was only needed a $3 part - priceless

 

Congrats! persistance pays off and this time cheap!

 

Unfotunately Alan you are far from alone on spending lots of money to solve a simple problem....they are often the most elusive. At least you got a new battery/charger out of the deal and labor was free....at a shop you probably would have paid/come out the same minus the charger.