I think you guys are spot on, I think the jumper was a battery to coil jump. Hypothetically, if I have low voltage at the coil at start up where should i go from there. Battery?ignition? Connections? Fyi, my mom is saying this happened one in every 50 starts or more, and as a weekend driver that translated to very rarely. Part of me wants it to happen so I can do some tests, I just dont want it to happen 50 miles from home, with the family in the car, in the pouring rain, on a 90 degree day, with no cell service...but you know that's when it will happen.

 

Ok, its been a little while and here's what I've got. I have had the no start happen twice. Both times I attached the jumper wire from battery positive to coil positive and it fired right up. Now my question is....where do I go from here to troubleshoot the problem? Fyi it has probably happened twice in 100 starts both times the car had been running just a couple hours earlier (not sure if that would matter). Ignition switch? Wiring tests?

 

The trick to this is doing the tests while the car will not start. Testing a car while is working will most likely just pass all the tests.

Just to clarify the engine is cranking by the starter normally and wont start OR the engine is not cranking by the starter. Is the the original wiring harness?

If the starter will not crank how is the battery voltage? (volt or multi meter)

If the car cranks but won't start do you have spark at the wires? (spark tests)