This is how it has happened twice now: A.C. on at max cold 60 degrees, Fan is set at 3, Headlights are on, Stereo is on, Car is running fine. No sign of non-start condition. Shut off engine at destination, with all mentioned accessories left in same condition as driving. 30 minutes more or less later, and ignition does not occur, the Ammeter shows a drop into the red zone. Battery is new. No starter click, nothing. Dash lights are NOT dim on attempt. four hours later, I go to jump start the car with my wife, first I check all accessories, and turn off the headlights, and turn off the climate control, and turn off the AC and interior fan circulation buttons on the climate control box on the dash. THEN I attempt ignition, and the car starts right up, the ammeter is midway on the gauge. This Alternator has 250K miles on it. The engine and trans. replaced with low mileage units at 155K. Any thoughts?

I agree, your alternator output is weak, battery gets run down driving with everything turned on. Confirm this by checking voltage at battery with everything on and a few rpm's applied, I should think it would be at least 13V. As a test check again after you correct alternator problem.
--
David Hunter

Clean ALL the electrical ground connections on both inside front fenders. They can cause very unusual electrical problems. Dirty grounds on my '89 caused the engine to cut out whenever the high beams were turned on???

You are lucky you have a new battery. Letting it sit for a while allowed it to recover enough to run the starter.

Your alternator is not putting out enough voltage to charge the battery with all of the accessories on. Simple fix, replace the brushes on the alternator.

Klaus
--
Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.

My suspicion as well. Ipd used to sell an adjustable voltage regulator that allowed a higher output. Weirdness happened one night when driving from San Jose to Santa Rosa, Ca. The lights began to grow dim. thankfully I kept the original regulator in the trunk. When I pulled the adjustable unit, one brush was worn excessively, the other showed very little wear.
thanks for the tip, new brushes are a simple fix.