Minute the battery jumper box goes on it will fire right up, if you have it running kill it, then try and restart it will fire up with out any issues, just after it sits for a few hours, car needs a battery jumper to get it started again. I'm guessing the battery is loosing enough charge to not crank the car,enough power for the lights and radio though. The volt gauge actually looks very strong and the car runs fine, is it time for a new battery?

 

sounds like you answered your own question.

 

Sounds like it could be and ALT. not putting out enought voltage to recharge the battery. Quick way to tell is to use a multimeter on the alt. red lead to the wire in the back and a black wire to ground, if it is around 14-14.7 or so it is a good alt. bad battery. If it is lower, it is a bad alt. which may have killed the battery anyways due to not being fully charged....

NV just re-read your post, I might check the ALT. myself anyways as gauges aren't always correct, but most likely the battery....

 

I looked at the battery gauge once its running its well where it should be far as volts go. If the alternator dies I wont cry, it lasted 13 years, I may have to throw it a retirement party or some thing.

 

I'd check for a good connection at the battery terminals also. My brothers car did the same thing and it was due to a stripped battery terminal.

 

Check for corrosion on the terminals first. If there is no corrosion then you need a new battery. If your alternator was bad your guage would be low.

 

take it to autozone or another car part store and have both of them tested. it is more than likely your battery. your alt is probably fine from what you said, but my understanding is that you will kill your alt if you keep driving with a dead battery.

 

it sounds like a battery, plain and simple
13 years is a long life for a battery, even the best batteries, well maintained dont last longer than 8 years

the car runs after the jump, and the voltmeter in the car looks good,so it doesnt sound like an alternator issue

local parts store can load test your battery, more than likely the plates are sulfaded, and the battery is no longer any good

you wont do any harm to your alternator by running with a bad battery,
if your parts store can test the amperage output of your alternator to see if it is up to specs, that would be nice to know

 

I bought a brand new power cable two or so years back so I need to get that on its been sitting in the car for ever, the original oneon the car is kinda crappy, the battery is about 4 years old, the alternator is the one thats original.