dramatically failed jump-starting

Les Jones said:

I once had a similar problem with my wife's car. I started the car (The starter turned the engine as fast as normal.) I stalled the engine and when I turned the key to start it again there was not even a click from the starter solenoid.

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Many years ago I had a similar problem with a brand new battery, start the car and it worked fine. Next start - clunk. Next start - fine.
The battery was replaced with another new one and it all worked OK after that.

JimB

scipio84 said:

If there is a problem with the negative cable, I believe I should measure the resistance of this cable, so putting the multimeter in parallel to the cable, pointing the negative and the body; in this case, if any problem with this connection happens I'd see a high value of resistance.

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That is correct. Although I would check the resistance back through the engine block. In either case, the resistance should be at zero or very close to it.

scipio84 said:

... the resistance between the negative and the body or block is only the resistance of the multimeter ...

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Do not concern yourself with the internal resistance of the multimeter when checking resistance. It has no bearing on the value of resistance it displays.

I should add that this test is probably not needed, but no harm in doing it.