/// Next time raise the hood and bypass the negative battery cable with your jumper cables. Use both sides (one end of the jumper) on the negative battery post clamp and both on the other end on the engine. The joint between the lead clamp and the copper wire is out of sight. (inside the lead clamp)

Check the voltage drop from the positive post to the starter stud while attempting to crank. If there is trouble in the positive cable the meter should read almost twelve volts meaning that the cable is defective. There is enough resistance under load to drop "X" Volts. There may be no defect cold. Last --although rare the battery might have a defect between the cells or at either end cell to post joint. Borrow a battery before you buy a new one since this is rare.

While removing starter cables you may "heal" the defect in either the batery or cables. It will return.

I once chased this problem for six months. It was a new defective battery cable from Sears.