Powerbook generally won't boot - no startup chime

Hello, I've been having a few issues with my Powerbook. It was originally an 800Mhz G4 Ti Powerbook. A year after I got it under applecare they replaced the logic board and gave me a processor upgrade to 867Mhz. So currently it is a 867Mhz Powerbook G4, 512MB RAM, 40GB, Airport.
Now my problem. Recently it has started to act up and not always booting up. Originally, if it was on it was fine, but then if it was restarted or shutdown then it wouldn't boot up. At first, I got the start up chime and then nothing else, but now I don't get the start up chime. I can hear the computer turn on and the CD drive start but no chime and no screen or other lights. After a while the fans kick in.
I've tried restarting, zapping pram, resetting PMU and generally nothing. Randomly after zapping pram several times (or at least holding down the keys) it would boot. One time it took an hour and 20 minutes of doing this every 30 seconds or so.
I managed to wipe the HD clean and put a new install of Tiger but then after the restart it didn't turn on. Eventually I got it on.
The other day, I opened it up and removed the internal battery. I tested it using a voltage meter and suprizingly it was at full charge. I tried booting without the battery. Nothing. Just now I put it back in and attempted to boot. Nothing. After more attempted pram zapping nothing. Then I restarted it (CMD-control-startup key) and held down the T button for Target disc mode. Although no cable was attached nothing. Then i just hit restart and didn't press anything and it chimed and booted up!
This seems to be completely random.
Does anyone have any idea what this could be? I pretty much classified it as dead the other day but right now its on.
Last week it also turned off when I closed the lid instead of sleeping.
If I can get it to last until the end of the year that would be excellent.
Anyone? Please?

I'm afraid I've no solution for you only that the exact same is happening to me over here in Dublin, Ireland. I've been going mad trying different things, reset all the same, performed a successful hardware test, even changed my RAM!
I get the occasional boot up and there's no apparent connection to when it works, the restart CMD-control-startup gets it going sometimes or even if I leave it for a day it might boot up at some stage.
If you've come across any solution I'd be grateful. My next step is a clean install of Tiger but judging by your experiences I'm not even sure I should do that.
I've absolutely no problems once it starts. I hope installing Tiger hasn't caused a problem after some time.

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