Won't Pop Start And Other Confusion

[hankmavery]

Hi,
I've searched this topic and still need help. I thought I hit the jackpot when I found this
thread: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...tarter+jumping
but it still didn't answer my question. Anyway, Here it is;

Car: 1996 Dodge Stratus, Manual Transmission

Problem: Won't Start

What I've Done: I noticed it was making a growling sound when I tried to start it, like the battery was weak. After driving to a few places and 3 more starts it wouldn't start at all. There was no sound, not the solenoid, or any other sounds that I noticed when I turned the key. The 20 amp bus fuse was blown for the ignition.
I then put a starter in it from a salvage yard. The starter tested OK. I also installed a new 20 amp bus fuse.
The first time I tried to start the car with the new starter I got a sound at the solenoid and the 20 amp bus fuse blew. At this point I thought there might be a short somewhere so I replaced the small wire from the solenoid to the box that holds the 4 relay plugs. This worked with a new fuse!
I happily put things back together and drove for about 30 starts. Until one day I tried to start it and nothing happened at all. The fuse was also blown again.
At this point I was parked on the street, so I tried to start it by removing the starter relay plug which has 5 prongs (the plug resembles a small black box about 3/4" x 3/4"). With someone in the car and the key turned all the way to on I tried to start the car with a piece of 12ga copper wire (insulation stipped from the ends). I held the wire in the various openings where the starter relay had been removed and touched the positive terminal on the battery. Suddenly there was a POP and smoke came from underneath where the starter relay plugs into. Woops! Next, I decided to go directly from the positive terminal to the solenoid where the small wire goes into it. Again, I had someone in the car with the key in the on position. I touched the positive terminal with the wire and there was a brief click at the solenoid/starter area each time I touched the positive terminal, but no start. I also did this with jumper cables from a running car attached to the Dodge Stratus battery and the same thing happened.
Lastly I tried to pop start the car several times at speeds up to 20 MPH. Nothing would happen.


I'm learning alot here, and thank you for any replys!
Hank

[LeSabre97mint]

Hank

Welcome to AFs!

I would start by where the smoke came from. You made a direct short and burnt something causing a no start situation. I'm sure you know after this experience that blindly connecting contacts with a jumper wire can do bad things.

How long have you had this car? What history do you know? Have you had any work done recently? How many miles on the car?

Regards

Dan

[hankmavery]

Originally Posted by LeSabre97mint

Hank

Welcome to AFs!

I would start by where the smoke came from. You made a direct short and burnt something causing a no start situation. I'm sure you know after this experience that blindly connecting contacts with a jumper wire can do bad things.

How long have you had this car? What history do you know? Have you had any work done recently? How many miles on the car?

Regards

Dan

Yes, I probabaly made a mistake. I'm still not sure why I can't pop start it.

1. I've had this car for 12 years (since new)
2. No history related to a starting problem
3. No work done recently.
4. 180,000 miles on car.


Still confused
Thanks for any replys and help!

[hankmavery]

Hi,
I found thestratus forumand posted the thread over there.
Here it is:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=932545