Won't Pop Start and Other Confusion

[hankmavery]

Hi everyone
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