Dire need of help

[Ganarful]

My sons 1996 dodge ram 1500 wont crank only will start if I bypass starter relay, tried different relay out of a different Vehicle I know starts and no go. Is the ignition switch my last option for replacement? The I.O.D. fuse was blown when I started checking the starting issue. I've replaced starter, battery, cleaned cables, replaced cable ends so far. Started by jumping the relay and went a mile across town. When stopped to shut off vehicle motor kept spinning, than smoking. Smoke came from the starter area and will not start when I jump relay contacts now. Please any help on this is great thank you.

 

[Shadow_Death]

When stopped to shut off vehicle motor kept spinning, than smoking. Smoke came from the starter area and will not start when I jump relay contacts now. Please any help on this is great thank you.

When you say it kept spinning do you mean like if you were trying to crank it with the starter?

 

[Ganarful]

It didn't sound like it was cranking but acted like it. I'm gonna look for burnt wires on ignition switch and behind fuse boxes just in case there is a short.

 

[rrb6699]

may have burnt up the starter. or wires to it.