Starter on a 1999 Dodge Dakota sport

Which fuse is blowing? There's two 40 amp fuses in the starter circuit. There's four fuses in a row, fuse 10 is at the end of the row, and fuse 9 is next to it, the second from the end.

Fuse 8 is also a 40 amp but it's for the anti-lock brakes. I suspect you're reading from the other end of the row. Fuse 7 is a 50 amp. Fuse 9 is in the middle of three 40 amp fuses. 10 is next to the bolted-in alternator fuse and will be closest to the side of the truck.

Unless you tell me different, I'm going with fuse 9. That one feeds fuses 2, 3, 7, 18, and circuit breaker 20 inside the truck. If the short is on any of those circuits, that fuse should be the one that's blowing. That doesn't leave much. It's possible the 12 gauge black / orange wire leaving the ignition switch is grounded, but it's more likely the switch itself is shorted. Start by popping the trim covers off the steering column so you can look at the switch and electrical connector. Look for melted areas in the plug, overheated terminals, or two wires melted together.

If you don't see any problem there, leave that blown fuse out, then test for voltage on the 12 gauge pink / black wire. That will verify we're on the right circuit. If you find voltage there, we'll have to figure out which circuit really has the problem. Holler back with what you find.

Okay, that's backwards from the service manual. It's more likely my manual is wrong. That's pretty common. Since the wiring diagrams are so poor, it might be easier if you just measure the voltages on each wire in the ignition switch connector. First record each voltage with the switch turned off, then record them with the ignition switch in the run position. Leave that blown fuse out.