What a great first post. I found this forum when I had to figure out what to do when my rear axle began to make ominous sounds. From reading many good post on here I decided to have it rebuilt. FWIW, Western Drivetrain in Denver, CO, is a great small shop and does almost nothing but differentials at fair prices.
Having gotten that done, I am driving up to NE Wyoming to finish rehabbing a house for my son. I just stopped in Douglas, WY, for gas and when I went to start the truck, it fired for an second and went dead. I have no lights, starter, nothing when I turn the key on. I have a Haynes Manuel that is no help. Could this be the fusible link. I can't tell by looking at it with a flashlight if I t is blown or not. Ideas to get me back on the road tonight?
Oh yeah, 1997 Dakota Sport, 4wd, 318 engine, auto trans.
Thanks in advance for help!

 

my best bet. is the battery, next is cables at the battery. next is the starter switch, might be at the bottom of the steering collium .

 

I would bet dollars to donuts that your battery connection is corroded. Something very similar happened to me in my Jeep. Take off the connections scrape em with what every you have, scrape the posts. Reconnect and give her a try.

 

Thanks guys! I completely disassembled both battery connectors and cleaned them with Coke, then water and used a well worn battery post cleaner that was in my toolbox. Started right up. Amazing how completely corrosion can shut you down in an instant. I should have thought to do this first. I guess with 236000 on the odo, I was expecting worse.
The other cool thing for an old guy like me is having this new IPad made it easy to get help.
Again thanks for blessing me with some advice tonight!
Back on the road again... 115 miles to go.

 

+1 on bad battery or a corroded/broken battery terminal. Check the battery connections going in to the Power Distribution Center too. When my battery failed a few years ago, it did the same thing. One night I went into a store and came back out and turned the key, the truck would not start. Luckily for me the store I had gone to was an Advance Auto Parts.. I cleaned the battery cable ends and replaced the battery and it fired right up. Dakota's are very sensitive to low voltage and bad connections, whether it is a bad power or ground connection.

Jimmy

 

Glad you got if figured out!