do you really need the starter relay?
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Haymarket, VA, USA
do you really need the starter relay?
it's kind of weird, let me explain:
I thought I had a bad starter relay because when I turned the key, the starter would go "CLICK" or try to crank a little, but it would not budge the engine. At first I thought it was the battery or the starter, but hot-wiring the battery to the starter and it happily cranked away.
So next, I took out the starter relay and shorted out the power wires with a little jumper. Started right up.
Ok, cool, I ordered a new relay for Majestic. Got it, installed it, and the same thing happend. The starter just won't crank.
1- any clue what the deal is?
2- can't I just run with my little jumper in there?
TIA,
I thought I had a bad starter relay because when I turned the key, the starter would go "CLICK" or try to crank a little, but it would not budge the engine. At first I thought it was the battery or the starter, but hot-wiring the battery to the starter and it happily cranked away.
So next, I took out the starter relay and shorted out the power wires with a little jumper. Started right up.
Ok, cool, I ordered a new relay for Majestic. Got it, installed it, and the same thing happend. The starter just won't crank.
1- any clue what the deal is?
2- can't I just run with my little jumper in there?
TIA,
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From: Plotting My Revenge
Re: do you really need the starter relay? (SJR)
IIRC that relay also signals the fuel pump to prime, so I think you need it.
I had a similar problem this summer and it ended up being a fuse. Can't remember which one, but it was in the panel under the dash next to the relay.
I had a similar problem this summer and it ended up being a fuse. Can't remember which one, but it was in the panel under the dash next to the relay.
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From: Haymarket, VA, USA
Re: do you really need the starter relay? (Catch 22)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">IIRC that relay also signals the fuel pump to prime, so I think you need it.
I had a similar problem this summer and it ended up being a fuse. Can't remember which one, but it was in the panel under the dash next to the relay.</TD></TR></TABLE>
well, with the jumper in place, there should be absolutely no difference. I mean, all a relay is is a switch. you turn the key on, that puts a voltage across the trigger circuit of the relay, which causes the solenoid to move and close the other circuit on the relay. I put the jumper on the second (or power) circuit of the realy. it's as if it were always active. Since the key also controls the power coming in to the power side of the relay, I can't figure out why it's there in the first place, to be honest.
But I will check the fuses again, just in case. thanks.
I had a similar problem this summer and it ended up being a fuse. Can't remember which one, but it was in the panel under the dash next to the relay.</TD></TR></TABLE>
well, with the jumper in place, there should be absolutely no difference. I mean, all a relay is is a switch. you turn the key on, that puts a voltage across the trigger circuit of the relay, which causes the solenoid to move and close the other circuit on the relay. I put the jumper on the second (or power) circuit of the realy. it's as if it were always active. Since the key also controls the power coming in to the power side of the relay, I can't figure out why it's there in the first place, to be honest.
But I will check the fuses again, just in case. thanks.
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From: Haymarket, VA, USA
Re: do you really need the starter relay? (Catch 22)
that's what i was afraid of, but with my trusty test lamp (i know, really high tech) I determined that both circuits that come into the realy are controlled by the key.
(that's what doesn't make sense to me. ) Therefore, even when bypassing the relay like i did, the pump only comes on when the key is turned on. ditto for the starter.
(that's what doesn't make sense to me. ) Therefore, even when bypassing the relay like i did, the pump only comes on when the key is turned on. ditto for the starter.
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Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Boston, MA, USA
Re: do you really need the starter relay? (SJR)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">But wont the fuel pump run full time whenever the key is on if you dont have the relay? Just thinking out loud.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Not necessarily. Depends on the power source that is powering the relay.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well, with the jumper in place, there should be absolutely no difference. I mean, all a relay is is a switch. you turn the key on, that puts a voltage across the trigger circuit of the relay, which causes the solenoid to move and close the other circuit on the relay. I put the jumper on the second (or power) circuit of the realy. it's as if it were always active. Since the key also controls the power coming in to the power side of the relay, I can't figure out why it's there in the first place, to be honest.
But I will check the fuses again, just in case. thanks.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Well, the relays are usually put there because the current draw of what you're turning on would be more than the switch could handle. Which you probably already know. Your little jumper trick is taking out the "switch" part of the relay in that the key isn't turning it on, there's always power. But the relay is still providing a secondary power source besides just powering from the switch. Since you replaced the relay the only other thing I can think of is that there's a problem with the power going into the relay. Maybe it's a bad ground or just loose. If it's loose maybe it's trying to pull the power it needs from the switch or if something else is wrong maybe you shorted out the new relay also because of a short somewhere?
s
Not necessarily. Depends on the power source that is powering the relay.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well, with the jumper in place, there should be absolutely no difference. I mean, all a relay is is a switch. you turn the key on, that puts a voltage across the trigger circuit of the relay, which causes the solenoid to move and close the other circuit on the relay. I put the jumper on the second (or power) circuit of the realy. it's as if it were always active. Since the key also controls the power coming in to the power side of the relay, I can't figure out why it's there in the first place, to be honest.
But I will check the fuses again, just in case. thanks.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Well, the relays are usually put there because the current draw of what you're turning on would be more than the switch could handle. Which you probably already know. Your little jumper trick is taking out the "switch" part of the relay in that the key isn't turning it on, there's always power. But the relay is still providing a secondary power source besides just powering from the switch. Since you replaced the relay the only other thing I can think of is that there's a problem with the power going into the relay. Maybe it's a bad ground or just loose. If it's loose maybe it's trying to pull the power it needs from the switch or if something else is wrong maybe you shorted out the new relay also because of a short somewhere?
s
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