any tips on how i can check would help, thanks, ..........and just relays in general, not only the "main" one.

 

Pull it out , located the negative terminal then jump it with 12v positive between them. If it click, it's good, if not then it's bad.

 

wow, that was a fast response, thanks

 

sorry, one more thing..............where is it located?

and what do you mean "jump it with 12v in between"? is it like a device i need to buy and connect to it?

 

Maybe this will help explain it. The relay has a coil inside it. When 12 volts (typical) is applied across the coil (like 12 volts from your battery) the coil developes a magnetic field. This magnetic field either moves a plunger attached to a contact assembly or the contact assembly itself, depending on design. So really there is more to test than just the coil. The contacts need to be checked also. In the case of the main relay, it usually fails because the solder joints on the circuit board it is mounted to develope hairline cracks. Heat, like that in a closed car on a hot day, will cause the metal to expand and break contact, resulting in a no start condition. The main relay provides power to the fuel pump and the injectors. You can listen for the fuel pump hum when you first turn the ignition on. It will stop when the check engine light goes out. If you don't hear it and the car won't start, there's your problem. The main relay can be repaired by resoldering all the joints. Or, you can of course buy a new one. The main relay is located above the hood release lever under the dash, behind the coin tray. There are two relays in that area. You want the bigger one with about 7 wires attached to it.

 

Sometimes you can't tell by just giving it 12 volts cause I had the same problem. Mine would work sometimes and then other times it wouldn't start. I would just replace. I bought mine for 5 bucks at the junkyard.