Relays?

[Waynester]

My SEAC started to overheat on the way to Chatsworth yesterday. Luckily i managed to get out of the traffic jam i was stuck in and parked up in a 'Wickes' car park.

I checked the fuses which looked fine, but i noticed one of the relays was really hot! I swapped the relay around and 'hey presto' the fan came on.

I had no problems with the rest of my Journey to Chat's house, fixed i thought?

Nope..it did it again. The replaced relay didn't feel so hot, but i swapped it around & yet again..it worked.

Anyone shed any light? If it is just duf relays, are relays all the same, if so i will purchase some new one's?

[bigall]

Hi Chum if you hold the afore mentioned relay in the palm of your hand gently blow on it it will cool down it will also help if you talk softly and try a gentle kiss these cars need loving.

[B@man]

Not sure if this is any use :

Could be a bad connection to the relay causing a High resistance connection which then gets hot ?

Swapping the relay may be cleaning the connections enough to let things work for a while - are the connections to said relay nice 'n shiny ?

P.S. could be worse a duff relay takes up a lot less space on yer parcel shelf

[GV]

Hi Wayne - Relays are cheap to replace and are all the same in terms of spec. At least you got home without having an engine meltdown which is the most important part pf the problem. I figured my relays were 20 at least years old and hadn't been changed hence me changing the whole lot all at once.

[Number 7]

Have a look at the back of the relay mounting board where the wires go into the relay in question- sometimes they can fray/come loose, causing problems.

7.

[combine]

Where do you get these relays from ? sounds a good investment in the glove box .

[Waynester]

Thanks chaps, some of the relays look 20 years old, some newer.

Couldn't see if any of the wires were frayed or not, certainly didn't look loose?

I think i'll just purchase replacements - for added peace of mind.

[Waynester]

Can anyone tell me if i'm safe purchasing these relays? They state universal, but this is Halfords remember. Are they expensive at £6.99 each?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[tempus]

I would prefer to use a Hella/Bosch/Facet relay myself Wayne,slightly more expensive but I think you get what you pay for with them.Local motor factors will stock them.Tempus

[jmorgan]

Relays. Rev I think put me on to this years ago
http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinest...

Have a few spares from them in the boot.

I have also fitted a circuit breaker instead of a fuse for the fan.

Edit, circuit breaker I did not get from here and extended it out of the fuse box. Probably not needed the extended fitting as in the several years it has been in it has never gone since fitting the new fans.

Edited by jmorgan on Tuesday 28th April 09:10

[Waynester]

tempus said:

I would prefer to use a Hella/Bosch/Facet relay myself Wayne,slightly more expensive but I think you get what you pay for with them.Local motor factors will stock them.Tempus

I'll check out a motor factors i know then, cheers Tempus.



Jeff, what relay type would i need for the fan from that link? They are all they just 4 blade aren't they? Can't check as i'm at work.

Sorry for dunce questions.

[350zwelgje]

Aren't there two different types of relays used on our wedges?
Think someone posted information on here some time ago.....
Sorry if I opened a can of worms,

Rob

[grahamw48]

Where's Wedg1e when you need him ?

[ferlin]

350zwelgje said:

Aren't there two different types of relays used on our wedges?
Think someone posted information on here some time ago.....
Sorry if I opened a can of worms,

Rob

Yes there are both 4 and 5 pin relays fitted.Also on mine the control relay for fuel injection is different to the others and has 5 pins with the centre pin labelled 87b.
Dont forget the ‘Steering Module’ for the headlights which looks just like a relay as its fitted in the same type of casing but is Red and has 3 diodes & a 2.8 Ohm resistor inside just to complicate things!

Edited by ferlin on Wednesday 29th April 07:59

[Wedg1e]

ferlin said:

Dont forget the ‘Steering Module’ for the headlights which looks just like a relay as its fitted in the same type of casing but is Red and has 3 diodes & a 2.8 Ohm resistor inside just to complicate things!

That's for the fuel injection, not the headlights...

And yes, some of the cheaper relays on the market should be avoided as the metal they use in the contacts is poor quality and exhibits a fair bit of resistance at high currents, leading to the heating effects noted by some owners.
To be fair to relays in general, it has always struck me as stupid that you have (relatively speaking) huge slabs of metal within the relay itself, but then plug it into 'Lucar' style terminals with a contact patch about the same area as a flea's foot. It's not the relay heating things up, it's the terminals...

[Waynester]

Wedg1e said:

ferlin said:

Dont forget the ‘Steering Module’ for the headlights which looks just like a relay as its fitted in the same type of casing but is Red and has 3 diodes & a 2.8 Ohm resistor inside just to complicate things!

That's for the fuel injection, not the headlights...

And yes, some of the cheaper relays on the market should be avoided as the metal they use in the contacts is poor quality and exhibits a fair bit of resistance at high currents, leading to the heating effects noted by some owners.
To be fair to relays in general, it has always struck me as stupid that you have (relatively speaking) huge slabs of metal within the relay itself, but then plug it into 'Lucar' style terminals with a contact patch about the same area as a flea's foot. It's not the relay heating things up, it's the terminals...

So what would you recommend Ian..Bosch only, change them all?
Changing all of them would be pricey though, there's around 12 at least isn't there?

[jmorgan]

Waynester said:

tempus said:

I would prefer to use a Hella/Bosch/Facet relay myself Wayne,slightly more expensive but I think you get what you pay for with them.Local motor factors will stock them.Tempus

I'll check out a motor factors i know then, cheers Tempus.



Jeff, what relay type would i need for the fan from that link? They are all they just 4 blade aren't they? Can't check as i'm at work.

Sorry for dunce questions.

Sorry, been working away again. I just followed the type needed off the old relay and matched it to the new wanted. The site I linked to a legend on there to match them up. As others have said, check them first.
http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinest...

[ferlin]

Wedg1e said:

ferlin said:

Dont forget the ‘Steering Module’ for the headlights which looks just like a relay as its fitted in the same type of casing but is Red and has 3 diodes & a 2.8 Ohm resistor inside just to complicate things!

That's for the fuel injection, not the headlights...

...

Sorry I stand corrected Wedg1e
Ahh thats why it wouldnt start when i pulled it out!
Actually what really happened was I was trying my best to diagnose wedge cyclops headlight syndrome, thought that I would check the relays and swapped the red one for a headlamp one. Puff..... I burnt out the diodes and then realised that it wasnt a relay at all!