testing starter relay?

[GSXerr]

i have a 95 gsx, and a chilton's manual. for testing the starter relay, it says the relay has like 4 pins..but my relay has about 8 or so pins. anybody have the right procedure for testing a starter relay? thanks!

 

[wret]

Are you sure you have the starter relay? Mine is like any other basic relay, having four terminals.

 

[GSXerr]

im pretty sure its it...was the relay on the right behind the radio. has 8 pins

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[wret]

I believe that's the power door lock relay.

 

[GSXerr]

I believe that's the power door lock relay.

ah they switched it on me then. this is the one on the right.

 

[GSXerr]

Ok one more question..I pulled the starter relay out, & hooked it up to the battery like it shows in the manual..do I have to ground pin 4 while checking it?? The picture in the manual shows a wire going from the positive battery side to pin 1, and from negative to pin 2. Then it shows the voltmeter's leads going from 3 to 4. Do I need to ground pin 4? Isn't it already grounded if I connect the wires to the battery while the car's terminals are still on the battery? Pics from the manual on testing it...

Also there is no continuity between 1 and 3 and 2 and 4. so im thinking my starter relay's dead, just double checking! anybod yknow how much they are??

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[wret]

As long as you follow the procedure and did not get the correct results, you likely have a bad relay.

 

[GSXerr]

When you apply 12v to terminals 1 and 2, you should hear a click. At the same time you should get continuity accross 3 and 4. No grounding required.

yes I do hear a click. no continuity though! when it's powered or when it's not powered.

 

[2GeNTSi]

I think I need to check my relay as well, I bought a new starter for my car but I get that clicking as well. I hope it's just the starter relay and not one of the relays that came with the alarm (aftermarket). However I think that the relay for the alarm is only active while it is armed, at least that should be the case.

I know it's not the clutch safety switch because I have that disconnected. So this weekend I'm going to test out the relay and if it is bad, leave it disconnected and use a jumper to get a direct 12v feed to it.

 

[2GeNTSi]

Ok, so I tested mine out per directions above and here is what I got:

With the positive side attached to pin 2, and with pin 4 grounded, I had continuity between pins 1 and 3.

With no battery attached and continuity checked between pins 1+3 and pins 2+4, there was no continuity. I tried this test with it grounded and without; no continuity.

Directions says I'm supposed to get the opposite results, so I'm sure mine is bad. I also noticed there was a lot of leaked fluid around the pins.

**UPDATE**I did the first test again w/ power, and there was no continuity. I then activated the relay a few times by powering pin 1 and re-tested; there was continuity again. So I guess it's off to find a starter relay.

 

[Shady1687]

chiltons manual sucks, i have a 95 tsi and there so many things that are wrong in the manual, for example according to the manual 95-98 tsi's have the same cam angle sensors, which is wrong 95-96 have the cam sensor on the cam wheel and the 97-98 have it on the intake side of the engine