[T3] sticky starter revealed.

[Soren Jacobsen]

On Jun 6, 2014, at 6:34 PM, Keith Park <topnotch at nycap.rr.com> wrote:

> So I get an "Automotive" rated 50A relay (solenoid current is about 35A)
> from digikey, that works great. for TWO weeks, I got off the Northway on the
> way to the camp and stopped to answer nature's call  before I hit the bumpy
> dirt road with the trailer on there and ended up getting pissed twice, the
> second time with a NO start, no click, NOTHING.  Reached underneath (NEVER
> touch the starter without making damn sure its in Neutral and the E brake
> ON) and pulled the lead off the relay and put it back on the solenoid.  she
> starts!
> 
> Pulled the relay apart. the spring material for the moving contact is spot
> welded in ONE spot to the top of the relay frame, that spot weld had failed,
> and what's worse is that failure mode can jamb your starter on without
> releasing it. I got lucky!  I took another one of these relays, (I never buy
> just one) and soldered the bloody thing on there so maybe now I can find the
> NEXT failure mode of this kind of relay but my warm N fuzzy is gone.  Anyone
> have a good proven source for high current relays in automotive
> applications?  Something ROBUST?  I really cant be having problems like this
> when the car and trailer are all stuffed and Im in the middle of nowhere.

Yikes!  What specific relay is this so we know what to avoid?

I've had good success with the Tyco 1432873-1, for 40A/6V applications (why anyone would want a VW new enough to feature a 12V electrical system from the factory is beyond me).

Soren