[T3] sticky starter revealed.

[Brion Sabbatino]

I have had good luck using the Ford truck relay. Buy the best quality that NAPA sells. They seem to last me for many years.
Brion SS. Utah

> From: topnotch at nycap.rr.com
> To: type3 at vwtype3.org
> Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2014 21:34:49 -0400
> Subject: [T3] sticky starter revealed.
> 
>  
> 
> A couple years ago I put a starter relay on he 71 because when the car was
> in hot soak it wouldn't engage.
> 
> This solved that problem then it started sticking engaged, I did do some
> testing and eliminated the relay from the circuit and still had the problem
> but at some point the starter and solenoid got changed over too to no
> avail..  I finally had some time to noodle with it and swapped out the relay
> and walla!  No sticky starter but the engagement was slow.  I pulled apart
> the relay (old headlight relay with contacts paralleled) and found they were
> really whipped, not enough of a relay for this application.
> 
>  
> 
> 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.
> 
>  
> 
> Keith
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
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