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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>A
couple years ago I put a starter relay on he 71 because when the car was in hot
soak it wouldn’t engage.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Keith<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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