A starter relay sends power to the starter each time it is engaged. If it is not working properly, maybe due to damage arising from dirt, excessive heat, debris or other issues, the starter might operate sporadically.
Full Answer
What is a starter relay?
A starter relay is an ignition system component specially designed to transmit power from the car battery to the starter solenoid. This implies it is a switch between the starter solenoid and the starter motor.
Does your motorcycle have a starter relay or solenoid?
Whether it's a motorcycle, an ATV, or a UTV, it probably has some kind of starter relay or solenoid. Your solenoid might differ from others and have more connections, but there are two basic tests you can do to evaluate your solenoid's health. What Does a Starter Solenoid Do?
What does a bad starter relay sound like?
A defective starter relay will produce a click sound when you turn on the ignition. Where is the starter relay switch located? Starter relays are usually mounted on the engine bay but not on the engine block.
Where is the starter relay located on a Chevy Silverado?
Starter relays are usually mounted on the engine bay but not on the engine block. You can track down the fuse box starter relay by following the big wire from the positive battery terminal.
How do I know if my ATV starter relay is bad?
2:475:41How To Test A Motorcycle, ATV & UTV Starter Relay - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt. We can test the primary side of the starters relay. And take in ohms measurement. Now when youMoreIt. We can test the primary side of the starters relay. And take in ohms measurement. Now when you connect your multimeter to it it is not polarity sensitive.
What does a starter relay do on a ATV?
ATV & UTV Solenoids The ignition switch fires the battery, which supplies power to the starter and the starter, in turn, cranks the engine. But, how does the starter use the electricity stored in the battery? The starter solenoid, or starter relay, is that link.
How do I know if my starter relay is bad?
5. Symptoms of starter relay failure The vehicle cannot be started. The failure of a car to start is one of the most obvious signs of a car breakdown. ... The start relay remains open after the engine is started. ... The starter makes a clicking sound. ... The vehicle starts intermittently.
What happens when starter relay goes bad?
If your starter relay has gone bad, the electrical signal will never make it from the battery to the starter motor. As a result, your engine won't turn over - no matter how many times you turn the key. A faulty relay often produces an audible clicking sound when you turn your car.
How do I start my ATV with a bad starter?
0:191:41How To Start ATV With Bad Battery Or Starter. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTurn the switch on and on the right hand side generally up on the top of the engine. There's goingMoreTurn the switch on and on the right hand side generally up on the top of the engine. There's going to be a little lever that's a decompression lever you're going to pull that up.
What does an ATV starter solenoid do?
There are a few different areas that an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) can make use of a solenoid, which can be either standard equipment or involve accessories. In each of these cases, a remote switch is used to activate the ATV solenoid, which in turn bridges a contact to provide current to another device.
What causes a starter relay to fail?
However, several factors can cause a starter relay to fail. They include lousy circuits, corroded circuits, bridged contacts, wet relays, or even over-aged relays. When your starter relay fails or starts going bad, you'll notice some warning signs to alert you to fix it on time.
Why does my ATV click when I try to start it?
Your ATV most likely clicks when you try to start it because of the battery. The reasons for this are numerous, from loose connections to a current draw that drains the battery. If the battery is not the cause, the ATV probably has a faulty starter solenoid.
How can you tell if a relay fuse is blown?
With the relay removed from the fuse box, the multimeter set to measure DC voltage and the switch in the cab activated, first check to see if there are 12 volts at the 85 position in the fuse box where the relay plugs in (or wherever the relay is located). If there isn't, check to see if the appropriate fuse has blown.
Can a bad relay drain your battery?
The ignition relay is essentially an electrical device that works as a switch for the power to the ignition system. Its job is to make sure electricity flows from the battery to the different components that need power. A bad relay will drain your battery and make it difficult to start the ignition.
Will a bad relay still click?
Does a relay click when it's bad? If your starter relay has gone bad, the electrical signal will never make it from the battery to the starter motor. As a result, your engine won't turn over – no matter how many times you turn the key. A faulty relay often produces an audible clicking sound when you turn your car.
What does it mean when a relay is clicking?
It's usually a sign that your battery does not have enough power to turn over the engine. It can also be due to high resistance in the starter motor circuit, often severe corrosion around the connection to the chassis.
What is the purpose of starter relay?
What is the Starter Relay Function? It allows a large current to flow when you turn the ignition key or press the start button on your car. The ignition switch cannot handle the large current required by the starter motor. Without the relay, it would burn out.
How does the starter relay work?
When you switch on the ignition key, a starter relay transmits small electric power to the starter solenoid, while the solenoid pulls a big current straight from the car batteries. This activates the solenoid, which sends electricity to the starter motor, which spins the flywheel.
How do you tell if your starter relay is bad on a motorcycle?
How to Tell When a Motorcycle Starter Relay Has Gone BadMotorcycle Won't Start. ... Starter Continues to Crank After Bike Fires Up. ... Starter Clicks Rapidly, But Bike Never Ignites. ... Motorcycle has Intermittent Starting Problems.
Is starter relay and ignition relay the same?
No, a starter relay is responsible for sending power from the battery to the starter motor, which turns over the engine to start it. An ignition relay is responsible for sending power from the battery to the ignition system, which sends power to all electric consumers and then starts the engine.
How does a starter relay work?
In some automotive applications, the starter relay works together with the starter solenoid to operate the starting system. In others, the ignition switch operates the starter solenoid circuit directly. These are usually the small vehicles whose starter motors do not require large amounts of current to work.
What is a starter relay?
A starter relay is a small, electrical device found in the starting circuit of high-current motors. The relay is essentially a remote switch that controls a high-current circuit. In motor vehicles, a starter relay uses the small ignition switch current to close the much heavy-duty starter circuit.
What is a starter solenoid?
Starter Solenoid. A starter relay is a smaller size when compared to the heavy-duty starter solenoid. It essentially comprises a magnetic core with a wire wound around it. On one end of the core is an armature or plunger that closes contacts to work a switch.
What does it mean when a starter relay is not working?
If the starter relay is not working, it can mean a vehicle that will not start. Reasons as to why this component would fail vary, as we will see later. They also require different solutions depending on the type and extent of the damage. There are those that can be repaired and others that need a new relay installed.
Why is starter relay important?
In vehicles that use starter relays, ensuring that the component is working is critical. It is part of a vehicle’s regular maintenance practices. It can help you avoid starting problems and getting stranded in the middle of nowhere. That starts with knowing how the relay works and how to detect a failing one early enough.
Why do relay contacts stick together?
The welded contacts stay together, keeping the starter motor on. Welded contacts often result from excessive current levels melting the metal surfaces, causing them to stick together.
How does a reverse action work on a car?
When the engine has started, a reverse action is activated by the driver by turning off the ignition. The starter relay coil is deprived of current, causing it to lose magnetism. It no longer attracts the armature. Because the armature is tensioned by a spring, it will move to open the contacts it had closed.
What is a starter relay?
A starter relay is an ignition system component specially designed to transmit power from the car battery to the starter solenoid. This implies it is a switch between the starter solenoid and the starter motor.
Why does the starter relay stay on even after the engine starts?
Turning off the ignition switch should work the opposite; both the starter solenoid and the motor should stop working. If it doesn’t work in this sequence and the relay stays on even after the engine has started, you have a bad or failing starter relay. It could be the relay is sending a steady current.
How do you troubleshoot a start relay?
To find the actual cost of the problem, you have to conduct some tests on starter relay circuitry.
What voltage should the ignition key be on?
3). Tell your assistant to turn the ignition key to the ON position as you examine the multimeter reading. The voltage should not be above 0.2V. If the multimeter reads above 0.2V, either you have a bad starter relay or a problem with the electrical conductivity of the starter relay that needs proper attention. You have to check the connectors and clean them.
Why won't my car start if my starter relay fails?
Starter relay issues are not common. It rarely fails, but when it does, it might keep you stranded because your car won’t start. However, several factors can cause a starter relay to fail. They include lousy circuits, corroded circuits, bridged contacts, wet relays, or even over-aged relays. When your starter relay fails or starts going bad, you’ll notice some warning signs to alert you to fix it on time.
Why does my car start with a clicking sound?
Regardless of how many times you try, the car will not start. However, if you hear a clicking sound when trying to start the vehicle, it could mean your starter relay has not gone bad completely.
What happens if you have a bad starter relay?
If you have a failing or bad starter relay, it will not provide adequate electrical current to power the starter motor. As a result, regardless of how many times you revolve the engine, it’ll not start. A defective starter relay will produce a click sound when you turn on the ignition.
