DIY Starter Solenoid Relay Location, Inside or Out?

[72BLUE]

I am going to fit a starter solenoid relay to take the load off the ignition switch, from searching the forum it seems that the commercial kits available have the 30 or 40amp relay located in the engine bay.

Q1) Seeing as I am going to go the DIY route, is there any advantage/disadvantage to locate the relay inside the car, say on the relay panel behind the parcel shelf?

Q2) Any recommendations for a particular brand of relay?

Q3) Should I get a fused relay?


Cheers
Keith

[MandM]

The auto electrician i used place the relay as picture, out of the way of most of the road spray. did not think it,s a fused relay, but some one will be along in aminute to correct me if i am wrong.
001.jpg

[V Mad]

Locate it in the engine bay near the starter. This means the high current wires are shorter, therefore more puch to the starter. A good local hiding place for the relay is under the wiper motor recess. No need to add an extra fuse.

[wilf]

High current wires? Are we talking about the solenoid draw? What's that, 10A tops?

Just size them correctly to avoid volt drop, and hide the relay wherever you want, surely?

[Klaus Schlueter]

Q2)

Any recommendations for a particular brand of relay?

Cheers
Keith

[/QUOTE]

I got a no name (for me) relay from Wards so I bought a 4 pin relay from Bosch. If you need the part no. let me know. I can post it after returning home from holiday next Monday.

Klaus

[MandM]

Q2, does this help ?.002.jpg003.jpg004.jpg

[Klaus Schlueter]

From memory I think the one in your first pic is the one I bought.

Klaus

[MLCstag]

Is this a particularly beneficial modification? How many ignition switches have been failing and are they hard to get so worth protecting?

[KOY 23]

Nothing to do with protecting ignition switch but to give full voltage to the solenoid.

Solved the "click--nothing" problem that I and many others had, caused by high resistance through connectors inhibitor switch etc.

[MLCstag]

And is poor voltage to the solenoid indicated by non starting and solenoid clicking? If its starts OK then I guess I shouldn't fiddle with it

Thanks.

[KOY 23]

Yes and yes.

[72BLUE]

Many thanks for your input guys! I have had a look for the Bosch relays, but have ended up buying a 4 pin Tyco 40amp flavour, they are supposed to be a quality item?

I think I am going to locate it inside the car and if I can locate it in a convenient place (with a short cable run to the starter) it could act as an anti-theft measure when removed.

And is poor voltage to the solenoid indicated by non starting and solenoid clicking? If its starts OK then I guess I shouldn't fiddle with it

My wiring loom is currently out of the car so I am building in as many sensible options/upgrades while it is easy to work on.

Cheers
Keith

[KOY 23]

TYCO is a very good make, fitted as OE by car makers. They took over Siemens relays who previously took over Potter and Brumfied relays.