Topic: Where is my starter relay on my '82?

[Lonestar Honcho]

I think I have my problem narrowed to my starter relay!

Here's the story. From time to time my truck will not start. From time to time my truck dies like pulling the key outta the ignition.

One early morning, I had enough guys around to push my truck so that I could pop the clutch and it fired right up. Before that we pushed it up on the trailer not knowing what was wrong...asked to "try it". Started right up! After that had to get a couple of 4-wheelers together to tow me so I could pop the clutch. Started right up!

So, what causes the starter relay to (switch/unswitch) and why does it take the truck to need movement to do this?

Oh btw...where is this sucker so I can junk it?

TIA

[79coyotefrg]

  i have no clue , besides running a wire from your ignition to the starter bypassing the relay

the relay if i'm not mistaken is behind the glove box on the right

i have one i'll send ya for postage

[Richmondo]

The ignition cylinder provides the ground for the relay circuit which energizes the coil in the starter relay and shuts the switch. It shouldn't need any movement of the truck to do so.

You can check the coil by supplying power to pole 85 and ground to 86. If you hear it click then more than likely the relay is good.

It seems to me, and I may be wrong, that a bad starter relay wouldn't cause the truck to die. Plus, relays usually aren't an intermittent problem. If it were me I'd the ignition switch and circuit, and the starter relay wiring would be suspect. Maybe bad contacts in the switch or a short to ground somewhere.

[79coyotefrg]

The ignition cylinder provides the ground for the relay circuit which energizes the coil in the starter relay and shuts the switch. It shouldn't need any movement of the truck to do so.

You can check the coil by supplying power to pole 85 and ground to 86. If you hear it click then more than likely the relay is good.

It seems to me, and I may be wrong, that a bad starter relay wouldn't cause the truck to die. Plus, relays usually aren't an intermittent problem. If it were me I'd the ignition switch and circuit, and the starter relay wiring would be suspect. Maybe bad contacts in the switch or a short to ground somewhere.

poles ?? wheres that??

[Lonestar Honcho [OP]]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm at wit ends about my truck. It doesn't do it all the time so finding the problem is a problem in itself.  

Keep the responses coming.

Glen I appreciate the offer! Lemme continue my trial and error and I might hit ya up.

[TacoRunner]

buy a book

[Lonestar Honcho [OP]]

Nice sig TacoRunner...use it.

[TacoRunner]

 

[kneedownnate]

Why get mad at him?  He may have been a little blunt, but his suggestion is a good one.  Haynes manuals have a wiring diagram that will help you figure out what's where, and it's a lot quicker to reference than the board 

[8D3TOY]

I dont think it was meant to be offensive, these trucks are pretty simple but still engineered by Japanese guys so they take some figuring out. A FSM or even a chiltons will help tons.  We are here to help dont get frustrated.

[Richmondo]

poles ?? wheres that??

Generally on the bottom of the relay. I'm not familiar with the design of that particular relay. It was just some basic relay diagnosis.

[TacoRunner]

Why get mad at him?  He may have been a little blunt, but his suggestion is a good one.  Haynes manuals have a wiring diagram that will help you figure out what's where, and it's a lot quicker to reference than the board 

 

I dont think it was meant to be offensive, these trucks are pretty simple but still engineered by Japanese guys so they take some figuring out. A FSM or even a chiltons will help tons.  We are here to help dont get frustrated.

 

[TacoRunner]

When it comes to vacuum lines and electrical. Buy a book. Especially electrical.