Relays

[Lanus]

Hi all,

Been here before and very grateful for previous assistance. Perhaps someonc could just enlighten me on a small point.

I own a 2.0L C.T. Petrol Turbo.

I have this intermittent problem where sometimes I turn the key and there is nothing. I mean no juice to the starter motor. (Lights on dash come on as normal prior to turning key to start).

I have cleaned up all the 5 relays behind the passenger side headlight and all has been well and the starter turns fine. However, I am not convinced I am out of the woods because the same thing happened just recently. Cleaned up again but now the radio cuts out intermittently and I have no display of the radio status on the dot matrix display.

I am convinced one or more of the 5 relays are the problem but which one(s) needs replacing?

the ratings are as follows:

one at 30 amps - green
one at 25 amps - black
three at 35 amps - black

Is one of these the starter relay or linked to the radio/dot matrix? I find if I disconnect the green one, the ABS fails.

Should I be looking elsewhere?

Any thoughts would be welcome.

Many thanks

[xmexclusive]

Hi Lanus

I suspect worn ignition switch contacts are often the cause of some of these intermittant starting faults. Has the potential to give a different set of made/failed contacts each time you turn the key. For testing and checking it is possible to get at the three switch plugs on the underside of the dash without taking the old switch out of the steering column. I then plug a spare known good switch in to do the checks before deciding to do the hard work of physically changing the switch. If you have to move the car in this state do not forget that a key is needed in the original switch to release the steering lock.

I have found that the original XM ignition switches wear badly with heavy use. The Valeo replacements that are now available seem to be better engineered. If you change just the ignition switch there is then the problem of different keys for the rest of the locks.

John