I bought a starter relay but not sure where its located

ANSWER : Hello, and thank you for writing in. The starter relay is located in the main fuse box under your hood. On the back of the fuse box lid will be a diagram which will tell you what relay you want to swap out. You may also want to look into the charging system (the battery, alternator, and wires) to make sure it is working properly. Makes use the battery cables and it’s ground connection are all clean, dry, and tight. If the problem is not solved by then, check into your fuse box and ignition switch. The best way to determine what is at fault is to recreate the issue at home. For more help resolving the issue, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

ANSWER : Check the wiring on the starter to the ignition switch and see if they are crossed on the solenoid of the starter. If the wiring is crossed, the starter solenoid will stay engaged as the starter is engaged. If the wiring is hooked up normal, then the ignition switch maybe damaged causing the starter to stay engaged. If you need further assistance with your starter staying engaged, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

ANSWER : Hi there. Anytime you see a prong that is not right or is pushed down, then there could be a short or cross within the relay. I recommend replacing the relay that has the prong pushed down and check to see if the starter stops engaging with the key on and starting the starter up with using a bypass starter switch to the relay directly. This bypasses the ignition switch. So if the starter does not stay on with the bypass, but the starter stays on with the original ignition switch, then I recommend replacing the ignition switch. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your starter situation, then seek out a technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to assist with the starting issue and follow through with repairs.

ANSWER : If you tried jumping the contacts on the starter directly, then your problem is most likely a power or ground issue. The battery ground cable may not be making a good connection at the engine ground, or there could be a problem in the positive or negative battery cables making them unable to properly complete the circuit. I would start by checking the resistance from the engine ground to the battery ground, and from starter positive to the battery positive terminal. Also do a voltage drop test across each of the cables, which will help determine if there is a problem with them. If after checking the cables and connections, the car still doesn’t start, then you should have a qualified professional, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose the problem for you.

ANSWER : Do not forget that you have the security control that will not pass voltage from the relay if it is not working. This is supplied ground through the neutral safety switch on the grey wire and will connect power from the yellow and green wire to activate the starter relay. The start relay is supplied power from the ignition switch on the black and green wire coming out of the interior fuse box. If you have power at the black and green wire going to the relay and have ground at the yellow wire, then the relay should send power to the starter on the black and white wire. If you want to have this tested for you, a technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the electric system and make an accurate diagnosis.

ANSWER : To determine if the engine is seized, simply attempt to turn the crankshaft pulley bolt clockwise and the crankshaft should rotate. If the spark plugs are all removed, the crankshaft will turn with relatively little resistance. Of course, if the spark plugs are all installed you will feel resistance but the engine will still turn, unless it is seized. As far problems with the starting circuit, the very first thing that should be done is have the battery load tested by a professional. Load testing can only be reliably performed on a fully charged battery. If the battery passes a load test be sure it is NOT a marginal pass in which case you should install a new battery to reduce diagnostic headaches. Batteries are a VERY important component in a car’s electrical system.

Once you have a fully functioning battery, if the starting system still does not function, there are actually only a relatively limited number of causes. Broadly, either the starter motor/solenoid assembly is faulty or the electrical circuit supplying the motor has a fault. That circuit begins at the battery and includes grounds, wiring (some of which is very heavy cabling), fuses, relays, the ignition switch and terminations. Basically, the starter is either getting power or it isn’t. If the starter motor is getting power but it doesn’t work, the starter is condemned and replaced. Alternatively, if there is no power to the starter, then the circuit is traced until the fault in the circuit is found. Notably, faults can include high resistances, due to corrosion, wire strand breaks, or loose terminals, which can only be diagnosed using a voltage drop test. If you desire that a certified mechanic resolve this promptly, please simply request a no start diagnostic and the responding mechanic will get it diagnosed and repaired for you. Please let us know if you have further concerns or questions as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : Hello. The horn relay should be located in the fuse panel located under the hood. If you do not have a owner’s manual it may be possible that there is a diagram on the inside of the fuse panel cover. If there is no diagram, I would try and source a quality repair manual or consult a shop for diagrams, or a description the exact location. If the fuse and relays are not the source of the issue, then it may be possible that a fault with the horn itself, the clockspring, or the horn circuit wiring are the cause. If you are unsure, I would recommend having a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location, to diagnose if the horn relay needs to be replaced, or perhaps another repair carried out.

ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The first thing we need to discuss is the testing of starters. Starters are only bench tested typically, which means they hook up a power supply and watch for it to function. What they are not taking into account is that the starter needs to not only spin, but it has to push the over the engine. This is a heavy load, and starters are not tested for it. With that being said, I believe you need to replace the starter. It is not unusual for a vehicle with this many miles on it to experience issues with the unit. The ignition can be tested electrically, as can the starter. For more help resolving the issue, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.