Checking The Starter Motor Relay

• The signal chain to the starter motor can be checked quickly by short-circuiting the relay connections to the starter motor.
• For vehicles with automatic transmission:

  The gear selector shall be in position P or N.

• For vehicles with manual transmission:

  The gear lever shall be in neutral position.

• Parking brake applied.
  WARNING:

  In case of short-circuiting, the starter motor shall run.

  Be careful.

  CAUTION:

  Use two cables with suitable cable terminal when short-circuiting so that the spark does not damage the relay socket.

  Ignition off.

  Remove the starter motor relay and short-circuit the relay socket #3 (30) with #5 (87), that is, the relay circuit.

  NOTE:

  Do not bridge directly in the relay socket.

  Contacts may be damaged.

  If the starter motor runs now then there is no malfunction of the power part in the circuit.

  Fig 1: Identifying Starter Motor Relay

  Courtesy of VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA.

Does the starter motor run when the relay is short-circuited? 

• YES 

  Refer to CHECKING RELAY AND START RELAY CONTROL SIGNAL 

• NO 

  Refer to CHECKING WIRING