I see a lot of discussion about main/fuel pump relays going bad. I'd like to replace mine if it is original, but not sure if one can tell by looking. Is there an added colored stripe or anything in particular to look for or are old and new identical.
how can you tell if main relay has been replaced
- Thread starter 21acres
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Re: how can you tell if man relay has been replaced
I doubt you can tell if its old but I would just buy one and keep it in the car just in case. This way if you think its bad you can check it right away and rule out if thats the cause of the problem. Its not an expensive part and will give you peace of mind.
I doubt you can tell if its old but I would just buy one and keep it in the car just in case. This way if you think its bad you can check it right away and rule out if thats the cause of the problem. Its not an expensive part and will give you peace of mind.
Re: how can you tell if man relay has been replaced
just buy one and put it in ,done, all hondas have a issue with this relay, just do it , I bought one right after i got my 97 , i have seen cars with 200k miles ok, cars at 85k failure . who knows ? have i soldered them yea, just replace it !!!:wink:
just buy one and put it in ,done, all hondas have a issue with this relay, just do it , I bought one right after i got my 97 , i have seen cars with 200k miles ok, cars at 85k failure . who knows ? have i soldered them yea, just replace it !!!:wink:
Re: how can you tell if man relay has been replaced
Umm...I like to throw money away on parts, but this is one of them where you quite literally are throwing money away.
Don't replace it until it breaks. You'll know it breaks (like I do) when you're sitting at a gas station like a dumb ass and unable to start the car
.. when that happenes, pull the seat back, unplug the relay, sodder the joint and send me the $50.00.
Umm...I like to throw money away on parts, but this is one of them where you quite literally are throwing money away.
Don't replace it until it breaks. You'll know it breaks (like I do) when you're sitting at a gas station like a dumb ass and unable to start the car
.. when that happenes, pull the seat back, unplug the relay, sodder the joint and send me the $50.00.
Re: how can you tell if man relay has been replaced
Since it can leave you stranded and "wondering" if that is the case when your car doesn't start, I would just replace it. I have replaced mine to have peace of mind. I have also replaced the battery cables, ignition switch, window regulators BEFORE they went out on me so I have peace of mind. Other electronic piece that is notorious for failure is the CCU..have fixed that (it failed) as well. Hey, thought it was the Germans that didn't know their electronics? :tongue: Feel she's all buttoned up now!
Jeff
Since it can leave you stranded and "wondering" if that is the case when your car doesn't start, I would just replace it. I have replaced mine to have peace of mind. I have also replaced the battery cables, ignition switch, window regulators BEFORE they went out on me so I have peace of mind. Other electronic piece that is notorious for failure is the CCU..have fixed that (it failed) as well. Hey, thought it was the Germans that didn't know their electronics? :tongue: Feel she's all buttoned up now!
Jeff
Re: how can you tell if man relay has been replaced
All good advise and the answer to my question is you apparently cannot tell if a relay is new or old.
I should have expanded on my reason to know. The reason for asking was that I have no documentation with my car and am trying to bring everything up to date. In getting into things I keep discovering good surprises, that a lot of stuff has been done (cam seals replaced, crankshaft pulley replaced, inner driver door handle plastic piece replaced with steel piece, etc), so I was not asking if I should replace the relay or not, I want a new one in there for peace of mind. I just didn't want to do it if I could tell if a previous owner had just done it.
I've had cars with relay problems in the past and the updated relays then had an orange stripe so one could tell it was the newer version. I'll just put a new one in (only $62.20), document it for the next poor sod, and keep the old one for a spare to carry. Might come in handy at an NSX event if someone gets stuck.
All good advise and the answer to my question is you apparently cannot tell if a relay is new or old.
I should have expanded on my reason to know. The reason for asking was that I have no documentation with my car and am trying to bring everything up to date. In getting into things I keep discovering good surprises, that a lot of stuff has been done (cam seals replaced, crankshaft pulley replaced, inner driver door handle plastic piece replaced with steel piece, etc), so I was not asking if I should replace the relay or not, I want a new one in there for peace of mind. I just didn't want to do it if I could tell if a previous owner had just done it.
I've had cars with relay problems in the past and the updated relays then had an orange stripe so one could tell it was the newer version. I'll just put a new one in (only $62.20), document it for the next poor sod, and keep the old one for a spare to carry. Might come in handy at an NSX event if someone gets stuck.
Re: how can you tell if man relay has been replaced
So how many main relays have you repaired and how long did they last? My experience is with one that was in a 1993 Civic recently, and it lasted three weeks AFTER soldering, them left me stranded. The relay contacts themselves burn over time, as well as the solder joints cracking. For $60 or so, I would not want to have to call a flatbed.
Replace it.
That's my story and I am sticking to it
.
Regards,
LarryB
So how many main relays have you repaired and how long did they last? My experience is with one that was in a 1993 Civic recently, and it lasted three weeks AFTER soldering, them left me stranded. The relay contacts themselves burn over time, as well as the solder joints cracking. For $60 or so, I would not want to have to call a flatbed.
Replace it.
That's my story and I am sticking to it
.Regards,
LarryB
Re: how can you tell if man relay has been replaced
paul i checked my new relay to my old relay ,there is a code stamped on the side cover which i would assume is a production date ,i just dont know their number system (does matsuba follow mon,day,yr ) however i think Larry B reinforced my opinion, i adhere to the SEVEN P's of LIFE (proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance)or a stich in time saves nine , some people just dont GET IT , goodluck
ralph
paul i checked my new relay to my old relay ,there is a code stamped on the side cover which i would assume is a production date ,i just dont know their number system (does matsuba follow mon,day,yr ) however i think Larry B reinforced my opinion, i adhere to the SEVEN P's of LIFE (proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance)or a stich in time saves nine , some people just dont GET IT , goodluck
ralph
Re: how can you tell if man relay has been replaced
Its easy enough to replace so no need to do it until it goes bad but you should have one on hand when it does,,,,,, I wouldnt wait till it goes to buy it and as far as repairing your own if you got the time and skills go right ahead
Its easy enough to replace so no need to do it until it goes bad but you should have one on hand when it does,,,,,, I wouldnt wait till it goes to buy it and as far as repairing your own if you got the time and skills go right ahead
Re: how can you tell if man relay has been replaced
Besides, you can carry the good one that you removed in your trunk as a spare. Just in case you may need it 12 years from now! :biggrin:
Nada. I would replace it now before it goes bad. You never know when it will fail. Usually in heavy rain on a superhighway with no shoulder, when you pull over to take a leak!
Besides, you can carry the good one that you removed in your trunk as a spare. Just in case you may need it 12 years from now! :biggrin:
Re: how can you tell if man relay has been replaced
If it aint broken dont mess with it :wink:
If it aint broken dont mess with it :wink:
Re: how can you tell if man relay has been replaced
Tell me about it! I'm still trying to get the furnace in my basement going before the cold winter. I should have left it alone. haha :biggrin:
Re: how can you tell if man relay has been replaced
I replaced my main a couple of days after purchasing the car 3 yrs back. It's a $60 insurance policy that everyone should do. If everyone did this there would be no main relay threads, LOL.:biggrin:
I replaced my main a couple of days after purchasing the car 3 yrs back. It's a $60 insurance policy that everyone should do. If everyone did this there would be no main relay threads, LOL.:biggrin:
Part numbers are:
39400-SL0-003 1991 - 1994
39400-SL0-A01 1995 - 2005
I'll be ordering one just incase...
39400-SL0-003 1991 - 1994
39400-SL0-A01 1995 - 2005
I'll be ordering one just incase...
You are lucky....Larry B gives most solder jobs weeks to months before going bad again.
Heres how I see it and I'm sure some folks may disagree. Electronics can indeed wear from time and heat just like anything else. I took the time and gradually replaced several relays/electronic items that could indeed leave me on the side of the road from 18 years of use. I'm still doing it slowly.
Mine went out at a most inconvenient time and it was publicly embarrassing. I could see the glares of "stupid fancy car owner" burning a hole in my back as I tried to push the car and steer it off the road. Then of course there's the down time involved in getting another one, and the 10 minutes it takes to install it. I would definitely purchase a new one and install it just in case had I known about the issue beforehand.
