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Tue Mar 15, 2016 9:38 am

The conflict between factory cruise/auto and an added start relay has nothing to do with whether the start relay is added up front or in the back. The conflict will be there in either case.

Mark

Tue Mar 15, 2016 9:50 am

Unless the auto has a different ignition switch then replacing the 'start position' contacts with relay contacts cannot cause any conflict.

Tue Mar 15, 2016 9:59 am

No difference in the switch regardless what trans, with or without cruise.

Tue Mar 15, 2016 10:00 am

That depends on how you wire it in, not whether the relay is in the front or the back.

Mark

fxr wrote: Unless the auto has a different ignition switch then replacing the 'start position' contacts with relay contacts cannot cause any conflict.

Tue Mar 15, 2016 11:07 am

crazyvwvanman wrote: That depends on how you wire it in, not whether the relay is in the front or the back.

Mark

fxr wrote: Unless the auto has a different ignition switch then replacing the 'start position' contacts with relay contacts cannot cause any conflict.

Of course - my point was that on an auto you should still be able to use a relay to hugely reduce the current that the ignition contacts have to endure. The onrush current of the solenoid is pretty big, and it's no wonder the ignition switch contacts eventually arc/go high res/fail and cause hard starting.

Tue Mar 15, 2016 12:43 pm

The relay kit uses a much shorter wiring path in addition to bypassing the dash switch so you get benefit from the higher voltage at the solenoid too.

The issue isn't auto tranny, it is the way VW implemented cruise on auto tranny vans. It is the auto version of the cruise that creates the conflict. No cruise, no conflict with the cruise.

The conflict has nothing to do with the high current side of the relay or the relay contacts. The conflict is on the relay coil side.

Mark

Tue Mar 15, 2016 5:12 pm

I repeat - there's no reason why you can't use a relay to bypass the ignition switch contacts - just to protect them, nothing else.

You may have misunderstood my point.

Wed Mar 16, 2016 7:27 am

Mark,
I'm in touch with Jay Brown and have sent him your suggestion to review. I truly appreciate everyone's comments.

Craig

Wed Nov 08, 2017 3:34 pm

I would like to add this relay too my TinTop, but have a question on what type and amperage relay are we to use?

My TinTop came with cruise control but it doesn't work and would like to eliminate it at the same time when
adding the relay.

Wed Nov 08, 2017 10:03 pm

Tim it's just a standard 30amp relay.

but it's the cruise control relay that interfers with the automatic hard start relay installation. if you connect it like normal it'll trigger and lock the starter in the On position..
I'm not sure exactly how you need to bypass/disable the rely.. ie. if the wire gets snipped or connected.. have to do a little more research..

I'd be very interested in your old CC bits (control unit/wire harness/stalk swap/vac pump) even planning a VW trip to maine this next summer..
lets talk.. ;-)
Dan

Timwhy wrote: I would like to add this relay too my TinTop, but have a question on what type and amperage relay are we to use?

My TinTop came with cruise control but it doesn't work and would like to eliminate it at the same time when
adding the relay.

Thu Nov 09, 2017 7:57 am

Thanks Dan. So the 30 amp relay doesn't replace the cruise relay in the fuse box? Can the cruise relay be taken out to add the hard start relay?

Thu Nov 09, 2017 8:08 am

Tim I'd have to dig up the wiring diagram again.
but in the AT with CC, The Cruise relay is more of an ignition interrupt so you can't set the cruise in Neutral (iirc).

but the Cruise relay back feeds the starter trigger wire (energized when cranking) in a traditional hot start relay install. and causes the relay to keep the starter on when you release the key. making really ugly contact with the ring gear on the now running engine.

again this is a quick as I recall..

I'm sure the CC relay can be "defeated" to allow install of a hot start relay.
as mentioned , I don't know if it requires removing the relay, cutting the wire to it or joining the wire to it..

Wed May 29, 2024 4:08 pm

Did anyone ever figure this out? Whether simply removing the cruise relay would allow a hard start relay? My cruise doesn’t work anyway

Wed May 29, 2024 5:07 pm

Cody2289 wrote: Did anyone ever figure this out? Whether simply removing the cruise relay would allow a hard start relay? My cruise doesn’t work anyway What about a diode installed to prevent back feeding of the Cruise Relay. Just spit balling here without a wiring diagram in front of me. :)

Sun Jun 29, 2025 11:09 am

Does anyone know where I can get a look at the Hard Start Relay Kit wiring diagram? Mine's from the original Jay Brown (thanks, Jay!!) and I'm having an unrelated starter issue. Want to know what I'm looking at under there before going out. I see Uniworks now has the rights, etc for this product but they don't provide a diagram (completely understandable, of course). Anyone out there willing to PM it to me to keep it out of the public domain, etc? Thank you in advance.

Doug

Sun Jun 29, 2025 2:04 pm

Nmind. Cleaned up the connections and she starts fine. Argh.