Hard Start Relay a good idea for new starter?

[Timwhy]

Been reading all the threads about the "Hard Start" "Hot Start" relay installs.
Question I have is this something that my van can bennefit from?
My starter is 1 year old and works great, the ignition switch is less than a year old
and works great also.
Would adding one of these relays just add fuel to the fire for one more thing to
go wrong down the road, or would it help in any way? Reading that there is no real
bennefit for one of these relays as the older vanagons had the problems corrected,
that the older buses expirenced. On the other hand I have read that there are some
that swear by these relays and they are happy with the results.
Any input will be appreciated...............Tim
_________________
'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee

[Bruce Wayne]

I went through two ignitions in less than a year when I first got my van. local VW guru said to many volts going to the switch was frying it. added a relay kit,no problems since.

I think this is the one I have. super easy to install. I bought mine from a local FLAPS that is for German cars only.

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?part...img][/img]

[Randy in Maine]

I have never had one on any VW. Never needed one either.

[Ahwahnee]

I added one to my 84 when I was getting 'no crank' after hot driving and then a heat-soaked spell of parking. Took care of the problem.

I used a basic $2 relay I had on hand (probably 30a), took power off the back of the alternator and tapped into the ignition wire pulled from the starter. Easy to do, easy to bypass if the realy ever fails.

I would expect a starting system in tip-top condition should not need this but age and the nature of rebuilt starters may benefit from this assist. Never thought about it taking some load off the ignition switch -- wouldn't have though the current through the switch was much either way.

[crazyvwvanman]

The starter relay addition is a way of solving some intermittent starter issues without spending a lot of time and/or money. It reduces the current load on the starter switch and boosts the voltage that the starter solenoid gets. It can overcome a few types of problems or combination of problems. If you sometimes experience no sound from the starter when you turn the key to start, the relay may "fix" it. I wouldn't add one unless symptoms called for it. I have added them several times in the last 30+ years of VW van ownership and had the problem go away forever in some cases. The common kits can be installed and then later removed without a trace.

If you have a Westy fridge or aux battery relay you may need to add a few extra steps to the installation procedure. The official Bosch WR1 kit does not have everything you need in this case. I recently purchased a kit from a Samba seller that had the extra instructions and included the extra jumper wire for use in a Westy and at a good price.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1066289

You can build your own kit and save a few dollars but why bother when a ready made kit exists?

Mark

[Vango Conversions]

I'm having hot start issues as well, but usually the starter will engage but not really crank the engine over when hot. I have a 3 month old battery, the engine is a Subaru so it's harder to crank over but the charging system is awesome. Oddly enough, when it's hot and it fails to start, turning on the headlights for a minute seems to help maybe it has nothing to do with it though.

I've thought about adding a ford style remote solenoid as well, but maybe I just need a new starter. Anyways, I guess I don't know what's up.

[Ahwahnee]

[Timwhy]

Got around this week to installing the relay kit that I bought from Jay.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1066289
It was very easy to install and the directions are spot on! The only problem that I encountered
was the grounding of the fridge and aux battery relays under the drivers seat. I had to ground
both relays to the body after I removed both Red/Black wires from the 85 position on the relays.
Once a used electrical tape to wrap the ends of the wires and then attached the new ground wires,
everything works as it's suppose to.

Jay was there answering any of my questions along the way, so there's Great Customer Tech Support
to go along with the Kit.

Thanks Jay!!

[Dwighia]

Just wanted to pile on to the positive comments made above about Jay Brown’s Hard Start/Hot Start Relay. Just installed one for my ’84 Vanagon and it was easy and straightforward. The kit is of high quality and even includes an extra jumper for those with a factory fridge like mine. Jay also answered my email question immediately.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1066289
My van suffered from “no crank after hot driving” as described by “Ahwahnee” above.
Dwight
_________________
'71 Ghia Sedan
'68 Ghia Convertible
'84 Vanagon
If you dismantle a VW engine and reassemble it enough times, will you end up with enough extra parts for another engine?

[Glenn]

A relay moves the high amperage from the ignition switch and wiring to the relay. There's ZERO downside to adding one.

Ever look at a modern car's relay box?
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

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[?Waldo?]

I think that a relay is an overall good thing, but saying there's no downside is not correct. It adds another part that can and sometimes does fail (I have personally had a starter relay fail) and it can be fairly inconvenient when it does. The inconvenience can be exacerbated if someone who does not understand how to bypass the relay happens to be the one with the vehicle when the relay fails.

[oceanair]

I've had one of Jay's start relays fail too. Replaced it with a headlight relay and she fired right up. I removed the starter relay all together since I didn't have another relay.

I do think that I might add it back on again sometime, but it did leave me with a no start till I figured it out. Luckily, I was at home.

So it does add another possible fail mode.
_________________
84 Vanagon Pop Top Conversion from Tin Top, 1970 Ghia - all sweet rides! Love em!
Previous: Green 72 Tin Top, White 72 Westy, Blue 64 Beetle, Yellow 71 Squareback, 2014 Jetta TDI Wagon - wish I could have them all back!

[Glenn]

[?Waldo?]

[Glenn]

OK... can we get a show of hands on how many people had a automotive relay fail?

I had a 1980 Audi 5000 that had 190,000 miles, never had a relay fail.
I had a 1991 Passat, that has 180,000 miles, never had a relay fail
I had a 1984 Accord that had 240,000 miles, never had a relay fail.
I had a 1999 Accord that had 270,000 miles , never had a relay fail.
I had a 2001 Civic that had 260,000 miles, never had a relay fail.

I still have a 1974 Beetle with 475,000 miles and never had a relay fail.

That's 1,500,000 miles.

How many relays in a 1980's Vanagon and how many have been replaced?

How many added fog lights or installed high wattage headlights and NOT added a relay?

Sorry, Waldo... relays are VERY reliable. And 30+ year old ignition switches and wires can be fragile when stressed.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

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[crazyvwvanman]

Agreed, I like and use starter relays but had 1 new one fail about 4 years after installed.
It is the same type relay used in several places in Vanagons so having a spare relay in the van is obvious anyway.

As far as reliability of relays in general, the original factory VW relays appear to last longer than aftermarket ones. I guess that is the reality with most things.

Mark

[Glenn]

Not sure why a Vanagon burns out relays.

Maybe not using the correct one that can handle the amperage for a starter.

I suspect user error.

[?Waldo?]

You must be right, Glenn, that automotive relays never fail except due to user error. It's a wonder they even bother to make replacements.

[Glenn]

[crazyvwvanman]

Could be that some aftermarket relays aren't up to the task long term in spite of having specs that say they should be ok. But I installed one 10 years ago in one of my Syncros when the starter got flakey and the relay still works fine. The starter finally gave up completely a few months so the added relay extended its life quite a ways for me. Those locker Syncro starters are no fun at all to change if you don't really have to.

Mark