How to Properly Install a Car Starter Relay

Recently, the installation of starter relays has become popular among private vehicle owners such as cars. 

This additional component can provide benefits such as a louder vehicle horn and brighter, clearer light beams. 

Here’s how to properly install a car starter relay without taking it to a workshop. 

Understanding What a Starter Relay Is

Starter relay is an electronic circuit that functions to flow, control, filter electric current while also regulating the current in the battery so that the output voltage produced is much larger. 

In other words, you can use a larger and much more stable output relay compared to the battery. Actually, installing a relay is not mandatory, but there’s nothing wrong with installing it if you want your lights to produce brighter light or if you want a louder horn. 

Before installing it, there are at least a few things to consider, such as the quality of the component itself. There are now many types of relays available in the market, such as original relays and regular relays, allowing buyers to adjust according to their needs. 

If possible, it is highly recommended to use only original relays because their electronic coils are claimed to have a fairly long lifespan. Besides knowing the best type of relay, you also need to know how to install the starter relay for the car and how to maintain it so that it does not easily get damaged. 

One simple maintenance step that can be taken is to avoid exposure to water, being splashed by puddles, or being sprayed with water. Because these factors can cause the relay to degrade in quality.

Even when buying a high-quality starter relay, it is advisable to keep it away from various factors that can cause damage. Because a relay that gets wet may be safe, but not its socket. 

Therefore, you should wrap it tightly in plastic to prevent any water from entering the socket. 

Read also: Signs of a Damaged Car Starter Dynamo and Its Causes

Signs of Damage to the Starter Relay

There are several signs that indicate damage to the starter relay, starting from dimming headlights, no engine noise when started, horn not sounding, and many other signs of damage. 

Instead of taking it to a workshop, there’s nothing wrong with replacing it yourself by applying the method of installing a starter relay for the car. If the vehicle is in normal condition and feels comfortable when started, it is advised not to install an additional relay. 

Because this can pose a risk to other components when you try to tinker with other parts. If there is even one mistake, of course, the damage can spread to various other components. 

How to Install a Starter Relay

First, please connect terminal 30 of the relay to the battery with a fuse of 15 to 25 amperes. Then connect terminal 85 of the relay to ground. 

Terminal 87 on the relay can be connected to the target output, and terminal 86 is for the input of the relay. Isn’t the method of installing a car starter relay quite easy to apply?

Does the vehicle not make any sound when started? This condition can occur when the electric flow from the battery stops due to damage to the starter relay. Damage is also indicated by dimming lights. If this happens, replacing it with a new relay is the right choice. 

Read also: Easy Tips for Maintaining Car and Motorcycle Starter Dynamos