Andrew M. Kaplan

83 944.

I've seen lots of posts that explain every relay under the sun, but in the process of flushing out a lighting problem, I found a relay under the dash that was not connected. It was snapped to the center console basically over the gas pedal. It was next to another that was connected. Far from the main fuse/relay area. I found a matching wire not connected tucked in the center console that neatly reaches to this relay.

It is marked 321.919.505 SJR on one side and shows connections for 85,86,87 and 30 on the other. The connection is 4 plugs total with 1 90 degrees from the other 3.

The only thing I can think of that isn't working right in the car is AC but I've assumed that is just 34 year old leaked freon.

Any idea what this relay is for? Next obvious question, should I connect it?

marc abrams

See if you find the wire colors going to the relay socket on a wiring diagram.

Andrew M. Kaplan

Looks like a ground, red/black, red/blue and red/white. Photo below. Assuming it is something HVAC related, I checked that diagram and don't see anything that looks right.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7Q...ew?usp=sharing

931guru

According to Google, a power window relay.

marc abrams

I believe it's the radio relay. You can confirm this by removing the #7 fuse and power should go away from the red/white wire, pin #30.

V2Rocket

I've got the same unhooked mystery relay in the same spot.
Everything on the car works so I have no idea what it's for...I can only assume some sort of RoW option (maybe for the rear fog light in Europe?).

Andrew M. Kaplan

Strange. The one problem I have with the radio is that it always has power. There is a digital clock on a removable face plate that never turns off until I pop the face plate. Does the radio relay cut all power to the radio when you turn the car off? if so, I'm guessing that someone in the past disconnected the relay because when I connect it, it make a clicking sound when I turn the ignition. Perhaps it is bad and someone disconnected it while troubleshooting and never figured out what it was for. I imagine a relay shouldn't click when i turn the key one/two notches. It clicks on both.

Andrew M. Kaplan

Since the relays are the same, I swapped them. Same clicking on either. Radio still runs with key out. What exactly wouldn't have been working with the radio relay disconnected?

marc abrams

No it doesn't. You have both unswitch and switch power to the radio. The switch power comes from the radio relay, supply's power only to the radio, and is energized when the key is in the lock cylinder. There is no accessory position. What radio do you have?

Andrew M. Kaplan

It's a late 90s blaupunkt. Not sure the model. I suspect that when it was installed, they must have not used the unswitched power feed. I'm planning to get a new radio (with bluetooth) and I'll make sure I use both the switched and unswitched so my radio isn't on all the time.

marc abrams

I recommend that you use the radio relay to prevent spiking from the key in buzzer. Also the unswitch power circuit in the car may not be adequate for the newer type radio's. On my car I used a 14 gage wire to a unused unswitch open male spade on auxiliary fuse box with a inline fuse for the radio's unswitch power.

marc abrams

FYI:
Red/blue wire is switch power
The thin red is unswitch power
White is powered antenna trigger
And brown is ground

Andrew M. Kaplan

Perhaps this is just from all of the ground cleaning and other stuff I did looking for the short or maybe it is the relay now installed, but an annoying little tick on the radio is 100% gone.

I'll keep this info handy if a new radio is one of by B-Day presents next week. Radio is "relatively" new, but my speakers are original so at least the front set are being replaced.

Thanks again for all your help.

dmjames

If the problem comes back, take a careful look at the ignition switch. In my 84, I had the 'radio is always on' problem, and it turned out to be a failing ignition switch. Since you also have an early car, I'd wager that's a reasonable possibility for you too.

Andrew M. Kaplan

Im pretty sure whatever idiot hooked the radio up didn't have a clue what they were doing and didnt realize that there is an always power and a switched power line. I'm sure I (I mean they) won't make that mistake again.