When a starter relay starts to malfunction, several symptoms may become evident. One common symptom is difficulty starting the engine, where turning the ignition key results in either no response or intermittent starting. You may hear a clicking sound when attempting to start the vehicle, indicating that the relay is engaging but not effectively passing current to the starter motor. In some cases, the starter may crank continuously even after releasing the ignition key, suggesting that the relay contacts are sticking.
When a starter relay goes bad, it typically fails to properly transmit electrical current from the battery to the starter motor. This failure can manifest as the engine not cranking at all when the ignition key is turned, despite other electrical systems in the vehicle operating normally. Sometimes, a bad relay might cause the starter motor to operate intermittently, resulting in inconsistent starting of the engine.
To determine if an ignition relay is faulty, there are several indicators to check. One common sign is difficulty starting the engine, where the vehicle may require multiple attempts to start, or it may not start at all. Another symptom is intermittent starting, where the engine occasionally starts but fails to do so consistently. Additionally, you may notice that when the ignition key is turned, there is no response from the starter motor or a clicking sound coming from the relay area. Testing the relay with a multimeter can also confirm whether it is functioning correctly by checking for continuity and proper operation of the switching mechanism.