Reliable starter relay

[Timmayy]

For the first time in a few years, I had to jump the starter relay terminals. At the gas station, I tried to start and it just clicked. Unplugged and reconnected the battery and same thing. I jumped the relay and it started no problem. A fluke? Maybe it's started to wear out? This is for my 65 Belvedere wagon with a 360/727.

Anyway, I come here asking who has a good solid dependable relay? I don't want to buy junk. I've gone through this with other small electrical components. I plan on buying a couple to keep in my toolbox along with some other small parts.

Thanks

 

[Kern Dog]

I seem to recall the name Craig at MobileParts....

 

[70rrclone]

Lamar Solenoid 12 Volt Intermittent Starter (X61-0030) | Aircraft Spruce ®

I use the Lamar 12v relay. No issues so far.

 

[toolmanmike]

For the first time in a few years, I had to jump the starter relay terminals. At the gas station, I tried to start and it just clicked. Unplugged and reconnected the battery and same thing. I jumped the relay and it started no problem. A fluke? Maybe it's started to wear out? This is for my 65 Belvedere wagon with a 360/727.

Anyway, I come here asking who has a good solid dependable relay? I don't want to buy junk. I've gone through this with other small electrical components. I plan on buying a couple to keep in my toolbox along with some other small parts.

Thanks

@HALIFAXHOPS

 

[toolmanmike]

For the first time in a few years, I had to jump the starter relay terminals. At the gas station, I tried to start and it just clicked. Unplugged and reconnected the battery and same thing. I jumped the relay and it started no problem. A fluke? Maybe it's started to wear out? This is for my 65 Belvedere wagon with a 360/727.

Anyway, I come here asking who has a good solid dependable relay? I don't want to buy junk. I've gone through this with other small electrical components. I plan on buying a couple to keep in my toolbox along with some other small parts.

Thanks

Let me look that Filko number up again. That was for a starter solenoid and not a relay.

 

[RJRENTON]

For the first time in a few years, I had to jump the starter relay terminals. At the gas station, I tried to start and it just clicked. Unplugged and reconnected the battery and same thing. I jumped the relay and it started no problem. A fluke? Maybe it's started to wear out? This is for my 65 Belvedere wagon with a 360/727.

Anyway, I come here asking who has a good solid dependable relay? I don't want to buy junk. I've gone through this with other small electrical components. I plan on buying a couple to keep in my toolbox along with some other small parts.

Thanks

It has been statistically proven that there is a average of 21,769 "starts" built into the relay. When one approaches this maximum number, starting becomes probable/marginal and sometimes not at all. Consider replacing the relay at 21,000 operations just to be sure ...they are reasonably inexpensive or carry one as a spare, like an ECU, or ballast resistor and or coil.......just a thought.......
BOB RENTON

 

[Kern Dog]

That is like saying that we have a finite amount of heartbeats or "reactions" to attractive women.

 

[69Bee]

View attachment 1924513

That is like saying that we have a finite amount of heartbeats or "reactions" to attractive women.

Actually, if you look at the specs for a lot of electrical components, they DO spec the number of operations for a life span of the component.

 

[RJRENTON]

View attachment 1924513

That is like saying that we have a finite amount of heartbeats or "reactions" to attractive women.

And YES.....we do have a given number of heart beats/life time....its called an actuarial table. .It's quite obvious thar you know NOTHING about statistical sampling and the normal bell shaped distribution curve that determines low-average-maximin based of a given population density for a given set of conditions. I refer you to statistics #101 (sampling and life expctancy probably).....methodology......you'll be surprised at how much you don't know.........just thought you might like to know.......
BOB RENTON

 

[Kern Dog]

Nobody is impressed with your comments, Bob.

 

[Kern Dog]

Actually, if you look at the specs for a lot of electrical components, they DO spec the number of operations for a life span of the component.

I don't buy that.
Any estimate on lifespan is a guess based on averages of use, weather, collisions, rust/corrosion, humidity and a number of other factors.
The same goes with my comments about heartbeats or male reactions.
Numerous conditions can reduce or increase the lifespan of any machine or organic component. Actuarial tables are averages, not absolutes.
You'd have to be an idiot to actually think that a starter relay will only work 21769 times and fail at 21770. Further, what ADD/Autistic Rain Man actually counts the amount of times they started their car?
It is reasonable to guess that any electrical component will last longer in years with fewer uses but also in low humidity, less exposure to extreme heat or cold, fewer incidents of low voltage where the charging system is working harder and maybe even less vibration.

 

[Sinitro]

I don't buy that.
Any estimate on lifespan is a guess based on averages of use, weather, collisions, rust/corrosion, humidity and a number of other factors.
The same goes with my comments about heartbeats or male reactions.
Numerous conditions can reduce or increase the lifespan of any machine or organic component. Actuarial tables are averages, not absolutes.
You'd have to be an idiot to actually think that a starter relay will only work 21769 times and fail at 21770. Further, what ADD/Autistic Rain Man actually counts the amount of times they started their car?
It is reasonable to guess that any electrical component will last longer in years with fewer uses but also in low humidity, less exposure to extreme heat or cold, fewer incidents of low voltage where the charging system is working harder and maybe even less vibration.

Within the electronic component market it is standard practice for the manufacturer to specific ceratin operating conditions for its usable service life either in hours and/or number of operations. For example, basic lamp bulbs or digital displays for 5000 hours, for a switch, relay, transformer for certain number of operations/functions. This is often specified as MTBF standing for Mean Time Before Failure.. For example a lamp bulb may be specified for 5000 hours, this basically means it should work as originally designed for a minimum of 5000 hours and most likely even longer..

Just my $0.02..

 

[Kern Dog]

I agree, there are estimates of a life span but again, these are not absolutes.

 

[Geoff 2]

I use this relay, compact & cheap. Contacts have a 150 amp rating. Since you are switching solenoid current of 60 amps at best, the 150 amp rating should ensure long contact life.

 

[OneWheelPeel]

I always thought if you jump the solenoid, meaning 12+ to the signal wire and it works, then the problem isn’t your solenoid anyway since you are just doing what the key switch does. @Timmayy is that what you did or you jumped 12+ to the fat wire to the starter?

 

[Kern Dog]

By bridging the terminals, you are bypassing the internal function of the relay. It means that the relay isn't working correctly.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Once I got failed my starter relay. Looking/feeling in hands the replacement units available at shops in Venezuela didn’t like them. Decided to open my factory unit… cleaned contacts (and all around) and came out alive again. So my Car is still with the factory unit in working order.

Just saying if you could get some interest on check it out before buy.

 

[toolmanmike]

I use this relay, compact & cheap. Contacts have a 150 amp rating. Since you are switching solenoid current of 60 amps at best, the 150 amp rating should ensure long contact life.

View attachment 1924575

Nope. They need to handle starter draw and battery amperage. There is a reason the lugs on a starter relay are for battery cables and not spade terminals. like the common relay above. I would use that for cooling fans or headlights.