1 - relay for the fuel pump; 2 - injection system protection relay.
To a connoisseur of German designations, the marking of the relay would indicate that on some French-made relays, the German designations do not correspond to the French marking of the terminals. So you see, for example:
- Terminal 1 = 86;
- Terminal 2 = 85;
- Terminal 3 = 30;
- Terminal 4 = 87a;
- Terminal 5 = 87.
A number of relays function in the electrical network of the car, which are installed on the relay platform in fuse boxes or on separate holders, for example, in the engine compartment (relay for fuel pump, injection, fog lights, ABS, etc.).
- A simple relay is used for powerful current consumers. If an electric current is passed through a long connection of wires to the switch, then there is a loss of energy. In addition, the switch contacts are overloaded with a strong electric current.
- When a relay is connected, switches are used only for electric current of insignificant strength, and not the consumer itself is connected, but its relay.
- Some relays may perform additional functions. So, for example, a light relay switches light pulses, and an intermittent wiper relay controls the wiper interval.
Relay operation
- When the corresponding consumer is switched on, the arriving at terminal 1 (in most cases yellow wire) electricity «inclusion» closes the circuit to terminal 2.
- As a result, the electromagnet coil attracts a powerful contact, overcoming the resistance of the spring, and thus closes the electrical circuit for «working electric current».
- The operating current flows directly to terminal 3 via a short path to avoid voltage drops (in most cases, the red wire) relay and is transmitted from there, with the switch contacts closed, to the current consumer.
Relay - Troubleshooting
1. Terminal 3 must always be energized. To check, pull out the relay and touch the needle of the test lamp to terminal 3.
2. Remove the relay, connect terminal 1 to battery positive and terminal 2 to ground. The electromagnet coil will pull up the relay contact with a characteristic sound, otherwise the relay is faulty.
Help with a faulty relay
1. Remove the relay from the holder or from the fuse box, or disconnect the connector.
2. Connect terminals 3 and 4 or 5 with a piece of insulated wire at the relay mounting point in the fuse box and, accordingly, the connector. With this holder, the corresponding consumer will receive an electric current.
3. To disconnect, remove the connecting jumper, as the corresponding switch is bypassed in this case.
Note. Recommendation: Since the Renault terminal markings differ from the German terminal markings and different consumers can be connected to them, you must be absolutely sure that you install the jumper correctly, otherwise the consumers connected to the relay may be damaged due to a short circuit. If you suspect that the relay is defective, insert a new relay to check - this is how they do in auto repair shops - or remove a relay of the same type from another socket and insert it into the socket of a probably damaged relay for testing.