Author Topic: Relays, placement, and amps for 81' caddy (Read 2360 times)

CaddyWVO · « **on:** March 03, 2009, 01:36:10 pm »

After my 8 year old nephew visited I need some help identifying what goes where in the fuse panel. He removed all of the relays and the fuses. The truck was open in the garage and the fuse panel was hanging out on the floor. The fuses were easy but my book does not say what amperage goes in what spot?

:shock:

Here is what I have open on the panel:

bulb check - The book says this one is a 4 due to coolant temp.
Fan - 4 prong
Horn - 4 prong
X-Relay - 4 prong
Fuel pump - This is a 5-prong plug and I believe I have this right.
Wash/Wipe - 5-prong
Interlock/Warn - Also 5-prong and I believe I have this right.

4 of these relays are interchangeable 4-prong but the amps
are 40 and 16 (x2).

The book says that 'X' is a reduction relay, but reduction to what?

Please tell me what goes where I don't want to blow anything up

CaddyWVO · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2009, 07:04:21 am »

I called the local VW dealer today and spoke to the parts guy. He pulled up the part numbers on the relays and it seems that all of the 4-prong 40A and 16A relays can be interchanged. The part numbers on the 16A relays are superseded by the part numbers on the 40A relays.

The manual says there is no chance of plugging the wrong relay into the wrong socket because of the prongs. If the prongs fit, then the relay should work too!

Sure would like to get some feedback from you guys. Maybe if someone has an 81' Rabbit they could look and see what it says. :roll:

pdcm · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2009, 12:39:30 pm »

Quote from: "CaddyWVO"

I called the local VW dealer today and spoke to the parts guy. He pulled up the part numbers on the relays and it seems that all of the 4-prong 40A and 16A relays can be interchanged. The part numbers on the 16A relays are superseded by the part numbers on the 40A relays.

The manual says there is no chance of plugging the wrong relay into the wrong socket because of the prongs. If the prongs fit, then the relay should work too!

Sure would like to get some feedback from you guys. Maybe if someone has an 81' Rabbit they could look and see what it says. :roll:

I'll try to take a pic of my fuse/relay panel when I get home tonight.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2009, 04:37:26 am »

Quote from: "CaddyWVO"

I called the local VW dealer today and spoke to the parts guy. He pulled up the part numbers on the relays and it seems that all of the 4-prong 40A and 16A relays can be interchanged. The part numbers on the 16A relays are superseded by the part numbers on the 40A relays.

To me that just means they don't make the 16A relay anymore and use the 40A relay everywhere. If you are just going to put them in randomly I would buy two new 40A relays (or used)

The x relay is the 50 series wires in the vehicle. They are only powered up when the key is in the start position. It's the relay responsible for turning off your lights when you crank the motor over to save power.

If I was a guessing man, the fan and the x relay would be the 40 amp ones.

CaddyWVO · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2009, 06:03:03 am »

Quote

I'll try to take a pic of my fuse/relay panel when I get home tonight.

Did you get a chance to get a photo of your fuse panel?

CaddyWVO · « **Reply #5 on:** March 07, 2009, 07:27:22 pm »

Well, I finally got all the way under the dash and used a small pen light attached to my eye glasses. I found a separate relay hidden up above and behind the heater blower. When I pulled it out, it was my missing glow-plug relay. I unplugged it and opened it to find that it was completely full of water. I drained it, dried it, sprayed it with WD40 and then plugged it back into the socket. When I turned the key, the light came on but upon further testing there was no electricity going to the glow-plugs. Suffice to say that the electricity was passing through the water. I called around and found a local parts shop that had one sitting on the shelf. Apparently there are two kinds of relays, fast and slow, mine is the latter. It was so nice out that I took the motorcycle. When I plugged in the new relay, the light came on, went off, I started the motor, and the light stayed off. YEA!!!

Incidentally, I had the alternator checked and it was only putting out 13.4Volts and that was why the battery was dead the next day after the rain got into the fuse block.

So, all told it cost about $150 and everything is now working as it should and there was a bonus, it didn't ruin the glow-plugs so I got off easy!

Rabbit TD · « **Reply #6 on:** March 07, 2009, 07:58:50 pm »

Quote from: "CaddyWVO"

Well, I finally got all the way under the dash and used a small pen light attached to my eye glasses. I found a separate relay hidden up above and behind the heater blower. When I pulled it out, it was my missing glow-plug relay. I unplugged it and opened it to find that it was completely full of water. I drained it, dried it, sprayed it with WD40 and then plugged it back into the socket. When I turned the key, the light came on but upon further testing there was no electricity going to the glow-plugs. Suffice to say that the electricity was passing through the water. I called around and found a local parts shop that had one sitting on the shelf. Apparently there are two kinds of relays, fast and slow, mine is the latter. It was so nice out that I took the motorcycle. When I plugged in the new relay, the light came on, went off, I started the motor, and the light stayed off. YEA!!!

Incidentally, I had the alternator checked and it was only putting out 13.4Volts and that was why the battery was dead the next day after the rain got into the fuse block.

So, all told it cost about $150 and everything is now working as it should and there was a bonus, it didn't ruin the glow-plugs so I got off easy!

13.4 volts is OK, I think that's all any of mine ever put out on these cars. My Buick Park Ave. only puts out 13.8 with all the stuff it has and it's fine.