Whenever you operate a switch to an accessory in your car that carries a lot of current--such as the lights, wipers or horn--you run a small amount of current through a relay which, in turn, closes contacts to operate the accessory. If one of your accessories doesn't come on and you suspect the relay is bad, you can perform a few simple tests. Look for the location of your relay in your owner's manual or in the fuse panel inside the car or under the hood.
Step 1
Open the hood and/or fuse compartment so that your assistant can access the relay.
Step 2
Turn the key to the "Accessories" position and instruct your friend to touch the relay while you operate the switch for the accessory that isn't working. Your friend should feel a click in the relay when it operates. If not, you have a bad relay.
Step 3
Pull the relay out of its socket with the ignition off and insert a short piece of wire into the two connections of the relay that make contact when the electromagnetic coil pulls them together. Look on the relay for a diagram of the pins. They should be the ones labeled "Common" (C) and "Normally Open" (NO). On a standard Bosch automotive relay, the pins are 30 and 87.
Step 4
Operate the switch again to see if the accessory works. If it now works, the relay is bad.
Tip
Most car relays pull out of a socket. Sometimes the relay vibrates out or works loose. Try pulling it out and pushing it back in to fix the problem.
On a standard Bosch relay there is also a pin labeled 87a. This is not the pin you want. Make sure it's labeled 87.
Warning
If you can't find a diagram for your relay, don't guess on the pins with your piece of wire. You could short across the coil windings and blow a fuse when you operate the switch. Also, don't have your friend work under the hood with the engine running.