Signs of a broken starter solenoid relay

The starter solenoid relay supplies current to the starter motor and also pushes out the bendix. This means that the moment the starter starts to rotate, its bendix is pushed out. In fact, understanding the operation of the starter is not difficult. Today we will help you understand how the solenoid relay works, how to check this element and repair it.

Solenoid relay design and operating principle

In the starter, the solenoid relay engages the flywheel crown with the bendix. All work is based on the principles of electromagnetism. The core, which is made as a hollow tube, inside which the armature is located, is equipped with a wire winding. The current in the coil creates an electromagnetic field, as a result of which the armature enters the core. After the current stops flowing, the armature can move freely.

The starter retractor relay includes: housing; magnet with windings; anchor; contacts; return spring. The magnet in the relay is made in the form of a pair of coils - retracting and holding. The relay retractor coil is connected to the electric motor and the control terminal, but the holding coil is connected to the control terminal and is in contact with the housing. When power is applied to the control contact, magnetic induction occurs in the coil, which leads to the appearance of a magnetic field. As a result, the armature compresses the return spring. At the same moment, the bendix rotates, which connects the starter to the car battery. At the time when the contacts close, the retractor winding receives power from the “+” terminal, the production of current in the coil stops, but the armature is affected by the field of the holding coil, so it remains inside. When the vehicle's power unit starts, the power is cut off, causing the armature to return to its original position under the action of the return spring. The contacts open, which can cause the bendix to disengage.

Common solenoid relay failures

The main reasons for failure of the starter solenoid relay are as follows: Physical wear. Burnout of contact plates. Destruction of components. Winding combustion. How to determine that the solenoid relay has failed:

The engine starts, but the starter does not want to turn off, constantly rotating. At this time you hear a characteristic buzzing sound. The starter rotates after starting, but cannot start the engine. When the key in the ignition switch is turned to its original position, the starter click is heard, but it does not want to rotate. How to check the starter solenoid relay As mentioned above, the operation of the solenoid relay, as well as the starter itself, is based on the principle of electromagnetism. When voltage is applied to the windings, the relay acts on the armature. This, in turn, changes the position of the Bendix gear so that it engages with the flywheel ring. At the same time, the contacts close, providing voltage to the starter windings. In order for the car engine to start, all this must happen very quickly. The article was published in the Machines public page. If at least one of the elements does not work correctly, you will not be able to start the car. To check the starter relay, you do not need to remove this element from the car. Experts advise closing the contact bolts located on the back of the relay using a piece of wire or metal. As a result of this, you will ensure the supply of current to the starter windings. If this caused the starter to rotate, you can conclude that the starter is working normally, and the problem lies in the relay itself. If the retractor clicks and the starter does not turn, this indicates that the relay is probably working, and the cause of the breakdown must be looked for directly in the starter.

Repair of starter retractor relay

If you have come to the conclusion that the starter traction relay has failed, you need to repair it. We would like to note right away that in most cases it is much easier to replace this element than to restore its functionality. Many manufacturers produce non-separable relays in order to make this unit the most reliable. In such situations, you will simply have to replace the solenoid relay with a new one. If the starter in your car is equipped with a detachable relay, you can repair it yourself. Often the relay does not work for the following reasons: the mechanical drive has worn out and failed; a short circuit has occurred in the winding; “nickels” or contacts were burnt. Each of the above faults can be determined after disassembly. vk.com/cars.best True, to determine the integrity of the windings you will have to use an ohmmeter. When measuring the resistance between the ends of the wire and the body, this indicator should be at least 10 kOhm. Otherwise, the windings have shorted, so you will need to go to the store for a new relay.

Installation of a new or restored relay is carried out in the reverse order of dismantling. Many car enthusiasts at this stage have a problem, which is how to connect the starter relay. In order to avoid such troubles, we recommend that you first mark the disconnected terminals. Before installing the relay, be sure to thoroughly clean the contacts and degrease them.

Operating principle of the solenoid relay

Before moving directly to the malfunctions and methods for eliminating them, it will be useful for car owners to know the device of the starter retractor relay and how it works. It is immediately worth noting that the mechanism is a classic electromagnet , consisting of two windings (holding and retracting), a circuit for connecting it to the starter, as well as a core with a return spring.

When the ignition key is turned, voltage from the battery is supplied to the coils of the solenoid relay. This creates an electromagnetic field that moves the core located in its body. That, in turn, compresses the return spring. As a result of this, the opposite end of the “fork” moves towards the flywheel. In this case, the gear connected to the bendix is squeezed out until it engages with the flywheel ring. As a result of engagement, the contacts of the built-in starter circuit are closed. Next, the retracting winding is turned off, and the core remains in a fixed position with the help of a working holding winding.

Scheme of operation of the solenoid relay

After the ignition key turns off the engine, voltage to the solenoid relay stops supplying. The anchor returns to its original position. The fork and bendix, which are mechanically connected to it, disengage with the flywheel. Thus, a malfunction of the starter solenoid relay is a critical failure due to which it is impossible to start the engine.

Detailed instructions for replacing the retractor on a Lada Kalina:

After we have access to the starter, we disconnect all the power wires, one wire can be easily removed and the other two will need to be unscrewed.

We unscrew one with a ratchet with a 10mm head; in the picture you can see everything in more detail.

The second with a regular key for 13.

Now we proceed to unscrew the two bolts securing the retractor itself. Doing this is not very convenient, especially you will have to tinker with the bottom bolt; a thin-walled 8-mm socket and a ratchet will help.

Starter solenoid relay diagram

Solenoid relay circuit

In addition to the previous point, we present to your attention a diagram of the starter retractor relay . With its help, it will be easier for you to understand the principle of operation of the device.

The solenoid coil of the relay is always connected to the negative side through the starter. And the holding winding goes directly to the battery. When the relay core presses the working plate against the bolts, and “plus” is supplied to the starter from the battery, then a similar “plus” is supplied to the “minus” output of the retractor winding. Because of this, it turns off, and the current continues to flow only through the holding winding . It is weaker than the retractor, but has sufficient strength to constantly hold the core inside the housing, which ensures continuous operation of the motor. The use of two windings allows you to significantly save battery energy when starting the engine.

Originals, analogues, articles and prices

Article / name / OEM	Price, rub.)
3708010-81	From 3100
438286 (Valeo)	From 3900
TS12E901 (Pramo) gearbox	From 3700
21902-3708010-00 Automatic transmission (Valeo)	From 3400
21901-3708010-00 Manual transmission (Valeo)	–/–
438285 (Valeo)	From 3100
2190-3708000 (8 valves)	–/–

*check prices at the time of purchase from an authorized dealer.

The manufacturing quality of domestic and foreign starters is approximately the same. It is not advisable to overpay 10–15% of the cost for a brand. Although, this is everyone's business.

Signs and causes of relay failure

External signs of a broken starter relay include the following:

When you turn the key in the ignition switch, no action is taken to start the engine, or starting is possible only after making several attempts.
After the engine starts, the starter continues to rotate at high speed. This can be heard by ear by the strong buzzing of the mechanism.

A malfunction in the relay is one of the reasons that the car does not start, and there may be several reasons for its breakdown:

failure (burnout) of the contact plates inside the relay (popularly called “nickels”), reduction in their contact area, “sticking”;
breakage (burning) of the retracting and/or holding winding;
deformation or weakening of the return spring;
short circuit in the pull-in or holding winding.

How to check the starter solenoid relay with a multimeter

If you find at least one of the listed signs, then the next step to fix the problem is to conduct a detailed diagnosis.

Summarizing

It is advisable that the starter spins the engine crankshaft during an attempt to start it for no more than 10 seconds, then the device must be given a minute pause. Failure to comply with this rule will, at best, lead to a discharge of the power source, and at worst, it will completely disable the starter. Only replacing it can save the situation, since not every auto electrician will undertake the task of rewinding burnt windings, since it is not always possible to perform this procedure efficiently. In addition, the cost of this service is comparable to the cost of a new element.

The wiring diagram for hatchbacks 2112 is a unique thing in itself. In order for voltage to appear on the solenoid relay, the following parts must be in good working order: the ignition switch, the ECU unit and two more relays - the main and additional ones. Some cars do not have an additional relay, which can be considered good luck. But, if when you turn the key on a VAZ-2112 the starter does not turn, then the fault must be looked for in the wiring. A broken immobilizer code can also cause problems. The last malfunction can be cured by replacing the ECU or disabling the immobilizer. Well, let's look at something simpler.

How to check the solenoid relay

There are several methods for checking the solenoid relay. Let's look at them in order:

The operation of the relay can be determined quite simply - at the moment of startup, a click is heard produced by the moving core. This fact indicates the serviceability of the device. If there is no click, it means that the starter retractor relay does not operate. If the retractor clicks but does not turn the starter, then the likely reason for this is that the relay contacts are burnt.
If the solenoid relay is activated, but a peculiar rattling noise is heard, then this indicates a malfunction in one or both relay windings . In this case, the starter solenoid relay can be checked using an ohmmeter by measuring the resistance of its windings. It is necessary to remove the core and return spring from the housing, and then check the resistance between the windings and ground in pairs. This value should be within 1.3 ohms. After this, insert the core without a spring, close the power contacts and measure the resistance between them. This value should be 3.5 ohms (the value depends on the specific relay). If the measured value is lower than the indicated numbers, then we can talk about a short circuit in the circuit and failure of the windings.

VAZ components, as well as imported analogues

At first, KZATE starters were supplied to the VAZ plant. And after 2011, Valeo became the main supplier. Therefore, the list of components looks like this:

21120-3708010-00 (KATEK, KZATE, ZiT) - there is one analogue, Fenox ST32101C3;
21901-3708010-00 (VALEO) – also known as VALEO TS12E901;
21902-3708010-00 (VALEO) – also known as VALEO TS12E902.

It was not possible to find any other imported analogues.

None of the three starters are interchangeable with the other. The last two differ in the number of teeth (11 and 9, respectively), but the VALEO and KZATE starters are not compatible in terms of fastening.

Repair of starter retractor relay

Worn relay contact plates

On many modern cars, the solenoid relay is made in a non-separable form. This is done for two reasons. First, this increases the reliability of the mechanism and its durability due to mechanical protection from external factors. The second is that automakers want to make more profit from the sale of their components. If your car has just such a relay, then the best solution in this case is to replace it. Write down the brand of the relay, its technical parameters, or better yet, take it with you and go to the nearest store or car market for a similar new one.

However, some car owners repair it themselves. But at the same time you need to know how to disassemble the starter solenoid relay . If the relay is collapsible, then it can be repaired. In the case of non-dismountable parts, repairs are also possible, but to a small extent. In particular, when burning “nickels”, improving and cleaning the contact. If one of the windings burns out or short-circuits, then such relays, as a rule, cannot be repaired.

For further work you will need a flat blade screwdriver, as well as a soldering iron, tin and rosin. Disassembling the relay begins with the fact that it is necessary to remove the core from it. After this, two are unscrewed that hold the top cover where the coil contacts are located. However, before removing it, it is necessary to unsolder the mentioned contacts. In this case, it is not necessary to solder both contacts . Usually, to get to the “nickels”, it is enough to unsolder only one contact and lift the cover on one side.

Disassembly and repair of the solenoid relay

Repair of the retractor relay VAZ 2104

Next, you need to unscrew the bolts holding the “nickels” from the top side and remove them. If necessary, they need to be reviewed. That is, clean them with sandpaper in order to get rid of carbon deposits. A similar procedure must be performed with their seats. Using a plumbing tool (it is best to use a flat blade screwdriver), clean the seat, removing dirt and carbon deposits. Reassembling the relay housing occurs in the reverse order.

Disassembly and assembly of a collapsible relay occurs in the same way. To do this, you need to unscrew the stud bolts and disassemble its body. This will give you access to the internal elements of the device. The audit work is carried out similarly to the above algorithm.

Instructions for cars with gearbox 2190

It is necessary to remove (move aside) the air filter housing

The number of attachment points is three. The box itself is thrown aside.

Just move the box to the side

It is better to fix the entire assembly. Use wire.

Dismantling

The starter module is held in place by studs onto which nuts are screwed. But you don’t need to unscrew them first:

The nut is twisted completely

Bottom mount not shown here

The starter module is carefully pushed back, removing it from the studs. Installation can be done in reverse order.

Types of solenoid relays and their manufacturers

Let's briefly touch on the solenoid relays used on VAZ cars. They are divided into four types:

for non-geared starters of VAZ 2101-2107 (“Classic” models);
for non-geared starters of VAZ 2108-21099 models;
for VAZ gear starters of all models;
for AZD starter gearboxes (used in VAZ 2108-21099, 2113-2115 models).

In addition, as mentioned above, they are divided into collapsible and non-collapsible. Older models are collapsible. New and old are interchangeable .

For VAZ cars, solenoid relays are produced by the following companies:

Plant named after A.O. Tarasov (ZiT), Samara, Russian Federation. Relays and starters are produced under the KATEK and KZATE trademarks.
BATE. Borisov Automotive and Tractor Electrical Equipment Plant (Borisov, Belarus).
Kedr Company (Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation);
Dynamo AD, Bulgaria;
“Iskra” A Belarusian-Slovenian enterprise whose production facilities are located in the city of Grodno (Belarus).

When choosing a particular manufacturer, it is necessary to take into account that the highest quality and most common brands are “KATEK” and “KZATE”. Also remember that if an AZD starter is installed on your car, then “native” relays manufactured at the same enterprise are suitable for them. That is, they are not compatible .

Results

The starter retractor relay is a simple device. However, its failure is critical , as it will not allow the engine to start. Even an inexperienced car owner with basic plumbing skills can check and repair the relay. The main thing is to have the appropriate tools at hand. If the relay is not removable, we still advise you to replace it, since, according to statistics, after repairs are completed, its service life will be short. Therefore, if the solenoid relay does not work in your car, buy a similar device and replace it.

The ability to start the engine by turning the ignition key from inside the car and without much physical effort can easily be considered one of the most significant achievements of designers in terms of improving the consumer qualities of a car. However, sometimes it happens that you cannot start the car with an electric starter. The reasons for such an unpleasant event are varied, but the list of the most likely among them includes a malfunction of the solenoid relay. A savvy car enthusiast is able to quickly localize and diagnose such a breakdown on his own, after which he can carry out repairs and restore the vehicle to normal operation without contacting a service center and with minimal financial costs. An assistant will be required to perform some of the checks.

Signs of relay failure and their causes

The relay fails due to mechanical wear and jamming, burning of contacts, breaks in current-carrying circuits. The following indicates a malfunction of this unit:

when trying to start the engine, the starter spins without turning the engine crankshaft;
an attempt to start the engine is accompanied by a characteristic click without rotation of the starter, or the starter does not develop the speed required for starting;
After the engine starts running, the starter does not turn off and again operates with a characteristic high-pitched sound.

Reasons for starter relay failure:

breaking the current transmission circuits to the pull-in and holding windings;
the return spring has weakened;
burnt contacts;
the winding is damaged;
destruction of the hull.

VAZ components, as well as imported analogues

At first, KZATE starters were supplied to the VAZ plant. And after 2011, Valeo became the main supplier. Therefore, the list of components looks like this:

21120-3708010-00 (KATEK, KZATE, ZiT) - there is one analogue, Fenox ST32101C3;
21901-3708010-00 (VALEO) – also known as VALEO TS12E901;
21902-3708010-00 (VALEO) – also known as VALEO TS12E902.

It was not possible to find any other imported analogues.

None of the three starters are interchangeable with the other. The last two differ in the number of teeth (11 and 9, respectively), but the VALEO and KZATE starters are not compatible in terms of fastening.

Checking the relay without dismantling the starter

Checking the functionality of the solenoid relay at the first stage does not require disassembling and dismantling the starter:

Visually check the absence of breaks in the connecting wires to the relay.
After turning the ignition key to the “Start” position, a characteristic click should be heard.
If there is a click and the starter does not start, there may be a malfunction of the lock or its contacts.
To check the serviceability of the lock, remove the relay wire that connects it to the lock. Then, using a screwdriver, this terminal is short-circuited to the battery terminal (the operation is equivalent to bridging the lock). If the engine starts, the cause of the failure is the relay.

ZZ malfunctions

Most often, damage to the Kalina ignition switch is associated with its mechanical part. In this case, it is impossible to turn the key to the desired position. A malfunction does not arise, as they say, out of the blue. As a rule, frequent jamming of the key is observed over the course of several months, which is eliminated by rocking it in the cylinder.

Rarely, there are cases of failure of the electrical component of the Lada-Kalina ignition switch. Basically they come down to a lack of contact when turned on. This is typical only for locks with a long service life. True, there is another common reason for burnt contacts - the car owner himself.

Diagnostics without removing the starter using a multimeter

To do this, use a multimeter (tester) to first sequentially measure the voltage at the terminals of the battery, disconnected from the vehicle’s on-board network. It is approximately 12.7 V. If the device readings are less than 12 V, the battery is considered to be severely discharged and is not suitable for further testing.

Next, restore the normal connection of the wires and measure the voltage at the battery terminals and relay contacts. Compared to the previous case, it changes by no more than 0.1 V and will be equal at both control points. Turn the key to the start position. The voltage at the relay contacts should not fall below 12 V. Otherwise, the connecting wires are most likely faulty; it is possible that one or more contacts in the current flow circuit have burnt out.

Auto chemical goods

On every VALEO starter, the terminal nut is zinc plated. The contact screw itself is also galvanized. This means that you can work here with WD-40, as well as its substitutes. This option will not work with copper!

Those who unknowingly used WD liquid on copper say this: it doesn’t seem like enough. At first everything looks perfect, and then the outer layer begins to change (it collapses).

The copper threads on the KZATE starter must be cleaned with special means. Options:

Molykote S-1002 (solvent);
Kontakt 60 or 100 (acid), WL (wash);
CRAMOLIN ContaClean (acid only).

If the part is reused, after the acid it is cleaned with a wash. Everything is obvious here.

If you need to replace the starter on a Lada Granta or repair it, then this article will help you learn more about the starter itself and how to manipulate it.

Checking with the starter removed using a multimeter

This test of the solenoid relay allows you to very accurately perform internal diagnostics and determine the condition of the windings and contacts.

Dismantling the starter, depending on the make of the car, is carried out in various ways. For VAZ 2110, this procedure is carried out from below from the pit. Before unscrewing the fasteners, remove the wires (it is better to mark the terminals so as not to confuse them during assembly); you may need to remove the crankcase protection.

To begin with, voltage is applied from the battery to the body and terminals of the relay; operation is accompanied by a characteristic click and visible movement of the rod.

Further checks are carried out using a multimeter, which is switched to resistance measurement mode and the range of 200 Ohms is selected.

Video: Checking the starter removed from the car

First, check the serviceability of the retractor and retention coils. To do this, one of the probes is connected to ground, the second touches the contacts in succession. The device readings are 2 ohms. Deviation of the device readings from the specified value is a sign of a break or short circuit. To check the power contacts, remove the core from the relay body and remove the return spring, after which the core is inserted back. The core rod is pressed against the table with a certain force and the resistance between the contacts is replaced. The resistance is approximately 1.5 ohms.

Auto chemical goods

On elements from VALEO, the nut located on the terminal is coated with zinc, and the contact screw is also galvanized. Therefore, they can only be treated with WD-40 or one of its substitutes. But this processing option is not suitable for copper. All car owners using WD liquid on copper are strongly advised not to repeat their mistake - using WD-40 will lead to destruction of the outer layer.

That is why the threads on KZATE starters made of copper must be cleaned using special means. To do this, you can use: Molykote S-1002 solvent, WL remover, Kontakt 60 or 100 acid and CRAMOLIN ContaClean. When reusing an element after exposure to acid, it must be cleaned with a remover.