Is the starter relay necessary?

[NCYankee]

I had some intermittent starter issues a while back on my 92 SE - narrowed the problem down to the starter relay, but replacing it didn't help - however, running a jumper across the solenoid side of the connector did. I assume the problem is somewhere between the ignition switch and the relay - but the bypass has been working fine and I never got around to trying to find the root of the problem - there always seems to be something more important that needs done (the car has 220k miles now.)

My question is - am I causing any problems by doing this? A mechanic I talked to said the starter relay is not necessary, and many cars don't even have them, aside from Nissans.

The jumper has some intermittent contact issues and I have to wiggle it around on occasion, so I was considering cutting the harness and soldering the wires - but I wanted to check before I take this step and be sure I am not doing any long-term harm.

[NCYankee]

Anyone? Is this a common problem?

It seems to me that the starter relay is really just redundant, serving the same purpose as the starter solenoid itself.

[vancouverbc]

Anyone? Is this a common problem?

It seems to me that the starter relay is really just redundant, serving the same purpose as the starter solenoid itself.

yeah , it is a common problem. its not a starter relay. it is an interlock relay.

most likely your clutch interlock switch on the clutch pedal is broken. when you depress the clutch, the clutch switch closes sending ground to interlock relay which closes interlock switch allower power to go to starter. so it is a safety thing.

see the starter trouble shoot tutorial in my signature for wiring diagram etc

[NCYankee]

It's not the clutch interlock switch, I tried bypassing that with a jumper across the connector way back when I was narrowing the problem down and it didn't help.

So all I'm doing bypassing the relay is taking the safety factor of the clutch inhibitor out of the picture? I'm ok with that, I've driven a clutch over a half million miles in my lifetime and I think I have the hang of it by now - I just want to be sure I'm not damaging anything in the electrical system.
Modified by NCYankee at 11:46 AM 4/26/2009

[NCYankee]

As a follow up, in case anyone (Vancouverbc?) is still interested, I found the problem - somehow when I was messing around under the dash, the wrong harness connector got plugged into the clutch interlock switch - there is an entire loose harness hanging under there, prob from a security system that was in there at some point, and one of the connectors is identical to the oen which belongs there.

After reconnecting the right wires and putting the relay back in, I found that the starter works but the interlock switch is functioning in reverse - the starter fires when the clutch pedal is up, and does not when it is depressed.

I also sometimes have to turn the key repeatedly, but I hear the relay clicking so the problem does not seem to be the funky clutch switch - is this due to a sticky solenoid, or is there a cold spot on the starter motor armature?

[maj Andres]

I was having this same "click sound when I turn the key" took it to autozone and they narrowed it down to the solenoid. Have you tried wacking your starter a couple times when it doesn't wanna start? Dude, your better off replacing that thing, so that way you have the warranty from the parts store.

On a side note, I never really understood why the clutch pedal needs to be depressed when starting the car. Is it really necessary if the car is in neutral?

[leonelrr]

It's just for safety, sometimes people tend to leave their cars in 1st gear and forget to put it in neutral before starting it. ?

[maj Andres]

dude you princess is hot! she got any friends? Hook a 240 owner up! I'm also from LA