Cold Start Relay shocker

[Raymond]

For some time I have read posts about how cheap the Cold-start relays were.  Even Joe said at PUB they were cheap.  So yesterday I bopped on down to the dealer and had them look it up for me.  

Holy Exchange Rates, Batman! $167.00![:0]

I thanked them and walked away. For that money, I'd try to re-build it first.

My old part number appears to be 0-332-008-001.  Their replacement number is 000-542-58-19.  So, folks, where and what should I be looking for to find those "cheap" relays, or do you all have a lot more money than I thought?

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe

[jeffc280sl]

Ray,

You can take the cover off your relay by gently prying the lower edge of the cover loose and clean the contact points.  Another option is to replace the inside of the relay with a modern bosch relay.  Its pretty easy to do and from the outside one can not tell what is on the inside.  A new Bosch type relay cost about $5

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

[ja17]

Hello Ray.

Ouch!  I can but a whole donor sedan from that era for that price and get four or five good used relays!

I am sure the strong Euro is driving prices up also.

Bob Possel bought a new one from the dealer and it was defective! We diagnosed it and swapped it out with a good used one at Pub last summer.

Let me know if you cannot fix yours.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Raymond]

Jeff,

It was that $5 figure I'd heard that left me unprepared for the dealer price.  Where would one find one of those "new Bosch type" relays?  And, what do you ask for?    

In the mean time, it's just a relay so I'll probably open it and clean the thing.  Thanks again Joe, for diagnoseing this one as intermittent at the P.U.B.  (Hard to believe that almost 6 months ago.)

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe

[glennard]

Ray, You talking about the relay or the solenoid?  Relay(coil and contacts) is on the left side?  The solenoid is on the intake manifold(right side) and actually opens the valve that the gas passes thru?

[glennard]

At 'SLS' MB parts, the solenoid is 116 Euros and the relay is 92 Euros.  Like the guys say, the relay is $5 at Auto Zone, NAPA, etc.  Pays your money, youz takes youz choice-----.  Buy American!!!!!

[Naj ✝︎]

quote:Originally posted by glennard

At 'SLS' MB parts, the solenoid is 116 Euros and the relay is 92 Euros.  Like the guys say, the relay is $5 at Auto Zone, NAPA, etc.  Pays your money, youz takes youz choice-----.  Buy American!!!!!

Be prepared to butcher the wiring  :?:

68 280SL

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by glennard

Buy American!!!!!

Maybe not the best thing to say on an international forum?  

Rodd
Pagoda Technical Manual
please contibute: http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php
1966 230SL
2006 C230 Sport Sedan

[jeffc280sl]

Here are some pics of my relay.  The wiring is very simple.  lugs on the old and new relay are labeled as 30,85,86 and 87.  Just solder 4 short jumper wires and recrimp the box and you're finished.

Download Attachment: coldstartrelay1.JPG
23.21 KB

Download Attachment: coldstartrelaybase1.JPG
34.75 KB

Download Attachment: Coldstartrelayinside1.JPG
43.43 KB

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

[Naj ✝︎]

quote:Originally posted by jeffc280sl

Here are some pics of my relay.  The wiring is very simple.  lugs on the old and new relay are labeled as 30,85,86 and 87.  Just solder 4 short jumper wires and recrimp the box and you're finished.

Download Attachment: coldstartrelay1.JPG
23.21 KB

Download Attachment: coldstartrelaybase1.JPG
34.75 KB

Download Attachment: Coldstartrelayinside1.JPG
43.43 KB

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

Neat Job!!!
 
naj

68 280SL

[jeffc280sl]

Thanks and Happy New Year Naj!

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

[hauser]

I wonder what price you'd get from a Bosch Certified repair facility?  The sop I use is one of those such facilities and I have found the prices even with the mark-up is cheaper than the dealer.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[Raymond]

Yes, Glenn, I am talking about the relay.  

I guess the answer to my question is that any 12-volt relay small enough fit under the cover will do.  I just have to solder it in place.

First, I'll just try a good cleaning on the contacts etc inside.

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe