What Does A Starter Relay Do On A Harley?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The starter relay in a motorcycle

enables power to flow from the battery to the motor when you start your motorcycle

.

What happens when motorcycle starter relay goes bad?

If your starter relay has gone bad,

the electrical signal will never make it from the battery to the starter motor

. As a result, your engine won’t turn over – no matter how many times you turn the key. A faulty relay often produces an audible clicking sound when you turn your car.

How do I know if my starter relay is bad on my Harley?

The most obvious warning sign that a problem with the starter relay exists is when the vehicle won’t start when you engage the ignition process.

Starter stays on after engine started

. Intermittent issues starting the vehicle. Clicking sound coming from the starter.

When a starter relay is bad?

#1. A Car That Fails To Start

Failing to start the car is one of the main signs that a starter relay has

become damaged and needs immediate checking

. If you switch on the ignition and the car remains silent; no clicking, not anything, it means there’s no current flowing through the relay’s coil.

What does the starter relay connect to?

A starter relay acts as an

electrical circuit completer or circuit breaker in between the vehicle’s battery and the starter motor

. It helps to boost the battery’s current so that not as great a current is required at ignition. The starter relay is sometimes, but not always, used in addition to a starter solenoid.

Why does my Harley just click when I try to start it?


When you turn the key and the battery is dead

, you hear the magnet trying to magnetize the gear which is what makes the clicking sound. If the battery doesn’t give enough power, that magnet doesn’t have enough power to turn the flywheel of the engine.

What are the symptoms of a bad starter solenoid?

  • Nothing happens. …
  • A single “click” sound comes from the engine compartment or from under the car. …
  • Repeated “clicking” sounds usually indicate a dead battery.

Can you bypass starter relay?

Place the metal blade of an insulated

screwdriver

across both metal contacts. This bypasses the solenoid and creates a direct connection between the starter motor and the ignition switch.

How can you tell if a relay is blown?

  1. Locate the relay you need to test. …
  2. The quickest and easiest way to test a relay is to swap it out with a known good replacement. …
  3. Grab a multimeter and set it to Ohms. …
  4. Leave the multimeter on ohms or continuity. …
  5. Energize the electromagnet coil with a 9-12V battery across the pins.

Can you jump a car with a bad starter relay?

Jump-starting a car with a bad starter motor

will not help start the engine

. Jump-starting will only boost battery power. A manual transmission car with a bad starter maybe push or tow started but an auto transmission car can not.

Can Autozone test a relay?


A relay can be checked with a jump cable

, a voltimeter, an ohmimeter or a test light. If the terminals are accessible and the relay is not controlled by a computer, the fastest method will be a jump cable and a test light.

How do you test a starter relay?

Set your multimeter to be

on the Ohms scale

. Place one probe on the lead on the ignition circuit terminal and the other on the ground lead. The reading should be less than 5 Ohms. If it’s more than that, the starter relay is faulty and needs to be replaced.

Is it the starter or starter relay?

The

starter

is a small motor, powered by the battery. It gets the engine of your car running. A starter relay sits between the battery and the starter motor, transmitting power. Without a properly working starter relay and motor, you won’t be able to even back out of a parking space without a jumpstart or tow.

Is an ignition relay the same as a starter relay?

The ignition relay is

one of the most important electronic relays found on modern vehicles

. It is usually located in the fuse and relay panel beneath the bonnet, and is responsible for providing power to the vehicle’s ignition system, and some of the fuel system’s components.

How does the starter relay work?

The Starter Relay is a device that utilizes

a small amount of electrical current from the ignition switch to energize an electromagnet that operates a larger current carrying switch

, which in turn triggers the operation of the Starter Motor or Starter Solenoid.

Kim Nguyen
Author
Kim Nguyen
Kim Nguyen is a fitness expert and personal trainer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has trained a variety of clients, from professional athletes to everyday fitness enthusiasts. Kim is passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.