Checking The Starter Motor Relay: Notes

• The signal chain to the starter motor can be checked quickly by short-circuiting the relay connections to the starter motor.
• For vehicles with automatic transmission:

  The gear selector shall be in position P or N.

• For vehicles with manual transmission:

  The gear lever shall be in neutral position.

• Parking brake applied.
  WARNING: In case of short-circuiting, the starter motor shall run. Be careful.
  CAUTION: Use two cables with suitable cable terminal when short-circuiting so that the spark does not damage the relay socket.

  Ignition off.

  Remove the starter motor relay and short-circuit the relay socket #3 (30) with #5 (87), that is, the relay circuit.

  NOTE: Do not bridge directly in the relay socket. Contacts may be damaged.

  If the starter motor runs now then there is no malfunction of the power part in the circuit.

  Other information 

  Fig 1: Identifying Starter Motor Relay

  Courtesy of VOLVO CARS CORPORATION

Does the starter motor run when the relay is short-circuited? 

• YES 

  Refer to CHECKING RELAY AND START RELAY CONTROL SIGNAL 

• NO 

  Refer to CHECKING THE WIRING