Bizarre electrical gremlin in '89 GL wagon (entertaining)

[who1981]

 

This was the most unusual, and in retrospect amusing, electrical bug I've ever exterminated.

[Gloyale]

That's the Main ignition relay.

 

Replace it

[who1981]

That's the Main ignition relay.

 

Replace it

 

Main ignition relay, the brown DPST by the fuel relay above the ecu, ya don't say? !

I was stranded without internet, manuel, or even a meter... But the relay itself seemed to be working to me; I think something up-stream burnt open when the bell went bad. In any case, it's crazy what a single open contact can do, causing all manor of peculiar symptoms!

[Cougar]

Since you stated that you had to bridge the relay contacts of the Ignition Relay to get things working it does appear the relay contacts are bad, unless the relay isn't getting turned on by the ECU. The Ignition Relay supplies power to the ECU, which control various things. It also seems to me you may have some other issues. It sounds like there is a bad power connection somewhere possibly or a bad chassis ground. Check the fusible links inside the plastic box mounted on the coolant reservoir and make sure that they are making good connection. It may also be a good idea to measure the voltages on the fuses inside the dash and make sure they are at 12 volts when things are on. You should also clean the grounding to the chassis under the hood area. Especially the battery connection to chassis ground.

 

In case you aren't aware of it, Subaru mainly uses a switched ground system for things like the lights so if there is a bad ground strange things can happen.

Edited September 20, 2010 by Cougar