----- Original Message -----
  From: David Lustick
  To: 928
  Sent: 03 October 2001 14:19
  Subject: [928] Checking relays


  My kickdown switch is inoperable.  I was thinking it might be the
relay which led me to a bigger question.  How does one check the condition
of a relay to determine if it is the source of the problem?
  David
  '82 928 AT


From: George Layton [George.Layton@ukgateway.net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2001 8:11 PM
To: 928
Subject: [928] Re: Checking relays

First.  Pull it out from the board in the car.  Take off the plastic
cover. Replace it in the board and watch (or get a passenger to watch)
to see if the contacts close when they ought to.

Second.  Pull it out from the board in the car again. Connect the
contact pins to a multimeter measuring resistance. Connect the relay
operating pins to a 12V battery, and note the change in resistance
(should go from infinity to virtually zero).

I had a relay that was erratic.  I found that the above test showed it
was OK but if the base of the relay was twisted it would break contact.
This turned out to be a tiny break in one of the solder joints between
the relay pin and the tiny wire which went into the actuating coil.  A
small drop of solder cured the problem.

A cheap solution if you need one.  If not, just replace the relay - they
are not that expensive !!

George.
(1995 GTS in UK)