Can a relay go bad? (heat soak related)

[tberk at sbcglobal.net (T Berk)]

Neptuno wrote:

> So After investigating Further I found out that My
> Rocco has been relayed for the starter with a WR-1
> Relay kit from bosch. Wich was a typical fix for the
> heat soak condition found in many VW's(and other
> cars).
> 
> Now, how long ago that relay was placed there is a
> horse of another color. 
> 
> 1)SO is there the chance that the realy is defective
> and if so could that be the reason for the continued
> not starting of my car after a long ride at HWY speed?
> 
> The WR-1 had an in-line fuse wich I checked. The fuse
> is intact leading me to believe 2 things:
>  ~The relay is not working
>  ~the starter is crap and has vulnerable to heat soak 
> 
> Regardles of relay......I have not seen if I have a
> heat shield on the starter yet and will look, but my
> guess is no!
> 
> TIA
> La esponga caliente
> Tony



Seems like you can check the thing with a volt-ohm meter pretty easy.

One quick check is whether the relay 'clicks' when it's had power put 
to it.


TBerk