Working on a 56 Buick Special. The wiring has been fouled up pretty badly by previous owners. (I also put this in the electrical section) After a long electrical diagnosis (in the 90 degree heat) I have come to the conclusion that my starter relay isn't functioning properly. Unfortunately, I can't find a replacement online or in the stores. Would it be possible to use a different relay in place of the original starter relay? For instance if I just went down to the auto parts store, slapped the old relay down on the counter and told the kid behind the counter to find something that looked like it? Thanks for the advice.
Sure you can. I would suggest getting a good quality relay, and figure out all of the wiring you need to replace. I wouldn't think there would be too many wires in that car. I wired my 57 Chevy, and it was a simple harness. You could look at MAD electrical and Painless to see what they have. Unless you want a quick fix from the local store. Good luck.
Just looking for a quick fix. I'll rewire the car properly in a couple of years. I"ll pull the relay and watch the kid at Auto Zone squirm when I say it isn't in the computer. ou:
There are no good aftermarket substitutes. NOS ones sometimes show up on Ebay but go for high $$$, probably because they also fit Corvettes. Your 56 service manual will show the circuit for the relay or if you don't have one yet it is available on Budds 56 Buick site. Most of the time opening the relay and filing the points is all it needs; sometimes there is excessive resistance at the riveted connections...that can be solved by drilling out the rivets one at a time, cleaning the mating surfaces to shiney metal and then replace with machine screws. A good starter/alternator shop may be able to substitute a working solution, but they will probably rewire...if that fails you have another mystery. First apply 12V to the large black wire on the relay (goes to the solenoid on the starter). That should activate the starter (be sure the car is in park since this bypasses all of the safety switches). If the starter does not activate the problem is 'downstream' from the relay. Keep us posted and good luck. Willie
Willie, I actually did that. I bypassed the relay altogether, connected the large black wire from the solenoid directly to the wire from the ignition switch. The starter engaged and bumped the engine over. So, voltage applied to the relay isn't getting out of the relay. I did verify that voltage is reaching the relay with a voltmeter and a friend hitting the ignition switch, and the method mentioned above. I suppose I will take the relay apart and do what you mentioned. I would like to get a service manual, but I keep putting it off to buy other things (like gas). Appreciate the replies so far. Thanks!
I went ahead and pulled the relay because, well, I don't have much else to do at the moment. It's definitely got rusty rivets on one side. I know my picture is bad, but none of my cameras are any good with close up shots. I'll check out AgentBudd's site again to see if I can find any info in the literature.
See the horizontal blade for the points on top running from left to right? Look at the points on the left of the arm and see if they look burned. Get fine file and get the points clean again. Clean the wire hook up (male) terminals too. A brass tooth brush should do the latter.
Boy that is one nasty relay, but it probably can be made to work. Parts like this at junk yards are usually in worse shape, but that is another possibility for a replacement if this one is in fact 'dead'. Willie
Yeah it's one ugly relay. I heard a suggestion about using a Ford solenoid and wiring that up if I can't get this one to work. Never tried to repair a relay before, so this should be interesting. Since I have no real idea what I am doing!
You could get a piece of emory paper,400 grit or so, fold it so the abrasive side is out, and slip it between the contact points. Gently push the points closed and pull the paperout to clean up the points. Repeat as necessary. This might be a bit easier than using a file.
Here you go...pricey, but it's new! http://www.bobsautomobilia.com/cgi-bin/shop.pl/SID=1215526646.27382/page=product.html/product=480
Well, I did a bad thing. A very bad thing. I gave up searching for the relay (before Aaron65's reply) and got some advice from the hot rod crowd on the HAMB about using a Ford remote solenoid instead of the starter relay. So, I have bastardized my Buick by putting a Ford part on it - I installed the solenoid yesterday and wired it up - works like a charm. I hope the Buick crowd can forgive me for such an abomination! But it does work!
The Buick already has a solenoid that draws too many amps to be used with the rest of the starting circuit. That Fffford solenoid probably draws just as many amps. Use a Ford starter button and be careful that you have not bypassed any safety switches...it gets real exciting if you stand outside the car and start it in gear! Also watch your wires...fires are exciting too.
The neutral safety switch is still wired into the circuit and still works, so I am okay there. And so far, no problems with shorts or fires - everything appears to be working fine. Hope it stays that way! ray:
If you become a purist, I probably have one from a '57. I would like to know the number stamped on the terminal base. I bet it is the same as the '57. Just a trick I learned some time ago, dress the point set with a point file, then soak the unit in ascorbic acid (vitamin C available in chrystal form at the vitamin store) overnight. This desolves the electrolysis anywhere in the unit. Blow dry with low pressure air hose, then give it a try.
Eventually I would like to return the car to as original as I can make it with a non-numbers matching engine. But for now, I do what the budget allows. I will keep you in mind for that relay, I appreciate it!
