Bad Door Control Relay

[supercarrera]

I kept blowing the 30 amp "Power" fuse that protects the door lock and power window circuit so I did a little investigating. I discovered that my door control relay module is probably toast. The plastic around it is melted and the connector looks a bit charred. I found a charred trace on the circuit board behind the circled component (I'm not sure what it is). This component has no continuity while the other five around it do.

Do you all think all I need to do is replace the relay or should I be looking for a reason why the module toasted? I think I know the answer but want to hear if anyone had a similar experience.

I do have an aftermarket alarm that activates the door locks. A couple weeks before blowing the fuses I noticed sometimes the dome lights would not completely go off after arming the alarm. They were about half lit. After a turned on and off the alarm a couple times they would go completely off.





Scott

 

[ppc]

The device you have circled is a diode. What does the foil side of the circuit board look like? Is there any signs of heat or corrosion on the terminals in either connector?

 

[supercarrera]

The device you have circled is a diode. What does the foil side of the circuit board look like? Is there any signs of heat or corrosion on the terminals in either connector?

Actually the diode is probably okay then. I reversed the leads and there is continuity. The other side looks okay except for a burnt trace I circled.

The terminals and connector looks okay except the plastic looks like it's been subjected to heat.



Scott

 

[ppc]

That sure doesn't look like something that would generate the amount of heat required to melt and burn the plastic. Was the plastic melted to the housing of that circuit board? I'm not familiar exactly where that is mounted but it looks like the hottest area on the plastic is opposite of the connector and not in the center where that trace is burnt. Is there any other wiring in proximity like the window switches?

 

[supercarrera]

I'm trying to troubleshoot this right now. Quick question:

Is there supposed to be current flowing through the 30A Power fuse (the one I keep blowing) when I turn the ignition to on?

 

[supercarrera]

That sure doesn't look like something that would generate the amount of heat required to melt and burn the plastic. Was the plastic melted to the housing of that circuit board? I'm not familiar exactly where that is mounted but it looks like the hottest area on the plastic is opposite of the connector and not in the center where that trace is burnt. Is there any other wiring in proximity like the window switches?

I have to agree that the relay does not look like it got hot enough to melt the plastic. I've had that door apart many times and for some reason I can't really remember if it was like that or not. Could have been damaged and the relay replaced by a po.

Well anyway I ended up putting in a new used relay from Aleksey (thanks Aleksey!) for a pretty good price. I also messed around with some wires and stared at the EWDs for a long time. I'm not sure what the problem was but everything seems to be working now.

I don't really feel like putting the old relay back in there to see if the fuse pops again because those things are $5 each. I'll have to grab a bunch next time I go to Pick n Pull.