8 replies to this topic

[Tomar2]

Hiya guys.

My car recently stopped starting. It doesn't start at all. It's not the starter motor. I've got evidence that its the relay box. Now my car is an SPI which the part number is YWB10022. Now I know the MPI's relays are YWB100710 but rumour has it that some of these rover relays work in other cars. I know the 22 doesn't work in the mpi but will the 710 work in the SPI?

If not does anyone have a spare spi relay pack that they'd sell and send to me this week

[Dan]

As far as I know none of the relay modules are cross-compatible and in fact having the wrong one fitted is often a cause of problems. I'll move this to the correct section and you'll get a better answer though.

[minimat]

I got one from an early 90's 200 or 400 rover which had the same number as in the minispares catalogue .

[Sprocket]

Hiya guys.

My car recently stopped starting. It doesn't start at all. It's not the starter motor. I've got evidence that its the relay box. Now my car is an SPI which the part number is YWB10022. Now I know the MPI's relays are YWB100710 but rumour has it that some of these rover relays work in other cars. I know the 22 doesn't work in the mpi but will the 710 work in the SPI?

If not does anyone have a spare spi relay pack that they'd sell and send to me this week

Surely if the SPI one does not work in the MPi, that the MPi one would not work in the SPi for much the same reason, No?

And yes, the SPi relay does not work on the MPi

[Blatherskite]

Sure its the relay? Had similar problem recently, some circuits worked & some did not. Thought it was a fusible link gone, but in the end the wire that supplies power to the ignition switch had broken from its connector where they all bolt together at the starter solenoid - it is one of the many dull brown coloured wires... its a way down & warm, so lots of green corrosion leading to broken wire. Reconnected, and no problems again!

[SMP]

Do a search - I'm sure you'll find more info on here that will help. I remember somebody having problems a year or so ago and there were several of us (including me) that responded witth useful experience.

Mine intermittently wouldn't start and it got worse and worse. By "wouldn't start " I mean you got ignition lights but when you turned the key further there was no cranking - no clicks - nothing extra happened.

I took the cover off the relay box and wwatched what was happening. There was a relay moving when I went to crank that starter. So I tried cleaning the contacts on the relay and presto it was right as rain after that.

When I get my SPI back on the road I won't worry about the relay box. With a few jumper wires and a multimeter it should be easy to trouble shoot and to be honest I don't reckon it would be too much trouble to repair or replace a relay if you're that way inclined - better than risking £80 on a new one or hours searching scrappers only to find it's not faulty after all!!

Cheers
Steve

PS How have you isolated your problem to the relay box?

[Blatherskite]

Just solved a non-starting problem that we traced to the main relay. The engine would crank, and we got a fine stink of fuel at the back end, so no problems there; all electrical systems worked, but no firing. Checked with a sparkplug out, and no spark, no power to the coil either. Since it has been a bit chilly here recently (only in the last 2 days have we had warmer than -20C), wondered if the relay had frozen. Took it out and warmed it throuh, put it back and immediate start. Guess there was a bit of moisture in the plastic box that was blocking the relay action.

Question: Is there any way into the box without breaking it up or using a saw??

by the way, the weather is now positively tropical at -2C...

[Sprocket]

SPi or MPi?

SPi boxes, the top pulls off with a little effort without breaking it. There should be RTV seal around the joint. The MPi boxes are much more difficult to open

[Blatherskite]

Thanks for the info, I am always frightened to start heaving and levering on something that is about £120 to replace - its the SPi we have. Suspect there is damp inside, forming ice crystals when cold that either jams the relay or prevents contact, so would like to make sure its clean & dry inside.