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Electrical relay

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Electrical relay
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eatdrinkadam

Jeeper
Posts
56
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Location
Seal Beach, CA
Vehicle(s)
1985 Jeep CJ7 4 cyl.
Does anyone know what this thing is?

2010-11-07_13-56-56_449.jpg


There is no power running from the device, thus it might be faulty. I believe its a relay of some sort and could be related to my faulty electrical choke.

Thanks!
 
What color are the wires?? I can see a red and a red with white trace and maybe a green?
Do you have a service manual??:cool:
 
The wire colors and red, red (white trace) and brown.

They lead to an electrical encasing tube, and that tube leads to the fuse box. However there is a series of wires that split off from that tube (before the fuse box) and into a harness than is plugged into another set of wires that lead no another encasing tube that split off into another set of wires, and so and and so on.

I have the service manual but it is no help.
 
total of three wires?:cool:

eatdrinkadam said:
The wire colors and red, red (white trace) and brown.

They lead to an electrical encasing tube, and that tube leads to the fuse box. However there is a series of wires that split off from that tube (before the fuse box) and into a harness than is plugged into another set of wires that lead no another encasing tube that split off into another set of wires, and so and and so on.

I have the service manual but it is no help.
Click to expand...
 
I did find this little bit of information.



An electric assist choke is used to more accurately match the choke operation to engine requirements. It provides extra heat to the choke bimetal spring to speed up the choke valve opening after the underhood air temperature reaches 95°F plus or minus 15°F (35°C). Its purpose is to reduce the emission of carbon monoxide (CO) during the engine's warmup period.
A special AC terminal is provided at the alternator to supply a 7 volt power source for the electric choke. A thermostatic switch within the choke cover closes when the underhood air temperature reaches 95°F plus or minus 15°F (35°C) and allows current to flow to a ceramic heating element. The circuit is completed through the choke cover ground strap and choke housing to the engine. As the heating element warms up, heat is absorbed by an attached metal plate which in turn heats the coke bimetal spring.
After the engine is turned off, the thermostatic switch remains closed until the underhood temperature drops below approximately 65°F (18°C). Therefore, the heating element will immediately begin warming up when the engine is restarted, if the underhood temperature is above 65°F (18°C).
 
Boy they really went nuts with the emissions setup for these years.

I have a hunch that this 'relay' thing is somehow related to the problem with the electric choke. I might supply straight 12v connection to the choke housing to see if that works.
 
apparently it is supplied with 7 volts from the alternator

eatdrinkadam said:
Boy they really went nuts with the emissions setup for these years.

I have a hunch that this 'relay' thing is somehow related to the problem with the electric choke. I might supply straight 12v connection to the choke housing to see if that works.
Click to expand...
 
with out being able to look at it and chase the wire, something I strongly suggest, I would say this is the manifold heater relay. It would have a Red, orange, red/white and a dark green. If this is so the manifold heater switch has been abandoned and the dark green wire is grounded to keep the heater on all the time , even if the ignition is off. For this reason the manifold heater may be abandoned as well. The red wire should have 12 volts to ground at all times and the red/white should have 12 volts to ground with the ignition on.
This is just a guess.:cool:
good luck.
 
Check this:

"The electric choke sticks out on the right side of the carburetor, and has red-with-white-tracer wires plugged into it. It's operation is straight ahead. When the engine is started, the electric heating element is energized through a relay tied to the oil pressure switch, gradually opening the choke."

(attachment image pulled from FSM... indicates the wiring colors, identical to the 'mystery relay')

I wonder if this is the choke relay. (not to discount your suggestion about the manifold heater relay, just thought i'd throw it out there as well)

A

choke_relay.webp
 
This is the perfect example of "why you need a FSM when you own a CJ".
All I have is a Chiltons and a Haynes to cover your year, they do not even mention a choke relay. This is looking better and better to me. Keep going! :cool:

eatdrinkadam said:
Check this:

"The electric choke sticks out on the right side of the carburetor, and has red-with-white-tracer wires plugged into it. It's operation is straight ahead. When the engine is started, the electric heating element is energized through a relay tied to the oil pressure switch, gradually opening the choke."

(attachment image pulled from FSM... indicates the wiring colors, identical to the 'mystery relay')

I wonder if this is the choke relay. (not to discount your suggestion about the manifold heater relay, just thought i'd throw it out there as well)

A
Click to expand...
 
Ok. It turns out this mystery relay is indeed the 'Choke Heater Relay" as I thought.

I replaced it with a generic relay (of the same kind). Although any 3-pronged, 12 volt electric relay would have worked. Apparently they all serve the same function.

Thanks for all your help.
 
Cheepjeep85 said:
this is really weird my jeep was bone stock when i got it and it didn't have anything that looked even remotely close to this. yours is the same year as mine.
Click to expand...
Maybe it was a California Jeep versus yours or 4 banger versus 6 or where it was made.Who knows
 
Bingo. Its the Cali version.

The relay is used to connect the circuit when the engine is running. (via the alternator)

I believe other version just use the oil pressure switch instead.
 
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