Which solid state DME relay

chrisbruck · chrisbruck's Garage

So today I had the fun "car died and won't restart" experience that seems to be filling the forums now. Later on it did and I got it home back in the garage. Looked at the current DME relay and it's a URO model and was replaced 6-7 yrs ago.

Pretty sure my problem is either the fuel pump or this relay. The reference sensors were replaced at the same time as the relay so doubt it's them.

Saw posts on this solid state relay. (Focus 9)

https://www.ftech9.com/new-products/911-ssr-pp

Is this the one I should order or are there other solid state ones out there in the market place? I'll keep the URO as a spare for peace of mind as I don't have one now.

Anyone who bought one and used this care to comment?

uwanna · 03-22-2022, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisbruck

So today I had the fun "car died and won't restart" experience that seems to be filling the forums now. Later on it did and I got it home back in the garage. Looked at the current DME relay and it's a URO model and was replaced 6-7 yrs ago.

Pretty sure my problem is either the fuel pump or this relay. The reference sensors were replaced at the same time as the relay so doubt it's them.

Saw posts on this solid state relay. (Focus 9)

https://www.ftech9.com/new-products/911-ssr-pp

Is this the one I should order or are there other solid state ones out there in the market place? I'll keep the URO as a spare for peace of mind as I don't have one now.

Anyone who bought one and used this care to comment?

Yes, that's the one. Put one in 5yrs ago and works flawlessly. The prime function is
also great added feature. Buy one!

bv911 · bv911's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by uwanna

Yes, that's the one. Put one in 5yrs ago and works flawlessly. The prime function is
also great added feature. Buy one!

^^ This, only mine went in three years ago.

Missed Approach · Missed Approach's Garage

I love the prime-pump feature! (5 years and going strong) I'm also impressed that Focus 9 offers a diagnostic panel as an option now!

Cooking on a Porsche 911- The herbal butter made the difference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvXBR50rH9E

Ironman88 · 03-22-2022, 06:17 PM

Yes. installed one on my '87 Targa a few months ago.

Issues 100% solved.

Quasimoto · 03-23-2022, 02:21 AM

I bought the regular F9, but wished I had the one with prime. Not for the priming as much as the audible troubleshooting feature…

isby · isby's Garage

+1 on the Focus 9. I got the regular one, although I know that many on this forum like the prime feature.

NotStock · 03-23-2022, 09:13 AM

Got the cool f9 prime with fancy lights option. It was super helpful in sorting out my 3.2 conversion car’s wiring. Mine was kinda hacked together using the original cis car’s wiring so my fuel pump ran full time. All correct now. Maybe not helpful for you, but I sure like it.

NY65912 · 03-24-2022, 03:09 AM

+1 on the Focus 9

Flojo · Flojo's Garage

Nice to stumble over this... ordered

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

They did not have the LED version when I bought mine. I did go for the 5 second fuel pump prime option. After many miles it is working great. As a belts and suspenders type I still have the old German made relay in my glove box. In the 26 years of driving my 911 to club events, I have had to help a fellow 911 driver with my spare once. He ordered a new one and sent me my used one back to me when he got back home.

junkman300SD · 03-24-2022, 10:33 AM

Is this something I should buy as preventive? I don't have many miles on the car but have read that people keep a spare in the glove box with tools. I saw one in the glove box but haven't tested it so don't know that it is good or how many miles are on the one that's installed. I will figure out the test for the one in the box.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by junkman300SD

Is this something I should buy as preventive? I don't have many miles on the car but have read that people keep a spare in the glove box with tools. I saw one in the glove box but haven't tested it so don't know that it is good or how many miles are on the one that's installed. I will figure out the test for the one in the box.

If it says Made in Germany, it will likely have a date stamp on it as well. If it is a URO brand, I would not trust it as anything more than a short term backup.

The DME relay under the seat of your car will have a date stamped on it. If it is from the same date time as the car was built, it would be wise to buy the solid state version, and use that old working one as your backup. I suspect we will not ever need to have a backup with the solid state one. Age is a big factor in many electronics as much as mileage.

mysocal911 · 03-24-2022, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

If it says Made in Germany, it will likely have a date stamp on it as well. If it is a URO brand, I would not trust it as anything more than a short term backup.

The DME relay under the seat of your car will have a date stamped on it. If it is from the same date time as the car was built, it would be wise to buy the solid state version, and use that old working one as your backup.

Good idea!

Quote:

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I suspect we will not ever need to have a backup with the solid state one. Age is a big factor in many electronics as much as mileage.

Wishful thinking! There have been reports of failures. Once the original relay is re-soldered properly, it rarely fails.

MikeD930 · MikeD930's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by mysocal911

There have been reports of failures. Once the original relay is re-soldered properly, it rarely fails.

Are saying that there have been failures with these solid state DME relays?

Ralph3. · Ralph3.'s Garage

Bought mine in 2017, no issues yet.

mysocal911 · 03-25-2022, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeD930

Are saying that there have been failures with these solid state DME relays?

Yes, it's been reported here on Pelican Parts. Given the large number of parts used in solid state relay versus the original DME relay (3 parts), one would expect such.

Ironman88 · 03-25-2022, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mysocal911

Yes, it's been reported here on Pelican Parts. Given the large number of parts used in solid state relay versus the original DME relay (3 parts), one would expect such.

Interesting to read here of solid state DME relay failures and that they were reported here on Pelican Parts.

mysocal911 - perhaps you'll be kind enough to post some links to those reported failures here in this thread. I'm sure folks will appreciate seeing the facts on that...

mysocal911 · 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironman88

Interesting to read here of solid state DME relay failures and that they were reported here on Pelican Parts.

mysocal911 - perhaps you'll be kind enough to post some links to those reported failures here in this thread. I'm sure folks will appreciate seeing the facts on that...

https://forums.tipec.net/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=24561

https://rennlist.com/forums/993-forum/1252608-focus-9-tech-solid-state-dme-relay.html

Always keep a spare relay in the glove box! It's a cheap safety item like fuses, flares, and jumper cables.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

No electronic part is perfect and never going to fail. I had an iPhone that suddenly the microphone stopped working. It was out of warranty and I had to replace it with a newer one.