Relay hot to the touch

[cjoenck]

I was in the process of diagnosing yet another oil cooler issue and noticed that:

- my relay R44 is missing - unrelated but annoying and expensive
- the electric window relay is hot to the touch, I mean really hot.

Is this a symptom of imminent failure? Should this relay be hot? I also noticed that the ABS relay is warm but not as hot as the electric window relay.

Thanks

Chris

[gizmofixer]

Your overheating window relay indicates either a failing relay or an excessive draw by one or both of the window motors. These relays can get warm but should not be HOT.
As always check all connections and terminals at the relay and the motors for tightness and corrosion as an increased circuit resistance can cause the same condition.
My windows were binding in their tracks and causing the motors to strain, a good lubing of the tracks and the regulator solved the issue and made them run faster!

[cjoenck]

Thanks Paul. The relay is hot even when windows have not been moved so a new relay has been ordered. I will still follow your suggestion and recondition the window tracks.

Thanks

Chris