jeff,
I'm not sure exactly what it does, maybe it's just a little box full of
magic. I had the same symptoms with mine, replaced it and all was well. It
was only a couple bucks, pretty common in a lot of applications. I think
it's also known as an x-relay.
Good luck,
Don
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeffrey R <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2001 5:07 PM
Subject: Load Reduction Relay: what's it do?

> Two questions please:
>
> Part Number: 171 937 503
>
> 1.What does the Load Reduction Relay do? (It's mounted on top of the fuse
> box)
>
> 2. It seems mine is bad. It has to be shaken a bit to make it work
sometimes
> and the connection of the four wires to it seem good so I'm not blaming
them
> (even just cleaned the contacts and all). For example the windshield
wipers
> won't work--jiggle the yellow and black wire coming off the relay and the
> wipers come on. Also it would SEEM the relay stays engaged after the
engine
> is turned off. I would think this is not normal. I'm basing that
assumption
> on the fact that the rear heater fan and sometimes the windshield wipers
will
> run after the engine is shut off--then after a minute or so they'll shut
off.
> For better or worse I've opened the relay to look at it's innards. And of
> course now that I have it open it works correctly--if in fact it was ever
to
> blame. Maybe just enough josteling to have it work for a while? So the
> question:
>
> Does this relay simply disengage power to rear heater fan and wipers and
the
> like when the starter motor is engaged and then complete the current to
> accessories when the engine is running and then cut off the circuit when
the
> key is shut off? Or is there more? And might I get away with replacing the
> relay or is it something else down the line that would cause it to
> malfunction? (Wires from the load reduction relay seem to also go to the
A/C
> relays or maybe aftermarket cruise control relays among other things.
> Whatever the case those relays (A/C or cruise control) will click on and
off
> when the key is ON and the load reduction relay is jiggled slightly.
>
> Any help will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> Jeff
> 83.5 Westy
> LA,CA
>