Fuses or relay problem.

[kurkovn2005]

In my fuse box I have one fuse missing. Everything was ok until recently. Now my car does not start unless I put in a fuse into the missing one. When I do there is like sparks. And while the fuse is in the car starts and everything is alright. Then when I stop the car and take out my key, my car does not turn off. I have to pull out the fuse in order to shut it down. I have no idea what is going on If anyone knows, please help me.

[denisond3]

I know there is a relay that is only used during starting. It shuts off the accessories not required for starting - like the heater blower, a.c compressor, rear window heater - and turns them on again when you let the ign. key turn back to the 'run' position. I suspect that relay has gotten stuck or has burnt contacts, and that fuse powers the relay. There is a bank of relays located just above the fuse panel under the dash. In my Jetta I can only get a good look at it if I take out the front seat and lie down to look up. Im sorry I dont know which relay it is though. I have the thick manual by Bentley publishing, and it has several diagrams of the fuses in that relay panel - but none of them exactly match my Jetta; a 1990 w the 1.8L gas engine.

[kurkovn2005]

Thanks though. ya I think it is one of the relays. Does anyone know though which it is. And are these relays expensive? I have one relay in the car that is like taped. I dont know if that is how it should be. It is the longest one out of them all. Man, I think it is the person before me that did so much damage to the car. like They tried to hook up a am and a subwoofer and they did alot of stuff to the fuzz box.

[denisond3]

Im sorry to say that I dont know anything about those relays. Some day I will have to walk into a parts store with one of them, and hope they can match it. If you go to www.rockauto.com, and put in your make, year, and model, then select the engine type/size that you have, you can do a search by typing in the word 'relay' in the box. It will give you highlighted leads to the relays they list for your car. There may be a dozen of them, though some will obviously NOT be the problem ; like the rear window defrost relay. For some of the relays there is a tiny image in the listings, that you can click on to make it bigger. Its some help - but likely not enough.