Dodge

Ignition Relay

John Davis is an expert automotive writer and former automotive mechanic. John's work spans multiple categories, and he relishes the opportunity to research a new subject and expand his area of expertise and industry knowledge. To date, John has written more than 200 articles covering car maintenance and care, car advice, how-to guides, and more. 

Prior to joining Jerry’s editorial team, John worked as a mechanic and freelance writer, creating content for clients including HotCars and SetPower.

John Davis is an expert automotive writer and former automotive mechanic. John has written over 200 articles on car maintenance and care.

Certified mechanic with 10+ years of experience

John Davis

Jessica Barrett is a senior insurance writer and editor with 10 years of experience in the automotive and travel industries. A specialist in car insurance, car loans, and car ownership, Jessica’s mission is to create comprehensive content that car owners can use to manage their costs and improve their lives. As a managing editor for a team of writers and insurance specialists, Jessica has edited over 2,000 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from local insurance shopping tips to refinancing car loans with bad credit. 

Before joining Jerry as a senior content editor in 2021, Jessica created visual content for clients such as Expedia, Vivid Seats, Budget Direct Car Insurance, Angie’s List, and HomeAdvisor. Her content was published in Business Insider, Forbes, Apartment Therapy, and the BBC.

Jessica Barrett is a Senior Insurance Editor dedicated to creating content that helps car owners become informed in insurance and other car related topics. As a managing editor, Jessica draws on 10 years of experience in the travel industry, where she created visual content for high-profile clients like Expedia and HomeAdvisor.

Jessica Barrett

Kathleen Flear is an expert insurance writer and editor who heads up Jerry’s editorial team as director of content. Kathleen empowers drivers to make smart car ownership decisions through  best-in-class articles on insurance, loans, and maintenance. Prior to joining Jerry in 2021, Kathleen served as managing editor for a team of SEO content marketing professionals at Article-Writing.co and worked as a freelance writer and editor for a range of digital publications, including Chicago Literati magazine and Golden Words. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Queen’s University, and a master’s degree in creative writing and fiction from Sierra Nevada University. 

Kathleen Flear is Jerry’s Director of Content. As a seasoned insurance editor with over seven years of professional writing experience, Kathleen leads the editorial team in creating accessible, comprehensive content designed to help car owners manage their costs and weather the chaos of insurance, loans, and maintenance

Kathleen Flear

*The price information provided on our car repair webpages is intended for general informational purposes only. Actual prices for car repair services may vary based on various factors, including but not limited to the make and model of your vehicle, the extent of repair required, and the prevailing market conditions. All prices for real repair shops are estimations based on our research only. Therefore, the prices listed on our webpages should not be considered as final quotes or binding offers.

page description

page title

CarMakeName

ignition relay replacement? Use Jerry’s GarageGuard to get a fair cost estimate for your ignition relay replacement.

Senior Car & Insurance Editor

Director of Content

 Ignition Relay Replacement Cost Estimate

Jerry

averageTotalCostOfCarRepairService

averagePartsCostOfCarRepairService

averageLaborCostOfCarRepairService

 for labor. The exact price will depend on your vehicle’s year and model.

The total parts cost includes a new ignition relay but may extend to a replacement ignition switch, control module, or car battery as well. As for the labor costs, it takes around 

averageLaborTimeOfCarRepairService

 hours for a certified mechanic to inspect your vehicle, diagnose the problem, and complete an ignition relay replacement.

Here’s how much you’ll pay to replace an ignition relay in your 

Repair Table 1 Make

PrimaryDefault

 ignition relay replacement cost estimate by location

It's important to remember that the price of repairs can depend heavily on your location. Factors such as the cost of living and local competition can influence the prices of car repair services. Luckily, Jerry experts contacted 2500+ real repair shops across hundreds of cities in the US to understand how much 

 repairs cost in different cities. We’ve used that data to give thousands of drives like you fair price estimates for their 

 ignition relay repair. Here’s what we estimated the fair price our 

 drivers pay depending on where they live:

Repair Table 2 Make City

Deciding on a local repair shop often feels like making a big decision on too little information. Are the prices fair? Are the mechanics trustworthy? 

 puts the power back in your hands by giving you detailed fair price estimates for over 2,500 vetted auto repair shops across the country. 

With Jerry's GarageGuard™, you can see real hourly labor rates, diagnostics fees, and verified user reviews. Everything you love about Jerry—but for car repairs. Download the app to compare prices from vetted businesses like the ones below.

 ignition relay replacement requires confidence in dealing with car electronics, particularly the ignition system. 

Don’t underestimate the risk and complexity involved in working with batteries; our explanations are pretty simplified. 

the starter relay by connecting a multimeter to a car battery terminal and measuring the current

the mounting screws, cables, and wires of the old external relay and remove it from the fender or firewall

the cables, motor housing, wires, and bolts securing the internal relay to the starter motor

the new ignition relay, either external or internal, and replace the mounting equipment

Because an ignition relay is crucial to maintaining a complete ignition circuit, a bad ignition relay in your 

 can cause a host of ignition, engine, and power issues. Neglecting a fix could mean:

The starter could get stuck ON, causing the starter motor (which kicks the engine awake and then is supposed to shut off) to stay on and wear out

The ignition relay keeps drawing from the car battery and runs it down

More importantly, a failing starter relay could cause a sudden loss of power in the engine. Seek a fix immediately before your safety is threatened.

An ignition relay replacement targets the electronic component that activates your vehicle’s ignition system. Faulty relays can affect your car battery’s lifespan and engine efficiency. Since relays can’t be repaired, the old starter relay must be replaced with a new one.

What are the symptoms of a bad ignition relay?

The most common symptoms of a bad ignition relay are related to power, engine efficiency, and starting your car. Among other issues, you might notice:

The starter motor is supposed to shut off when the main engine wakes up, but if the starter relay is stuck closed, the motor won’t take a break.

A damaged relay struggling to complete the ignition circuit will produce a clicking noise as the current sparks and sputters.

If you have to jump-start your car in the mornings, it could be because the starter relay is stuck in the ON position and draining amps overnight.

Your car won’t start or starts inconsistently: 

A completely failed ignition relay will leave you without the means to close the ignition system circuit and start your car.

The ignition system doesn’t just start the car but also controls the ignition of fuel in the engine cylinders. A faulty relay could cut off the electrical spark that fires the engine, causing a sudden loss of power.

If you notice that your vehicle is making odd noises, experiencing starting issues, or suffering sudden power losses, you might need to replace the ignition relay.

The ignition relay is intended to last the life of your car, but heat, vibration, and power surges (or shorts) can shorten its lifespan. 

Often, a bad starter relay can be the fault of another failed piece. For example, if the relay is knocked slightly out of place, the small gap will cause electricity to continuously arc and melt the plastic.

A starter replay replacement is a moderately challenging DIY job that requires only basic equipment but demands some familiarity with electronics and your vehicle’s ignition system. 

Depending on your vehicle model, you could have an internal or external ignition relay, which changes the installation location. Whatever you do, don’t work on your car’s ignition without disconnecting the battery first.

ignition relay - Will my car start with a bad relay?

ignition relay - Can a bad relay drain your battery?

ignition relay - What causes an ignition relay to fail?

Ignition Relay General FAQ

What parts do you need for an ignition relay replacement for your 

There are three broad categories of ignition systems: 

Conventional (or “contact breaker” or “breaker point”) ignition system

Ignition control modules have been gradually phased out, but they’re still found in many vehicles from the early 2000s.

Here are the major parts of the electronic ignition system and what they do:

completes the circuit and fires up the engine when you turn the key or push the ignition switch. Hitting the ignition switch again will interrupt the electrical system and shut down the engine. Like a failing ignition relay, a bad ignition switch can prevent your car from starting.

is the component that physically completes the circuit when it receives the signal from the ignition switch. It’s a small plastic box with several metal prongs.

supplies the ignition coils with a low-voltage current once the circuit is completed.

transform the 12-volt current of the car battery into 60-120,000 volts of raw power.

pass the voltage created by the ignition coils and timed by the distributor caps to the spark plugs.

 shoot a high-voltage bolt of power across a small gap in each of your vehicle engine’s cylinders, igniting the mixture of air and fuel inside at just the right time. These electrical explosions bring your car’s engine to life like a mechanical Frankenstein.

Some popular brands for ignition relay parts include Bosch, Denso and ACDelco, which you can purchase from local parts stores such as AutoZone and NAPA Auto Parts, or from online retailers such as Amazon and Summit Racing. 

You might require a new ignition relay, switch, or coil to complete repairs to your vehicle’s ignition system.

Car Insurance

Home & Renters Insurance

Car Loan

Car Repair Estimates

Read Car Content

Jerry Data & Research

Dodge
Ignition Relay Replacement Cost Estimate

Customer Service:

Media Inquiry:

License Information: