About every year and a half to 2 years, I get the SES light. Every time it's code 36. The MAF burnoff relay has crapped out. So I dig a replacement relay out of my parts stash, put it in, and the code clears. I sort of expect this to happen, it's done this as long as I've owned the car, which I'm the original owner,

Do you believe it, I carry a spare MAF relay and nut driver in the glove box so I can change it wherever I am when it throws the code?

Anybody care to take a guess as to why this relay fails every 2 years or so? Who makes the BEST replacement relays for this thing?

GM used the same relay for the MAF power, MAF burnoff, and both radiator fans.

 

You must have one mean high current burnoff circuit. My relay is original from '86. At least you've identified the problem. Have you opened the failed relays to determine if the failure is a contact problem or coil problem?

 

Yo Vad, no I haven't cut open a failed relay to see what's wrong, but that is an excellent suggestion. I think I'll dig the thing out of the garbage can and get the Dremel running and see WTF is wrong with the thing. I guess I should just de-lid the thing, like cutting open an oil filter.

Any idea who makes the most rugged relay? I'd like to buy one and have it go longer than 2 years. I could cut the thing open and use the base as a connector for the car's harness, and wire in a big *** kicker relay. Like a 50 Amp unit. Mercury wetted contacts!