Playing with the cooling fan and I realized the relay can be put in the fuse block in 2 different directions. The relay does have a notched corner and I believe it was pointing towards the passenger seat, but realized there is not any sort of a key or mark as to which way it goes. The manual I have shows the fuse block but the 2 posts for the wires are on opposite sides, mine has them on the same side.(??) I have a 2006 HHR LT if that helps. I would guess if it is reversed, the coil and contacts would be backwards and the fan obviously wouldn't function.

any help would be appreciated.

 

I think it was upside down. I have it so the notch points to the drivers side front bumper. I know there was power on the drivers side of the socket and I think that is where the pins marked 30 and 85 go to. Right??

 

Doesn't matter; it is DC. As long as 1 side is ground and the other is pos. There is usually a diagram on the relay showing what pin is what. 5 pin relays are keyed, because it matters if it is N.O or N.C. not 4 pin they are usually N.O. unless otherwise noted. (Normally Open/ Normally Closed)

 

the coil is on one set of pins, the contacts are on the other. having it upside down puts the coil where the contacts go and it would never either turn on or shut off..

 

85 & 86 are the coil. 30 & 87 are the contacts.

 

Yes and thus my question, do the contacts go towards the bumper, or the windshield?? the relay will go in either way. There is a notch on one corner, does it face to the front of the car, or to the back?

I can only guess to match the other 4 pin relays and put the notch towards the front of the car. the 5 pin relay goes the other way with the notch towards the rear of the car. According to the wiring diagram I have, power is on 30 and 85, which puts power at the plug on the right side, and the corresponding 86 and 87 on the opposite corners from the power. If it is in 180 degrees off, the coil would be on the wrong circuit, as would the contacts. .

 

Knowing what the pins do provides information on how to test the socket with a test light or VOM.

 

If two diagonally opposed pins connect the coil and the other two connect the contact, it will make no difference how you plug it in. That is surely why plugging it in either way is possible.

 

I would have to disagree, but whatever. I'll figure this one out myself.

 

I don’t even know what the part number is, so I’m not saying I know what the thing looks like inside, but if it looks like this, there is nothing to disagree with. If you rotate it 180 degrees it does the exact same thing. Good luck.