Where would you mount three relays and mounts

[moribundman]

... and three fuse holders in this engine compartment?

Ideally everything fits neatly into one small weather-proof box (ca 3"x4"x6"), but I don't see it quite happening. More likely I'll have to use two boxes. Any suggestions?

Peek-a-boo

 

[Shaman]

What are they for? What size fuses? If it's for the headlights, I would mount it in the bottom right of the screen on what looks to be the coolant overflow.

 

[another Todd]

Under the dash?

 

[SHOZ]

I've mounted them in plastic boxes before. Used hot melt to secure them. Keep the brake fluid off them though.

 

[moribundman]

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What are they for? What size fuses? If it's for the headlights, I would mount it in the bottom right of the screen on what looks to be the coolant overflow.

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Headlight relays, 25 AMP fuses.

That tank on the right bottom is the P/S reservoir. There is no space there, because I'd have to install a mounting bracket that would limit access to the headlights and to a bunch of electric connectors.

The coolant reservoir is farther back (see the tank with pink fluid?).

 

[moribundman]

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Under the dash?

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Absolutly not. I want to keep the wires as short as possible and access to the relays as convenient as possible.

 

[moribundman]

The question was "where" to install the boxes.

I realize it seems easier by looking at the picture than when looking at the real thing. There's never enough space, or it's a bad location.

 

[Papa Bear]

How about a pair of acetelyne lamps off a 1903 Winton for your car. But then....where would you mount the gas tank ??

 

[moribundman]

Shouldn't that be in the joke-with-beard section?

 

[another Todd]

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Under the dash?

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Absolutly not. I want to keep the wires as short as possible and access to the relays as convenient as possible.

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I assume short wires are to reduce voltage drop? Easily overcome by larger wire and or quality wire (not kragen, AZ or most other auto parts store wire). Why do you want easy access to the relays? IME they almost never go bad. Unless access to the underside of the dash is impossible or nearly so, it offers advantages. No waterproof box needed. Not in the way of underhood maintenance. Not exposed to underhood heat, to name a few. Wherever you put them, good luck.

 

[Papa Bear]

Mori, I vote with Todd, under the dash. Just run a size larger wire to compensate for the added length. No weather concerns under the dash.

 

[moribundman]

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Why do you want easy access to the relays? IME they almost never go bad.

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I want to be able to restore the OEM wiring easily -- as in 5 minutes. My whole wiring is set up in a way that I can just unplug the relay wiring harness and go back to OEM wires and plugs.

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Unless access to the underside of the dash is impossible or nearly so, it offers advantages.

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Easy access isn't one of those advantages. I don't want to have to remove the dash cover at 3:00 am while twisting my back, lying half on the road during a rainstorm.

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No waterproof box needed.

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Maybe I should check if the relays fit inside the ECU box, which is also under the hood?

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Not in the way of underhood maintenance. Not exposed to underhood heat, to name a few.

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That's why the plenum chamber would be my primary choice. It's "only" a lack of space issue.

 

[moribundman]

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Just run a size larger wire to compensate for the added length

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I'm not going bigger than 12 gauge.

 

[moribundman]

Maybe I should relocate the "pipe bomb" in the plenum chamber to either the engine compartment, or to the driver side. Then I'd have enough space for a small Pelican case right by the battery.

 

[Shaman]

Stick em in a box, throw em down in that space, and then pull them out when you need to work on the headlights. My wiring harness was just wrapped in a rag and shoved behind the battery, never a problem.

 

[moribundman]

If only the space were big enough! And no, rags, duct tape and "throwing in" isn't my sort of thing.

 

[AlfaGuy]

Hella makes an insanely nice plug-n-play mount for 4 standard relays with a nice transparent cover. I believe you can use fused relays and still fit the cover.

You could probably fit it onto the one exposed bit of metal on the false firewall, at 12 o'clock directly behind the intake runners.

 

[Dave H]

If they're for the headlights, why not use the existing relays? Or the space the existing ones are in?

You may also have a couple of open, or not used, spaces in the car's relay box under the hood for accessories you may not have. My Maxima has a space labeled for a clutch and something else, which it doesn't have. I was going to use that space for my air horn relay, but haven't gotten to the dealership to get the relay "base" that snaps into the unused space of the relay box. AutoZone and Advance don't sell the piece I need.

Dave

 

[ikeepmychevytoo]

Sorry, but 3"x4"x6" of space just for three relays and fuses would be a design-approach clash in this car.

How about left to the prop-rod base, underneath the ABS modulator(?) pipes? Find something to elevate them from the surface just enough for dew repelling and make the connections waterproof (with that black goo GM uses). That location is almost splash proof and forget about going "air-tight". (Is it really needed?)

 

[Tosh]

What kind of space is there directly in front of the coolant reservoir above the valve cover? It's hard to tell from one overhead photo.
Hasn't someone on an Audi forum done something similar?