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More than likely you will have to splice in the new connector, seeing the store sells it also and keeps it in stock. You might want to pull your relay and check the old connector, sometimes they are corroded and not in good shape anyway.
Can you please post a picture of the old relay and existing socket?
Does the socket have a 5th opening, even if empty? Sometimes, the OEM only uses 4 of the 5 prongs on the relay. To save a fraction of a penny per vehicle, for these specific applications they installed special relays that only had 4 prongs. Replacement relays usually had 5 prongs but can generally be used whether the 5th prong is used or not. No point in stocking special 4 prong relays that had limited applications.
Here's a simplified wiring diagram for a (edit: generic) 5 prong relay:
If you wanted to switch power between bulb 1 or 2, you'd use all 5 prongs. If powering only bulb 1, you don't need the prong for bulb 2.
Thanks for the reply.
I really don't want to cut into the wiring harness if I don't have to.
I may check the junk yard and see if I can get a used one first.
So you are saying that a 5 pin relay may work if my connector has a space for the extra pin?
I will try to get some pictures, if I can figure out how to get the pictures from my phone to my computer. The stuff in there is grease from the factory
Last edited by bmwmike; Aug 22, 2025 at 09:59 AM.
Reason: Pictures
Karl can verify, but, I'm guessing it's like the voltage regulator connector on the 2G ALT. The new replacements come with 3 wires, yet my 86 only uses two. The wires are different colors, but I use wired the new connector like the old two and didn't worry about the colors. Left the third wire hanging.
If you can get a relay and plug / pig tail that will work and dont want to cut & splice I hear you and there could be a work around with a little work on your part.
I would clean that grease out so you can see what you are working with.
What you will have to do is remove the wire part out of the plug, not hard to do and they make tools to release the clip holding them in.
I would work with the new plug to remove the wire / clip part. From the relay side the tool is skinny thin blade that you slip between the plug and the wire clip to release the clip and it pulls out.
Now do the same with the truck plug / wires and note where they go and install each wire in the new plug, make sure they lock into place.
Once the wires have been moved over you can install the new relay and if done right it should work.
I had to do they for a aftermarket head light relay kit. The kit in the car used a small hard to find relays and all I could find in the parts stores what the normal large type.
I swapped the wires over to the larger relay plug and all was good again.
As for the tools I bought a kit through Summit Racing years ago when I was doing a different project. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...caAiv8EALw_wcB
Dave ----
What Dave said. I just completed a fuel pump relay plug project doing it as described. Didn't need a special tool. Connectors are easily removed from the plug using a pointed pick.
This is what is commonly available from the store. They have views of the pin orientation. You have to remember you are working on a Ford. They rarely used standard aftermarket components.
UPDATE;
First thank everyone for the help.
I figured out how to test the relay (it does not have any marking on the pins, so it was kind of hit and miss). My test said the relay is working. so I took it to NAPA and we tested it again and compared it to the 5 pin relay they have both work the same way. So I cleaned up the connections and plug it back together and the problem went away. I have let the truck sit a couple of years and now I have problems I did not have before.
Dave G.
In case I do have to change over to the 5 pin relay, I understand what you are saying except , the truck has 4 wires and the 5 pin connector has 5 slots, I assume the 87a pin would not get a wire , but assuming get me in trouble.
This is what is commonly available from the store. They have views of the pin orientation. You have to remember you are working on a Ford. They rarely used standard aftermarket components.
If the fault were to return, it looks like that Autozone relay (with 5 prongs) would work with a little modification. I forgot all about Ford using non-standard relays.
From your earlier message, here's your original 4 prong relay. Note the little index channel at the upper left corner of the image. Not shown, but the socket (part of the truck's wiring) has a matching protrusion:
View rotated 90 degrees
Here's the Autozone 19911VC relay:
Note how it has the 5th (unneeded) prong at the bottom left. Fortunately, the socket on your truck has a blank opening right there.
The only problem is going to be that missing index channel on the replacement relay, because the truck's wiring still has the protrusion. As others have suggested, you could replace the socket to match. It's very easy to release the individual contacts and insert them in the new socket. That way, there's no need to cut and splice the wiring.
Or if you'd rather not touch the truck's wiring, just cut a slot in the corner of the new relay where that protrusion needs to go. It should be easy to do with an Xacto saw or similar. Or you could cut off the protrusion on the truck side, but I'd be more partial to leaving the original wiring alone.
UPDATE;
So I cleaned up the connections and plug it back together and the problem went away. I have let the truck sit a couple of years and now I have problems I did not have before.
mike
Don't lose sight of what just happened here. Replacing the socket doesn't sound like a bad idea if you are having to clean up the socket all the time. If you get yourself a soldering iron and some shrink wrap, you can do a nice job of splicing the new socket in place. You could try replacing the pins into the old relay socket, IF they are compatible and IF the old socket slots are not wore out.
UPDATE;
First thank everyone for the help.
I figured out how to test the relay (it does not have any marking on the pins, so it was kind of hit and miss). My test said the relay is working. so I took it to NAPA and we tested it again and compared it to the 5 pin relay they have both work the same way. So I cleaned up the connections and plug it back together and the problem went away. I have let the truck sit a couple of years and now I have problems I did not have before.
Dave G.
In case I do have to change over to the 5 pin relay, I understand what you are saying except , the truck has 4 wires and the 5 pin connector has 5 slots, I assume the 87a pin would not get a wire , but assuming get me in trouble.
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