Mitsubishi Repair: relays under hood, electrical system, relays

Question
I just asked a question about the fuses and electrical system,
you keep talking about replacing relays, but how do you know when they are bad?
thanks

Answer
Amber, use a flashlight, either look closely at the relay as it sits in the car or remove it to check it out. But you will have to look at it, it has a (how to explain this to you, so you will understand) line of steel that runs from two points. That line must be there, no breaks in it. If there is a break the relay is bad. You would be able to see it has been burnt, well blown. Sometimes they have a bit of brown on them from the power that zipped through them and so broke that piece of steel. I hope you can understand this. ~Linda~