Trouble getting to the main relay

[Scotty Jay]

I got a new main relay to replace one that I suspect is bad. Unfortunately I am nowhere even close to being able to get the old one out.

Method tried... result:

1. Using a flat head to pull the innards out of the mounted casing... i can only get one hand in at a time and am unable to free the innards.
2. Using a ratchet to remove the mounting bolt... can't connect the ratchet due to the connecting wires in the way
3. Removing the connecting wires... can only get my fingertips (no thumb) on the connection, unable to disconnect
4. Removing the cruise control brain... disconnected one bolt, but it still seems to be attached and i can't see any other bolts to free it.
5. Removing the underside of the dash... found two bolts to remove it, but it still seems pretty solidly connected to the upper dash and I can't see how.

This is really pissing me off. People talk about fixing or replacing their main relay here and mention it's tough to get to, but somehow they always get it out. I have normal sized hands, but there is absolutely no way getting this thing out is possible with the space I am working with.

[A18A]

leave the old one there and pull the plug out and plug new one in and zip tie it to something so it's out of the way

[Dr_Snooz]

It's uniquely hard to reach. I used a combination of swivel ratchet adapters, super long extensions, physical contortions and profuse, uncontrollable swearing to get it out. Like mentioned above, I left the new one dangling.

[derolph]

I did mine the easy way, I had a repair shop do it. They charged $56 in labor. I provided the part.

[Dr_Snooz]

Pfft. Lazy.

[derolph]

Pfft. Lazy.

Ha! Actually, I made an attempt to do it before deciding to have a shop do it. I wasn't sure exactly where to look to find the main relay. And, since I wasn't seeing it or wasn't sure I was looking at the right thing, I decided having someone else do it would probably be the best way to get it replaced.

[Dr_Snooz]

I'm just jealous. When I take my stuff to the shop, they return it without finding anything. They always find the bill, of course, just not the problem.