In what part of the circuit is this zener ? Are you sure it's a zener and
not just an ordinary diode ? Have you checked it out of circuit to make sure
that you are not reading across some parallel device ?
The relay might not be closing for one of two reasons. First, that it's
doing its job, and protecting your speakers from a DC offset at the midpoint
of one of the amplifier channels. The first thing that you must do is to
determine if this is the case, by measuring with a multimeter set to a DC
range, at the input side of the relay switching contacts, for each channel.
You should do this with no signal present, and not expect to see more than a
few mV - probably 15 mV maximum.
If there is no offset, then the chances are that the problem is around the
7317 (that's 7317, not 7137 as you stated) protection IC. In my experience,
it is seldom the IC itself which is faulty. Most often, it is one of the
components that defines the delay time before activation of the relay -
about four to six seconds for most amplifiers. The two components involved
are a small electrolytic, and a high-ish value resistor feeding it with
charge current. Either of these components, when faulty, can cause the IC to
malfunction in the way you are experiencing.
see
http://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/86921/TOSHIBA/TA7317P.html
and take a look at the test / application circuit. Look at the components at
pin 8 for instance.
Arfa