1997 Crown Vic LX A/C problems

Mine quit working. Its fully charged, the compressor works. When i hit the AC button (digital dash) the compressor clutch doesnt engage. Where should i start.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Fuse, relay, wiring, switch

relay = good.
fuse = good.

Im guessing the switch is good, because the AC light turns off and on when you hit the button, it just doesnt seem to signal the compressor.

I tried to bypass the pressure safety switch to see if its bad but im not sure if i did it right.

Do you know of any books that would have a detailed schematic?

I would just replace each piece one by one from salvage but finding a digital dash in a junk yard isnt happening.

Would a towncar or some other ford have the same control panel?

Mine quit working. Its fully charged, the compressor works. When i hit the AC button (digital dash) the compressor clutch doesnt engage. Where should i start.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.


This confuses me after reading a little closer. How do you know the compressor works if the clutch is not engaging? I have been doing this for over 40 years and can't tell if the compressor works without the clutch turning the compressor. You can check for current at the clutch, then go back to the low pressure switch, then to the relay. Somewhere there should be current and not at the next place. Then you will find where the problem is. Sorry there is not a magic bullet, just a lot of time consuming tests on the wiring and componets in the system.
My guess a Grand Marquis control head would be the same part and should work.

When it stopped working i pulled the plug going into the compressor and found no voltage. This to me means the problem isnt the compressor.

Your right, its going to take some digging around to find the problem.

Thanks for the time and info, once i figure it out i will post the results on this thread.

Lately, I have been having some issues with my A/C. When I turn the switch on I can here the compressor turn on but the blower does not.

I am assuming that this might be a fuse issue, but I am not sure.

I looked at the fuses but don’t really know what I am looking for in terms of a good fuse and one that has blown.

I tried to pull one of the fuses to take a look but would not come free…I didn’t want to force it since it could have broken.

Any advice would be very helpful.

Thank you in advance.

Zach :banghead: