Heater/AC fan failure

[tomstrong]

Hello there,

I have a '92 Escort with the following problem:

Heater (AC) fan AND wipers quit at same time. All fuses and circuit breakers are OK. I have a wiring diagram that shows the hot wire for the wipers going through the blower relay, but I cannot find the blower relay. The local Ford dealer is no help. I think it is a relay because the AC/Heater blower intermittantly cut off and on for a day or two before the complete failure. Can anyone help me?

TW

[tomstrong]

Hello Again,

My heater blower and wipers began working again. By jiggling the key in the ignition switch I made them quit again, so EUREKA! The problem is in the ignition switch. I am thinking the contact for sending the "running" signal to the blower relay also activates the wiper relay. Pushing the key deeper into the ignition switch while starting the engine seems to make the wipers and blower work virtually every time. Do I need to replace the ignition switch (a straightforward but labor-intensive procedure), or is it possible that a cleaning and/or reseating of the ignition switch connector might solve the problem? Since the key is quite worn, could having a new key cut help? I am looking for help from anyone who has experienced a similar problem.

[Jet-Lee]

hey there Tom...I haven't experienced your same problem (with an Escort), but I do understand, completely, what you're talking about. I had a similar experience with my '71 Econoline E-100. I tried to clean the ignition, fix it, repair it, whatever I could od to avoid buying a new one...I ended up going to a Kragen and buying a new one. No biggy really. I'd say to just skip any trouble of trying to clean/fix the old one, and go to AutoZone or somewhere and get yourself a new one. Hell, even wire in a failsafe button needed to start it, prevent theft a little more while you're at it.

[tomstrong]

Hello Again,

Having narrowed my '92 Escort (1.9L, A/T)problem down to the ignition switch, let me ask a technical question:

Since I need only to replace the switch, and not the lock, and the switch detaches from the lock-- do I need to remove the steering wheel to change the switch, or can I just remove the steering column covers and detach and unplug the switch? My little Haynes manual says you have to remove the steering wheel to remove the ignition switch, but the photo shows the lock assembly AND switch being removed (by sliding it over the end of the steering shaft).

Thanks,

TW

[Jet-Lee]

Honestly, I would go by the Haynes manual. My van didn't even have the ignition on the column, so that's irrelevant. But I would follow step by step the manual.