95 Escort overheating..... - Page 2

david-dimick · #16 08-14-2006, 04:26 PM

the 40amp cooling fan relay in the engine fuse box is the one that is clicking over when the car is started and then clicking back when i turn off the ignition...

mightymoose_22 · #17 08-14-2006, 04:54 PM

Give this a try.... don't worry too much about retrieving codes since your light isn't on (is it?)

http://www.corral.net/tech/maintenance/eecivtest.html

When this test starts the fan should operate for a few seconds at low speed then a few at high.

If one works and not the other... suspect the appropriate relay. If both work, then you can troubleshoot wiring between your AC button and the high speed relay.

If neither works, and you are sure your relays are good, consider replacing the relay in the fuse box.

Some people eventually get fed up with this and install a toggle switch. Though that works, it is better to work through it.

Personally, though you already tested it, I suspect the low speed relay.
When your AC is on, test the light green wire coming in to the low speed relay for power. If power is there, test the yellow wire that goes to the fan for power... if it is not there, the relay is bad. If the light gree wire had no power, test the light green/ black wire going in to the high seed relay. If power is there, the high speed relay is bad. If there is no power there, go back to the engine fuse box.

I believe what you see clicking over in there is the ignition relay... I think the cooling fan fuse is part of the ignition relay... would have to go pop the hood to be sure though.

Just be systematic... either trace the power forward to see where it is lost of trace it backwards to see where it is found.

david-dimick · #18 08-14-2006, 05:45 PM

well since my VM is digital and not analog i tried the relay power test.... after plugging the red line into the light green wire on the low speed and the black grounded to the chasis with the a/c on and the car running it registered 0.03v, with the blk line still grounded i put the red line into the lt green/black on the high side and it registered the same. Itried this method with the relays both in and out to the same effect.

bernieb · #19 08-14-2006, 06:10 PM

May have missed something here,lots of good info above ,but bend over left front fender and remove air filter box in front of battery and there is another fan relay mounted to fender wall that will have the color wiring your looking for.Hanes manual doesn't highlight that relay and ford hid it for a reason.

david-dimick · #20 08-14-2006, 06:27 PM

those are the high n low fan relays and if the wiring test posted above is correct which i assume it is... then that means im getting no power there, what tells those two relays to activate the fan? The ECU? The one thing you have to factor in is the a/c blows cold then hot and the cooling fan stopped working all together, doesnt do anything making the car overheat... and this is the key? They both happened at the exact same time. Even with the fan on a toggle the a/c is still acting up when i had the fan hot wired to the battery..... does that sound right?

mightymoose_22 · #21 08-15-2006, 02:42 AM

I wouldn't worry about the AC blowing warm air until you can get it to run... if you get around to testing the AC pressure you can get more info on that problem.

Sounds like you don't have power even reaching the relays... power comes to the relays from the engine fuse box... your ignition relay has a swith that connects power to the fan.

In mine, when I push the AC button it lights up blue... if yours lights up you can feel fairly certain the switch is working right... so basically you have power at the switch and not at the relays... only thing in between is that 40a ignition/cooling fan switch in the engine fuse box.

The computer is a factor too... but I highly doubt a problem with it would be isolated to the fan... and I would expect you to have a check engine light if something was wrong with it too.

david-dimick · #22 08-15-2006, 01:39 PM

Just got back from the salvage yard after pulling all three relays and a ECU.... Plugged in the 20a cooling relay in the engine fuse panel and fan spun for 10 secs or so, turned on the a/c and fan kicked in.. a/c blows ice cold again. Dont know/understand why but this is the same relay which i removed the cover and seen it engage when the car was started... ignition eh? Any way the new relay seems to do the same thing but now the fan works as it should... havnt taken it for a drive yet but everything seems fine. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge (especially you MM), you basically had it right all along, good call.

mightymoose_22 · #23 08-15-2006, 05:09 PM

Good news that the fan is working... but did the car stop overheating?

About the relay... I think it has a couple functions. When you turn the key and give it power those contacts engage, but as you noticed, there are 4-5 pins on the bottom... something within it wasn't working anymore.

Keep those other parts you got handy... you never know when you may need them

david-dimick · #24 08-15-2006, 09:06 PM

Took her for a 45 min drive earlier and the needle didnt get beyond half way, ran the a/c for a while and no problems there either. AdvanceAuto took back the temp sensor i purchased so that basically paid for the gas and cost of the relays and ecu from the salvage yard. Only 74.5K miles on the little gas sipper.... hopefully shes got 75k more! The 1.9 engine dont have alot of horsepower (especially with the a/c running) but it sure does save me some $$ at the pump compared to my maxima with the 6cyl... but thats for another forum i guess..

Thanks again, David

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