1997 Escort Air Conditioning

[hflyboy]

I read the posts regarding Ford Escort CCRM but I can't find the darn thing on my friend's 1997 Escort. I can't find anything I can identify as an old fashioned A/C clutch control relay, either! The clutch will engage if jumpered with battery voltage, but with the air conditioning on there is no voltage at the clutch harness connector. There is plenty of refrigerant in the system, and the low pressure cut out has been eliminated as the culprit. The engine cooling fan goes to high when the AC is switched on, so I'm currently thinking it's a CCRM problem (if the 1997 model has one) or an AC clutch relay. Any help will be appreciated!

[supernautical]

I just read on another forum that on the 98 escort zx2 the ccrm is a black box underneath the air cleaner housing.

I'm looking for the location of the a/c relay too, but on a 98 escort sedan.

[hflyboy]

Supernautical,
Yep, the 1997 Escort has a CCRM also known as an IRCM and the air cleaner box has to be removed to see it. I thought I might find a bad solder joint inside, but what I found was a burned and melted relay. I bought a replacement at the local wrecking yard for $35.00 and will install it tomorrow.

[hflyboy]

Hopefully this is the end of this story! The replacement CCRM worked perfectly.