97 Taurus AC problem

[Fliegerbk]

My 97 Taurus SHO ac runs fine untill the compressor clutch opens up. It will not reengage again. I have to shut the engine off wait for app.20 min. After start the engine the same cycle again. I set the temperatur to 60 that keeps the compressor on longer. I jumped the low pressure switch. That lets only the engine idle faster but does not engage the clutch.
Is there a relayfor the clutch, or what turns it on?

[shorod]

Do the cooling fans still run when the A/C clutch should be engaged?

I believe your 1997 still uses a Constant Control Relay Module (CCRM) for the A/C compressor clutch relay. The CCRM will be mounted on the radiator core support. If you don't have the CCRM, there should be a discrete relay in the relay center for the A/C clutch.

You may also want to pull the clutch diode and check it for leakage. I'm not sure how to suggest you do that if you don't have a Super Cricket or similar semiconductor leakage tester.

If the diode and relay are fine, you may have a weak field coil for the compressor that opens up as it gets warm and fails to make connection. Before condemning the coil though, disconnect, clean, and re-seat the connections for the compressor clutch (I know, not fun to get to).

If you have access to a scan tool with the datastream mode, you may want to monitor the A/C Request parameter to make sure the PCM is sending the A/C request to the coil as well.

Good luck!

-Rod

[shorod]

I see you're in Wisconsin. If you're ever in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area with the car and don't yet have the A/C issue figured out, feel free to send me a message. Or, if you get a misfire on yours, I have replacing the rear coils down to a 1 hour job, hood up to hood down with no "extra" parts leftover....

-Rod

[Fliegerbk]

If you talk about the dashboard fan, yes it runs and speed up as the temperatur in the car gets higher (control in Automatic).

I will try the things you mentioned and the get back

[shorod]

Originally Posted by Fliegerbk

If you talk about the dashboard fan, yes it runs and speed up as the temperatur in the car gets higher (control in Automatic).

I will try the things you mentioned and the get back

Nope, the fan I'm referring to is the fan located in the engine compartment behind the radiator. The A/C condensor is located in front of the radiator and the cooling fan (behind the radiator) should turn on any time the A/C compressor is running to both pull air through the condensor for the A/C as well as to keep the increased load on the engine from overheating the engine. If the cooling fan no longer runs when the compressor shuts off, that might indicate that the PCM is no longer commanding the A/C compressor to run rather than the problem being in the relay or clutch.

The fan to circulate air in the cabin is typically referred to as a "blower motor/fan."

-Rod