# Ford Escort '97

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-escort-97/49569>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** escort, airconditioning, ford, fans\
**Created:** [May 29, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-escort-97/49569 "2010-05-29T18:02:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jmnew51](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/22d042/32.png) [@jmnew51](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jmnew51)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-escort-97/49569/1 "2010-05-29T18:02:15Z")

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Hello,  
  
 I have a '97 ford escort. Every now and then the radiator cooling fan and A/C compressor kick off at exactly the same time and the engine overheats, sometimes to the point where I have to stop and let the engine rest a while before I start it up and go again. It seems to do it in warm weather more than in cold weather. (Or maybe it does do it in cool weather, but I just don’t notice the engine overheating.)  
  
 Anyway I’ve had this one relay replaced several times. The mechanic citing that the relay was the cause, but the problem persists. I just had the problem again and took it to a new mechanic and he said the same relay was the problem again!! I decided not to go ahead and change it again as this relay plus labor is about $150.00. Can anyone help me pinpoint the cause of the real problem? I have a wedding to go to in early July and need to have this cart in tip-top shape for this trip, because it is a 400 mile trip.  
  
 Thank you  
  
 Jim

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**Author:** ![ignoramus9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@ignoramus9](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ignoramus9)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-escort-97/49569/2 "2010-05-29T18:09:03Z")

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I cant really help except to say that you need to find out why the relay keeps failing. Some parts are badly designed, but sometimes there is a wiring problem that will cause a part to fail repeatedly. Test the resistance to the ground lead from the relay and see if it is high, as that would indicate a poor circuit, which could cause the relay to fail.

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**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-escort-97/49569/3 "2010-05-29T21:43:23Z")

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ignoramus9 is right. The relay might be bad - again - but that is the thing about a failed relay. Sometimes they do just fail. But very often the relay is killed by a wiring fault. This seems almost certain in your case. Replacing the relay is sort of like taking pain killers for a broken leg - it might cover up the real problem for a little while but fails to actually treat it.

Someone has to check out the whole circuit.