"radiator cooling "Fan Control Module"/relay

MB

MEMBER
FORD ESCORT

1996 Ford Escort LX 1.9L, over 100k miles, manual trans, frnt wheel drive.

Central AZ car, in summer. NAPA-certified shop cannot locate the correct "FCM" aka 'radiator fan relay', and I cannot find an exact replacement online despite 3 days of searches. The closest I have found (image attached - black in color only) is part Part RY375 at http://www.smpcorp.com/web_app/catalog/publiccatalog.asp, ("RELAY - HVAC BLOWER MOTOR" at rockauto.com) but it does NOT have the correct blade/prong alignment. Part via NAPA catalog is not the right one, either, and I find no pertinent lists on sites for Bosch or many other part supplier websites.

Ford entities contacted by my mechanic refused to give him the orig OEM part number, and would only tell him that what we need "has been discontinued".

Pictures of the fried, Imasen(tm) 5-blade part marked on exterior housing "DC12V10A" (followed by "6A 11") FCM/relay I need are attached. (Black plastic outter housing w/white lettering, blue plastic inner body, 5 blades shown in upshot.)

I have been unable to locate ANYthing w/the correct blade alignment (two rows, three prong on the bottom and two on the top, 1 in each left and right corners) at all, much less one that matches the other specs.

I really need an alternative to having a used/salvaged part installed, as AZ summer weather allows NO margin for error and the car quickly overheats w/o the radiator cooling fan being operational.

The fan motor is temporarily 'jump wired' now so that it runs constantly and one speed - which seems to be playing games w/the AC's ability to produce cool air after just 2 miles of operation. AC and related systems have already been checked out by my shop. We don't believe that any other part is failing so as to cause the initial problem (FCM failure) and fan is operational w/temporary 'jump wiring' - but just not w/OEM variable speeds due to no 'relay'/FCM being in line.

I would really appreciate any assistance you can offer in finding an appropriate replacement part, OEM number info, and/or likely sources for alternate part which will actually work and match the DC/Amp/blade/blade-alignment requirements.

NAPA shop has checked all other related parts and systems, including engine compartment fuse box, fan motor itself, etc. Since the fan DOES run while 'jump wired', and will NOT do so w/the fried part installed or any other supposedly alternate part installed, we do not suspect any problem w/the fan motor itself.

Your help in finding the part I need or a source for it would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

(donation confirmation 67M52013MC6565908)

2 Replies

MB

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I have saved the diagram to my harddrive and will open it in an image viewer which can enlarge and print it - I will be able to see it better that way and can take it to the mechanics if need be.

The 'relay' I was given (which I asked for to help w/my search) was already "apart" when given to me.

I would tend to think it has suffered some kind of meltdown. The blue plastic 'inner box' from which the blades protrude shows signs of heat damage and melted plastic at the base of 2 of the blades. The defamation of the plastic partially obscures the tiny alpha characters located at the near the base of the blades/prongs.

There is also discoloration of a couple of the blades which looks like the effect of heat upon metal, and what looks like corrosion at the base of at least 2 of the blades themselves.

It was my understanding that their test tools indicated the part they removed was not functioning, aka 'fried'.

While I was not out in the work area the whole time, I did see them check the fuse and relay box in the engine compartment, and remove the air filter box, etc, to get down underneath in that area where the now-removed 'relay' was located. From your description, it would seem that the 'fried' 'relay' may be the low speed relay.

I will be calling my shop tommorrow (Tuesday) and I will tell him, "the FORD basic part # for all three relays is 14N089 and is available at ALL Ford dealerships."

I was out there for only part of the time while they were installing the 'jump wire', so I didn't get a clear look at exactly what method was employed. What did see was them using a metal wire w/light blue outter insulation and it looked like it had uninsulated "loop" ends. I can ask them Tuesday/tommorrow to describe to me what they did, exactly, regarding the jump wire.

Maybe I'll get lucky and his call to a local Ford dealership for the part number you gave me, 14N089 for all three relays, will results in the needed relay being made available. ;)

If I understand correctly what they are telling me at the shop, the fried relay I was given is the cause of the fan motor NOT initiating or running at all. I will not be surprised, though, if more than one relay needs replaced for the system to work as OEM intended.

Oh, I do remember seeing them using some kind of test light, checking many places including the areas underneath the air filter box and such.

I will get back to you sometime Tuesday/tommorrow with more info!
Thank you so much!
M