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I heard a buzzing coming from under the hood while the car was turned off - so I investigated. Turns out the buzzing is coming from the fuse box area by the battery.

Got out my Haynes and Ford Manuals and they say it is the "AC Clutch Relay" (it's a Yellow square relay with four connectors on the bottom of it).

I pulled it out and the buzzing stops. I switched it out with the one for the starter and it does the same thing. (They are alike). When I have it pulled out the AC will not come on - so I know this controls the clutch and compressor.

I can start the car - the buzzing seems to stop.
I can run the AC and it seems fine.

I turn the car off - the buzzing starts in again.
It sounds and feelslike an electric razor.

Again, the car is off and it is doing this.

I went to AutoZone and they don't evern carry this part. The guy told me he thinks it is the clutch sticking on sending a signal to this relay. Could this be the problem? A new clutch is around $100.00.

Any ideas?

Help please...

Last edited by Eurythmian66; 05/09/05 05:11 AM.

'96 Oxford White Mercury Mystique "Spree" 2.5L V6, 4 speed ATX Bought it new. Have had a million problems with it... but when it runs it's fun to drive. Over 100K miles so far and still going (fingers crossed). At least it still looks new!
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I am taking it to a mechanic in the morning. A guy who I trust. He is Ford Certified so I know he knows what he is doing. His prices are a bunch cheaper and he does great work.

I would just like to be able tell him something (anything).
Can anyone help me out?



'96 Oxford White Mercury Mystique "Spree" 2.5L V6, 4 speed ATX Bought it new. Have had a million problems with it... but when it runs it's fun to drive. Over 100K miles so far and still going (fingers crossed). At least it still looks new!
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I can assure you that the nitwit at the AutoZone is wrong, it is not a faulty A/C compressor clutch.

I would suspect a shorted PCM power relay or a faulty ignition switch.

Something is providing power to that relay when it shouldn't. If your mechanic has the EVTM and understands how the circuit works, he should have no problem locating the source of the stray voltage (unless it's due to a faulty wiring harness, then all bets are off).

You can do some more diagnostic work before taking it in.

One at a time, pull the WOT relay, PCM Power relay, F3, and F4 from the underhood fusebox. Let me know which, if any, stop the buzzing upon removal.

Steve


98 Contour SE Sport 2.5 Duratec ATX The wifey's car 89 Taurus SHO - 246K miles 94 SHO ATX - 190K 1997 F-150 5.4L ATX - The Workhorse 150K. ANY THREAD WITH "OMG" or "WTF" ETC IN THE TITLE WILL BE IGNORED!
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I know which one is the PCM Relay (R11 - according to the FORD manual). But I don't see anything called WOT, F3 or F4. Which one in the FORD Manual is that?

I'll keep looking - and pull out the PCM to see it that stops the buzzing.

I'll let you know.



'96 Oxford White Mercury Mystique "Spree" 2.5L V6, 4 speed ATX Bought it new. Have had a million problems with it... but when it runs it's fun to drive. Over 100K miles so far and still going (fingers crossed). At least it still looks new!
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OK, I figured out what WOT stands for. (WIDE OPEN THROTTLE - R3).

I pulled the PCM and the buzzing continued. I then started pulling the rest one at a time. R3 stopped the buzzing. I looked it up and the WOT Blue R3 relay is causing it.

What does this mean and what is the fix?



'96 Oxford White Mercury Mystique "Spree" 2.5L V6, 4 speed ATX Bought it new. Have had a million problems with it... but when it runs it's fun to drive. Over 100K miles so far and still going (fingers crossed). At least it still looks new!
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I'll wait to hear from you before I take it up to my mechanic...

I hope you respond soon.


'96 Oxford White Mercury Mystique "Spree" 2.5L V6, 4 speed ATX Bought it new. Have had a million problems with it... but when it runs it's fun to drive. Over 100K miles so far and still going (fingers crossed). At least it still looks new!
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I took my Mystake to my mechanic friend. He says it's the Rely that feeds the signal to this Relay (the WOT Relay - or it's the Fuse/Relay box itself that needs to be replaced. He says the wires can melt or the connectors can go bad. (around $160?)

He has done this at least five times on Contours in the past year. He tells me they are just prone to these problems and a million more - and has never heard a good thing about these cars. I should get rid of it ASAP.

My reply, tell me something I don't know.

So, is he correct about this problem? Is he pointed in the right direction?



'96 Oxford White Mercury Mystique "Spree" 2.5L V6, 4 speed ATX Bought it new. Have had a million problems with it... but when it runs it's fun to drive. Over 100K miles so far and still going (fingers crossed). At least it still looks new!
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I think what Steve is suggesting, and your recent troubleshooting reveals, is this:

The A/C WOT Relay is made to cut off the A/C clutch whenever you go WOT (to disable the A/C and free up some more horsepower when you obviously are demanding for it...) You already know that the WOT relay is the "t" shaped relay.

That relay is connected to your A/C clutch relay via one of the four prongs, and comes in to the bottom of the fuse holder on a violet wire. (the wires going to the "A/C clutch relay" fuse holder slot. When you insert your A/C clutch relay in to the four holes, the OTHER side of those holes have these wires connected to them: You should have a violet/blue(ac signal being passed, a violet black(A/C signal source)the violet I mentioned(AC WOT signal), and a ground.



You've either got a faulty WOT relay
OR
the relay is working fine, and you have stray voltage being passed to the WOT relay causing it to trigger (knicked hot wire touching the relay's casing, or signal input [soldered connector] etc, etc..)
OR
You have a faulty PCM output, telling the relay you ARE at WOT, when in fact you aren't.


Steve can come in here to give more followup shortly, I am sure.


Ray



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Thanks - I am going to print this out and give it to my mechanic. So, if Steve or anyone else can add to this - that would be great!

Thanks again.


'96 Oxford White Mercury Mystique "Spree" 2.5L V6, 4 speed ATX Bought it new. Have had a million problems with it... but when it runs it's fun to drive. Over 100K miles so far and still going (fingers crossed). At least it still looks new!
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Why is it... five different FORD dealerships tell me this little relay is five different prices? I have come upon this before with everything else I have replaced on my Mercury Mystake.

The highest being Don Davis Lincoln Mercury here in Arlington Texas.
Well, I guess that's to be expected... they charge more for everything they do.

Texan Ford = 14.68

Nicholes Ford = 19.71

Grand Prairie Ford = 17.32

Five Star Ford = 15.68

Don Davis Lincoln Mercury = 26.79


'96 Oxford White Mercury Mystique "Spree" 2.5L V6, 4 speed ATX Bought it new. Have had a million problems with it... but when it runs it's fun to drive. Over 100K miles so far and still going (fingers crossed). At least it still looks new!
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