Your findings noted, opposite to what I expected, and I'm confused.
Possible your latter point maybe the answer. Also possible terminal #s are wrong in '97 and '98 manuals. Volts at terminals 1 and 5 would be of interest, but let me think about this, since I'm only on 1st coffee of the day, and I'll add later today via edit.

Edit:
It would seem that problem is at fuse panel. With relay out terminals 2 & 3 of the relay socket should both have 12 volts to ground. Terminal 5 should have zero volts to ground, and if so then terminal 3 should read 12 volts to terminal 5. Relay in, pull fuse, ignition on, defrost switch pushed relay should click and then volts to ground from one of the fuse socket terminals should be 12 volts.
There have been several cases of loose connections at fuse panel and wiggling the connectors seems to be the only method of finding.

Last edited by horseydug; 04/22/03 02:43 PM.

98 Mystique LS v6 atx 163,000km 97 Contour LX v6 atx 163,000km