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2.

Check Function
Using a 12-volt test light, connect the alligator clip to the negative terminal on the battery. Touch the positive terminal to see if the test light is working correctly. Unplug any relay terminal wiring with the interior car A/C controls in the "off" position. Check all three wires with the test light; with the engine running, the wires should all be inactive. With the engine running, turn the A/C control or switch to "on" at the dashboard. Check the three wires again. The wire from the controls should show "hot," but not the ground or the A/C compressor feed. This test confirms that the interior A/C control switches are functioning. Now plug the relay back in and disconnect the two-wire feed at the A/C compressor connection. One wire should be "hot," if not, the relay is not sending power to the A/C compressor. If it is, then the relay is functioning correctly and the A/C clutch is bad.

Bypass the Relay

3. To bypass the relay, plug the A/C back in. Return to the relay. Make a small 6-inch jumper wire and strip both ends. With the wiring plug still plugged in, touch the jumper wire to the hot side relay lug, from the controls as already identified and from the relay lug that feeds the A/C compressor. This will bypass the relay and engage the A/C compressor and confirm that the relay is defective.