Why would a relay cause the air conditioner to not work in your 1999 escort zx2?
On vehicles that are equipped with a RELAY for the A/C system. You will find that if you have a faulty RELAY that the A/C sytem will not work. This is because the relay acts as a switch to supply power to the sytem when the switch is engaged. When one goes bad it could be broked, burt or in most cases stuck in the closed position.