Dodge Repair: fan relay: 98 Neon, crankshaft pulley, alternator pulley

Question
Hello,

I'm just wondering if the fan relay on a 98 neon also controls the a/c, and the fuel guage.  They all periodictly work and not work at the same time. Not sure if it's related but the alternator belt keeps slipping off one groove towards the block.  Mechanic put a washer on it but it's still slips when I reve the engine or drive.  

Thanks

Answer
Hi Hyer,
I see no way that the fan relay would control the a/c and the fuel gauge, or that its malfunction would impact the a/c or the fuel gauge, as I read the '97 manual which is the closest one I have to your '98. It may be that a malfunction of the solid state fan relay which we discussed earlier may be 'sensed' by the powertrain controller when its action is requested (either because you asked for A/C or the engine temp requested the fan) and in the case of the A/C request when the fan doesn't work the A/C compressor might be inhibited by the powertrain controller, but I have no specific info to prove that.
The fuel gauge is a simple direct circuit powered by fuse 11 which is unrelated to the other items that you mention.
As to the belt slipping off the alternator, visually check whether the alternator pulley is operating in the same plane as the pulley on the motor which drives it. That is probably what the mechanic tried to correct with the washer, but still use a straight edge to observe whether when it is placed along the edge of the alternator pulley it does or doesn't align with the groove for that belt at the crankshaft pulley.
The other possible cause for the belt coming off is if the 'splash shield' that separates the right wheel housing from the front of the engine were not present. Were that the case and were it to be raining then water may splash up on that drive belt/pulley area which then causes the belt to slip off. So verify that there is no opening between the inside surface of the wheel well housing and the engine (you should not be able to see the engine as you look behind the right front tire if that shield is present).
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Thanks,
Roland