Guys, I am not disgusted with all this, just baffled that even with all of the help that's been offered the problem persists. I'm used to bizarre problems cropping up with old cars (I'm seriously into pre-war and early post-war Rolls-Royce and Bentley motorcars) but this is the first time I've had an A/C problem with a modern car that has taken more than an afternoon to sort out. The reason I'm replacing the fan is that it seems to have a couple of flat-spotted bearings -- the fan doesn't spin as freely as I'd like -- and I'd rather replace it now than have it fail at some later date due to (possibly) faulty bearings.

In any event I'm in Huntsville, Alabama, this week end and will revisit the A/C problem when I get back.