No, a $40 guess isn't something I would do either. Maybe a $5 one from the yard wouldn't be too risky. The defrost timer seems too specific a function to get lucky and find another function using the same "relay," but I see in my notes it is used to time the seat heaters in the older cars.

If you're into electrical guts, this might help you save a couple bucks. Who knows, maybe a re-solder or a capacitor replacement will fix it? Perhaps a t-gate harness short caused the contacts to weld?




--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

A husband got in big trouble after his wedding anniversary.
His wife told him the day before: "Tomorrow there better be something in the driveway for me that goes zero to 200 in 2 seconds flat."
The next morning the wife found a small package in the driveway.
She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale.