Your 97 systems must be different than the 95.5. On mine, the AC won't even turn on unless the fan is running, and the fan will not turn unless the control relay senses proper charging current coming out of the alternator. The logic is that the fan is a very large current draw, and without a working alternator, it will not run it. The AC compressor is relay controlled from the fan switch, so no fan, no AC either.