Fan Blew Off - Urgent Advice Needed (1 Viewer)

[rslimbers]

Hey Guys

On the way back from the trail my hundy completely broke down. Wheel started locking up and saw steam at the hood. Pulled off the shoulder and notice all my ATF pouring out From underneath my
Truck

I’ve been suspecting a fan clutch issue for a while, but I didn’t think this would happen. If you see the picture the fan completely dislodged I think from the bearing. Fan looks damaged. Radiator fins look mangled on the engine side. No idea why I lost transmission fluid but will have to diagnose once I get home.

My question is the best way to fix this cost effectively I.e having the shop do as little as possible. I’m confident I can do a new fan, clutch, and radiator install myself instead of having the shop do it. But I’m wondering if that bearing or stem into the bearing is damaged if I have more damage than I am aware of or if this calls for water pump and belt replacement as well although I don’t have reason to believe there are issues with those parts. I bought this truck with 195k and it now has 210k on it. Previous owner had immaculate service records from Lexus but only thing missing was timing belt and water pump record. Had it checked out by my local mechanic who is a trusted cruiser head and he said belts looked fine so I figured I’d give it a while until replacement. All in all I’m wondering if it’s s good strategy to get home redo the fan and radiator and bring it to the shop for timing belt/water pump (if absolutely needed). Thanks in advance for pointing out any blind spots first time breaking down like this and thankful not on the trail

Fyi once I realized I had problems the truck was pulled over in literally 10 seconds and not operated again.

EDIT: thanks to all for the super fast support. Parts coming in today and have most of the disassembly job done. Should be ready for another 200k after this

 

[MountaineerLC]

Looks like the fan bracket seized and let go. As long as you didn’t overheat, and it sounds like you didn’t, you’ll be fine. What you saw is most likely coolant from the radiator. But it’s possible that once the fan let go it cut the transmission cooler lines.

In addition to the fan bracket, radiator and inspecting/ replacing transmission cooler lines, it’s also a great time to do the water pump timing belt, tensioner and pulleys as you’ll be 95% there with the whole front torn down anyway.

EDIT: Corrected that it was the fan bracket that failed.

 

[suprarx7nut]

I'm a big fan of replacing all the bearings, including that fan bracket, on the second 90k service for a 100. That would presumably prevent this.

As for fix, I'd do the full timing belt service as you're going to do a fair bit of that labor to do just the minimums needed here. Might as well address everything. This is not a normal failure, so it makes me question if the 90k service is way, way overdue.

 

[shevy77]

You need a new fan bracket which is where the bearing that holds the fan and fan fluid coupling (clutch) assembly lives. I couldn’t say if your water pump is bad based on what you shared, but the job for the fan bracket gets pretty similar to timing belt/water pump job, so if I am going in to replace fan bracket and the timing belt is due or close to due, I would just do that at same time.

 

[aging fleet]

Echoing what others said, you have to pull all the accessories off the front of the motor to replace that fan bracket. If you're paying for the labor to go that far, I'd want to deal with the timing belt, water pump, tensioner, and pulleys while in there. I know that's the opposite of the cost effective path, but this way you know you're good for another 90k.

A lot of us with basic mechanical skills, tools, and a garage have done timing belts ourselves. Not sure if that's something you want to attempt, but does allow you to drastically cut the cost. The procedure has been well documented here if you consider that path.

edit to add, if you're seeing ATF, the fan probably took out the cooler lines.

 

[3_puppies]

Looks like the water pump seized and let go.

not the water pump, the water pump is run off the timing belt

the fan bracket is what is broke along with radiator and trans cooler lines

 

[MountaineerLC]

not the water pump, the water pump is run off the timing belt

the fan bracket is what is broke along with radiator and trans cooler lines

Yep, you’re absolutely correct.

 

[RapidRob]

There is no shortcut here. If the fan bracket (what came apart) failed that catastrophically then it's probably never had a timing belt service.
You should bite the bullet and do a full timing belt job. All pulleys, tensioners, water pump etc. You're halfway there when you get the bracket off.
Except for buying the parts of course. OEM parts only unless you enjoy doing it so much that you'll want to do it again soon! Search here for timing belt replacement, there is plenty of help available.

 

[Bisho]

Given that the wheel started locking up, you may have cut a power steering line, which would also look like transmission fluid (because it is). I agree with everyone's opinion of doing the timing belt, you're already 80% of the way there doing the fan bracket. If you are replacing the radiator, may as well do the hoses, clamps, thermostat and gasket.

 

[3_puppies]

Given that the wheel started locking up, you may have cut a power steering line, which would also look like transmission fluid (because it is).

the OP lost all power steering when the pump quit turning because the belt was off it.
just went thru this with a customers rig who had an alternator lock up and lost the belt, the wheel didn't lock up but it is a bit harder to turn then old manual steering

 

[Bisho]

the OP lost all power steering when the pump quit turning because the belt was off it.
just went thru this with a customers rig who had an alternator lock up and lost the belt, the wheel didn't lock up but it is a bit harder to turn then old manual steering

Of course, typing faster than I was thinking.

 

[rslimbers]

Looks like the fan bracket seized and let go. As long as you didn’t overheat, and it sounds like you didn’t, you’ll be fine. What you saw is most likely coolant from the radiator. But it’s possible that once the fan let go it cut the transmission cooler lines.

In addition to the fan bracket, radiator and inspecting/ replacing transmission cooler lines, it’s also a great time to do the water pump timing belt, tensioner and pulleys as you’ll be 95% there with the whole front torn down anyway.

EDIT: Corrected that it was the fan bracket that failed.

Thanks so much for the fast reply. I've been hard at work ordering parts and getting this timing belt off. It was definitely coolant not ATF fluid. When everything blew up on me one of the first lights to come on was the ATF temp light so I assumed ATF fluid. But it all makes sense now with the belt coming off everything is going to be heating up in the radiator hence the light.

 

[rslimbers]

the OP lost all power steering when the pump quit turning because the belt was off it.
just went thru this with a customers rig who had an alternator lock up and lost the belt, the wheel didn't lock up but it is a bit harder to turn then old manual steering

100% this

 

[rslimbers]

There is no shortcut here. If the fan bracket (what came apart) failed that catastrophically then it's probably never had a timing belt service.
You should bite the bullet and do a full timing belt job. All pulleys, tensioners, water pump etc. You're halfway there when you get the bracket off.
Except for buying the parts of course. OEM parts only unless you enjoy doing it so much that you'll want to do it again soon! Search here for timing belt replacement, there is plenty of help available.

Big 10-4 and thanks to you guys for giving me the confidence to do it! Honestly isn't that bad so far. Definitely got sticker shock on the oem radiator and packing seal - $90 for a tube of mud cmon!

I am curious though - I figured I would go ahead and change out the cam seals, thermostat, and the upper/lower radiator hoses. Anything else I should do while I am down there? Are cam seals, thermostat, and radiator hoses a good idea to change out or is it unnecessary?

 

[rslimbers]

Looks like the fan bracket seized and let go. As long as you didn’t overheat, and it sounds like you didn’t, you’ll be fine. What you saw is most likely coolant from the radiator. But it’s possible that once the fan let go it cut the transmission cooler lines.

In addition to the fan bracket, radiator and inspecting/ replacing transmission cooler lines, it’s also a great time to do the water pump timing belt, tensioner and pulleys as you’ll be 95% there with the whole front torn down anyway.

EDIT: Corrected that it was the fan bracket that failed.

It was 100% the bracket. As I've been taking the timing belt off and got the a/c compressor loose, bits of round pieces of metal were falling down on me as I was moving things around. Thought I royally screwed something up but as I finally got the bracket off it was bearing pieces/material in the bracket. It looked in really bad shape. Btw compared to the videos online, doing this job looks a heck of a lot easier with the radiator and shroud out. Thanks for the push to do it!

 

[rslimbers]

I'm a big fan of replacing all the bearings, including that fan bracket, on the second 90k service for a 100. That would presumably prevent this.

As for fix, I'd do the full timing belt service as you're going to do a fair bit of that labor to do just the minimums needed here. Might as well address everything. This is not a normal failure, so it makes me question if the 90k service is way, way overdue.

I really think it was - or maybe it was that they did the service and did the water pump/belt but not the fan bracket? The bracket looks to be in the worse shape compared to everything else.

 

[saucebox]

I really think it was - or maybe it was that they did the service and did the water pump/belt but not the fan bracket? The bracket looks to be in the worse shape compared to everything else.

I think that's kind of common, yeah. Good shops will advise to replace the fan bracket at a timing belt service, but not all places will (and customers can still decline it). You should be able to find/list any service performed at the dealer through the Lexus owners site, not that it matters now.

 

[rslimbers]

Looks like the fan bracket seized and let go. As long as you didn’t overheat, and it sounds like you didn’t, you’ll be fine. What you saw is most likely coolant from the radiator. But it’s possible that once the fan let go it cut the transmission cooler lines.

In addition to the fan bracket, radiator and inspecting/ replacing transmission cooler lines, it’s also a great time to do the water pump timing belt, tensioner and pulleys as you’ll be 95% there with the whole front torn down anyway.

EDIT: Corrected that it was the fan bracket that failed.

Would you also recommend cam seals and thermostat?

 

[Mike NXP]

Would you also recommend cam seals and thermostat?

Only if their leaking / you have the skill to replace them. I'm at 250k with no issues with cam seals

Yes to the thermostat and anything else quick and easy to swap out.

 

[Patron100LC]

Cam seals are easy to replace, but only if you have a non-vvti engine.

BUT you'll need additional tools:

Amazon.com

If you want to get them and have in hand for replacement when you get there, and if not used just return. Seals themselves get only from the dealership, don't play with possible fakes or aftermarkets. They come out easily with a wood screw as long as you're careful..

I replaced only one seal that was sweating, not leaking, the driver's side looked fine so I left alone.