Fan Clutch Heading South?

[campoj2]

Are there any tell-tale signs that the fan clutch is going to fail? I read in one of the posts, that once the motor is warmed up and if you can spin the fan by hand (engine off) that the fan is heading south. Other signs that I have been observing is loud fan volume and the A/C is occasionally blowing warm air while driving 65-75 mph.

Ideas??

 

[Liam]

are you getting these symptoms?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

If you have those signs, then it may have already failed. In my experience, the fan clutch doesn't really "go out", like it's working one day and then not. It's either working or not. You can do the grab test with a glove to check if the clutch has gone.

 

[campoj2]

I think I'm going to stick the good ol' broom handle in there and see what happens. I can just imagine rolling into work on Monday with a bandaged hand and answering the questions of why I grabbed the radiator fan on my LC, they might hold off on that promotion

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Broom handle = damaged plastic blades.

 

[campoj2]

Going in with the glove...

 

[Jim_Chow]

The one I've heard of using is kite string (tie it to a blade). If the fan snaps the string, the clutch is good.

 

[MEMCruiser]

Old thread revived. I am having some of theses symptoms. Loud horrible noise intermittently when accelerating. At high speeds I have no heat control and gets hot as mother inside unless I turn all conditioned air off. Also when the motor is turned off I can turn the fan.

 

[roadieguy]

Ive had a horrible noise also coming from the front, sounded like a scratching rattle, that came only when you gooses the throttle. Been going on for a couple of months on and off. Today the noise was gone and now my fan increases with the rpms none stop. At 3,000 rpms my LC sounds like a plane taking off as much wind noise is coming from the fan

Could my fan clutch be Seized up? I can turn it by hand whencthe motor is off. It slips under the belt, and does take a little force to turn it, but by no means am I straining to make it turn.

Thoughts?

 

[2000UZJ]

Ive had a horrible noise also coming from the front, sounded like a scratching rattle, that came only when you gooses the throttle. Been going on for a couple of months on and off. Today the noise was gone and now my fan increases with the rpms none stop. At 3,000 rpms my LC sounds like a plane taking off as much wind noise is coming from the fan

Could my fan clutch be Seized up? I can turn it by hand whencthe motor is off. It slips under the belt, and does take a little force to turn it, but by no means am I straining to make it turn.

Thoughts?

Check your pulleys. I had a scratching rattle for a week and my idler pulley went.

YouTube - Pulley Failure


Sounded like my fan was about to fly off. My fan runs quite a bit now, but the temps are getting to the upper 70's now days so that could be it.

 

[DallasCrzr]

Was that pulley completely seized?

 

[Aussie 25]

Test Fan

Going in with the glove...

When your engine is hot i use a soft sole shoe against the fan. If you can stop it easy, its no good.

 

[Copenhagen1]

This isn't as scary as it seems. When the engine is up to running temp, maybe 200*, shut it off. Take note of which way the fan is turning.

I usually use a wooden hammer handle and put it on the fan and try to hold it back while someone else cranks the car. If the car cranks and I can hold the fan from turning, the fan clutch is shot. If the fan pushes me and my hammer handle out of the way, then the fan clutch is good.

The end of the wooden hammer handle allows me to keep my digits out of harms way .

 

[gil12]

Bringing back an old thread.

Question: with engine at full (normal temp), and the motor off, I can slap a fan blade (wheel of fortune style) and it goes about 1/3 revolution - does that tell me my fan clutch is out/weak - or about normal - or no sign of anything! (Stop it! What did that fan ever do to you!)

Thanks!
Gil

 

[nissanh]

It can spin. I think the mount you see is normal.

Here is an easy method to find out. You'll hear a huge wind sound right after starting the car (when cold), and in about 1-2 minutes the sound should mitigate and becomes very quiet.

If you plan to buy a fan clutch buy AISIN or OEM. Never any other brands, they are loud no matter how hot the engine is.