Author Topic: Do I have a bad fan clutch? (Read 10479 times)

m42 fan · « **on:** March 27, 2006, 11:09:09 AM »

OK, I flushed my engine coolant and replaced my thermostat last weekend due to a constant low temp condition. Good news-- problem solved! My temp now reads between 1/2 and 3/4 consistantly, which I noticed seems to be a little warmer than what I see from most people.

I was curious as to whether my faulty thermostat was masking a fan clutch problem, so I tried the newspaper trick. The newspaper was able to successfully stop the fan in its tracks. All of this was this morning as soon as I started the car, so the engine was cold.

Should I wait for the engine to warm up, then try again, or is my fan clutch already toast? I also will open this up to discussion of whether it would be a better idea to simply replace the clutch, or make the switch to an electric setup like others have done. Keep in mind that cost may become a factor, and I would like to keep anything in the <$200 range if I decide to go that route.

Thanks in advance for the help!
Brian

m42technic · « **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2006, 11:23:31 AM »

The fan clutch is supposed to slip when the engine is cold, try it again with the engine warm.

dude8383 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2006, 11:27:42 AM »

newspaper trick? details?

m42 fan · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2006, 12:06:01 PM »

I'll try it again when I get home this afternoon.

Newspaper trick: roll up an old newspaper. Stick it between the fan blades as it is spinning. If the newspaper stops the fan, you may have problems. If you have confetti, Congratulations! Your fan clutch works.

Brian

asubimmer · « **Reply #4 on:** March 27, 2006, 01:10:20 PM »

I have a fan clutch if you are interested. Although I still need to take it off lol, I just removed the fan and the clutch is still on there.

dude8383 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2006, 01:11:49 PM »

Quote from: m42 fan

I'll try it again when I get home this afternoon.

Newspaper trick: roll up an old newspaper. Stick it between the fan blades as it is spinning. If the newspaper stops the fan, you may have problems. If you have confetti, Congratulations! Your fan clutch works.

Brian

lol excellent description! thanks!

m42 fan · « **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2006, 02:16:45 PM »

Well, I'm 99% sure the clutch is bad. I checked it again when I got home, after the car was warmed up.

asubimmer: How much were you loking to get for yours?

Brian

kowalski · « **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2006, 04:34:15 PM »

i have one as well but shipping to the us might be a couple bucks

m42 fan · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2006, 08:03:33 PM »

Kowalski or asu, let me know how much you are looking for. Thanks

Brian

asubimmer · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2006, 08:37:51 PM »

YGPM M42fan

Choking Hazard · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2006, 09:03:48 PM »

You will need a really thin wrench of the right width to get the #%**$ fan off. I tried to do this job at home and got stymied by the special toool requirement. But, now that I have replaced the t-stat, coolant, and fan clutch, and the stinkin missing nut on the guage (ground), the temp comes up to the exact midpoint fast and stays right there.

asubimmer · « **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2006, 09:07:21 PM »

haha yeah M42fan that is IF I can get it off lol. I promise to be carefull

m42 fan · « **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2006, 09:16:25 PM »

Quote from: Choking Hazard

You will need a really thin wrench of the right width to get the #%**$ fan off. I tried to do this job at home and got stymied by the special toool requirement. But, now that I have replaced the t-stat, coolant, and fan clutch, and the stinkin missing nut on the guage (ground), the temp comes up to the exact midpoint fast and stays right there.

Any idea where I could get my hands on one of those wrenches? The bentley calls out the official "fan clutch removal tool", but I know the dealer will try to bend me over if I try to get my hands on one of those.

Brian

Choking Hazard · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2006, 09:44:17 PM »

The guy who did mine had ordered one from the snap-on tools guy, but didn't wait and cut one out of a piece of

guage (like 1/4 inch) sheet steel. I can get him to tell me the dimensions tomorrow if you need 'em.

m42 fan · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2006, 09:52:26 PM »

Well, you can post up the info for the good of the board, but I don't think I'll be able to make much use of it. I don't have any access to any kind of fabrication facilities out here in PA. That's what I get for being a Crime Law and Justice major!

Author Topic: Do I have a bad fan clutch? (Read 10479 times)

m42technic