Viscouse fan clutch check

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Bill_K

Guest
Hello, Is there a way to tell if my viscous clutch on the cooling fan is operating properly? I was told that I can tell by the way it spins when the car is hot or cold (ignition off). I cant remember if it spins freely when hot or cold, or what? Any help is appreciated.

My car's temp guage went a few notches high, sat there, and then came back to normal and I'm not sure why. It did not seem speed related either as I was driving slowly when it went back down to normal. Thanks.
 
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apg

Well-known member
Dec 28, 2004
3,019
0
East Virginia
Viscous fan clutch

Let me refine that statement. When the motor is cold, you should be able to turn the fan blades with *some* resistance. If it turns freely - or with difficulty - then the VC unit is bad, or heading that way.

Saved a friend about $5k on the purchase of a used Rangie one time. He brought the vehicle by for me to take a look. The engine had this weird death rattle that the owner was sure was sometihing major about to come apart - and he was willing to let the vehicle go cheap before it did. With my stethoscope, I diagnosed it as nothing more than the VC gone bad, and it kinda echoed down through the whole powertrain. My friend gladly bought a new VC and saved a pile of cash.

It was a nice Rover - with a kickin' sound system that alone was worth the purchase price, 'til his n'er-do-well son, ummm, 'borrowed' it one night and wraped it around a power pole.... :eek:
 
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Bill_K

Guest
Thanks for the responses guys. here's what I found:

When the car is completely warmed up (temp guage on normal operating temp from city driving), with the car off and engine still hot, I was able to spin the fan easily and freely. It spun with no resistance at all and kept spinning. Is this bad?
 
Chris-St Louis

Chris-St Louis

1
Oct 27, 2004
3,000
4
The test I recommend for guys in the feild is that a Warm engine reved up should have enough suction to hold a shop rag on the raditor.
 
eburrows

eburrows

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
317
27
46
Orange County, Ca, USA
www.erikburrows.com
Bill,
If the fan spins freely when the engine (and VC body) are hot, then the fan will not spin powerfully enough to keep the engine cool. When hot, the VC must have a lot of resistance to movement so that the movement of the pulley is transmitted to the fan itself. Sounds like your VC is dead.
 
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Reignman

Well-known member
May 12, 2005
52
0
Burbank, IL
I had my VC came on after the engine was turned off this past weekend. The outside temp was in the low 90's and the engine was running hot. Does anyone has similar experince before? Thanks. :confused:
 
vabiro

vabiro

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
575
0
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
www.landroveradventure.com
Ray,

That sounds like the electric fans, which I think are thermostaticly controlled. I think they turn on with the air con, and then stay on after the engine is turned off.

Yesterday mine stayed on for 20 minutes after I had parked the car. We are getting temps in the high 80s this week and I am having some odd things happening with my engine temperature (See thead Over Heating . Lots of good suggestions there.

Victor
 
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