When do you know you have a bad fan clutch?
Reach in and spin the fan blade by hand. If it continues to spin freely for more than five turns with no signs of drag, you have a bad fan clutch. Start the engine and look down at the fan. The fan should be still or barely revolving until the engine warms up. When the fan begins to turn at engine speed, move to Step 4.
How do you test a fluid coupling fan clutch?
Step 1 With the engine off, inspect the fan blades carefully. Look carefully around the fan clutch for signs of oil leakage. Grab the fan assembly with your hands and move it back and forth. Try to spin the fan with your hands. Turn on the engine and let it idle. Test the fluid-coupling fan clutch visually with the engine running.
How does a fan clutch work on a Chevy?
How to Test a Fan Clutch on a Chevrolet. A fan clutch is the assembly that your engine cooling fan rides on and that tells the fan when to turn on and off. A central core, which locks and unlocks based on the temperature, allows the fan to spin with the engine crankshaft or freewheel on its own.
How does a torque limiting fan clutch work?
A torque-limiting fan clutch reacts to engine speed. A centrifugal valve opens to allow the flow of heavy silicone fluid, locking the fan blades to the pulley. At idle and low engine speeds, this fan clutch is fully engaged, gradually disengaging as engine speed increases.
Reach in and spin the fan blade by hand. If it continues to spin freely for more than five turns with no signs of drag, you have a bad fan clutch. Start the engine and look down at the fan. The fan should be still or barely revolving until the engine warms up. When the fan begins to turn at engine speed, move to Step 4.
What is an electric fan clutch?
The fan clutch is a cooling system component that controls the operation of the engine cooling fans. While many newer vehicles now use electric cooling fans to keep the engine cool, many older vehicles used a mechanical fan clutch to control the fans.
How do you test a radiator fan clutch?
Start a cold engine with the hood up, and visually confirm that the radiator fan is turning. Push the accelerator pedal to rev the engine. The fan speed should increase with engine speed at this point. If not, replace the clutch. After five minutes, the operating temperature should stabilize around 200 degrees F and fan should slow down.
How long does it take for a fan clutch to come to life?
After 4-5 minutes, the fan clutch should come to life. Assuming it doesn’t, or that it’s sluggish when it finally gets moving, it may be on its last legs. The same is true if the fan speed accelerates as soon as you start the vehicle.
Can a bad fan clutch cause an engine to overheat?
Engine Overheating A fan clutch that is going bad can create one huge sign that something is wrong: overheating of the engine. While most drivers recognize the signs of an overheating engine, many do not immediately think of the fan clutch as the cause. A failing fan clutch can actually cause the engine fan to become loose and wobble.
What are the signs of a bad fan clutch?
One of the most common signs that the fan clutch is going bad is an excessively loud noise coming from the cooling fan. It is fairly common for a bad fan clutch to get stuck in the operating position, which causes the engine fan to become fully engaged, even if there isn’t a need for it to be on.
How do you test a clutch fan?
Inspecting the Fan Clutch Manually Pop the hood. Locate your vehicle’s fan clutch. Examine the unit’s general condition. Feel for excess movement in the fan and housing. Spot-check for oil leaks. Turn the fan by hand. Have your fan clutch replaced by a professional.
How does a fan clutch work?
The fan clutch is basically the part of your vehicle’s cooling system that powers up the fan blades. It has a sensor that detects temperature around the engine and if it becomes too hot, the clutch engages the fan in motion to produce air that cools down the heat.
What is a fan clutch?
A fan clutch is a device found on an automobile’s cooling fan . In most cases, the fan is attached to the fan clutch by four bolts. As the engine speed increases, the fan clutch disengages and puts the fan into a free-wheeling mode.