Table of Contents
Fan Clutches are ‘fluid’ coupling devices that provide air flow through the radiator by using the water pump shaft to power the fan blade. When the pump is cool or at normal operating temperature, the fan clutch will partially disengage.
Can you run a car without a fan clutch?
Yes, technically your engine does not need a cooling fan to operate. Logically, however, the cooling fan keeps the cooling system at the optimal temperature to prevent the hotter than normal engine temperatures, as mentioned above.
What are the symptoms of a bad fan clutch?
How to Tell If Your Fan Clutch Is Going Bad? Vehicle overheating. An overheating engine is often the first symptom that is commonly associated with a bad or failing fan clutch. Loose and Wobbling Fan. Excessively loud cooling fans. A decrease in acceleration, power & fuel efficiency.
When should a fan clutch engage?
What Temperature Does a Fan Clutch Engage? The majority of them engages when the air temperature goes around 170°F, which means that engine temperature is around 180-190°F. Usually, they can reduce it by about 20°F before disengaging.
What causes a cooling fan not to work?
ELECTRIC COOLING FAN PROBLEMS Defective temperature switch, coolant sensor or other sensor. Engine thermostat is stuck OPEN (engine never gets hot enough to turn on the fan) Faulty fan relay. A wiring problem (blown fuse, loose or corroded connector, shorts, opens, etc.).
Is a clutch fan better than a regular fan?
When compared to an electric fan, fan clutches are quite inefficient. The benefits of a Thermatic Fan lay in its ability to provide constant air flow, improved fuel economy, better air-conditioning performance, cooler engine running and increased engine power.
Can you drive with a bad fan clutch?
A failing fan clutch can actually cause the engine fan to become loose and wobble. Sometimes this wobble can be heard while driving, especially at freeway speeds. You can turn on your car’s engine while the vehicle is in park or neutral, pop the hood, and see for yourself that the fan is wobbling as it spins.
Does a bad fan clutch make noise?
3. Decrease in power, acceleration, and fuel efficiency. A decrease in performance is another symptom of a bad or failing fan clutch. A faulty fan clutch that leaves the fan permanently engaged will not only cause a noisy engine, but can also cause a decrease in performance.
Will a bad fan clutch affect AC?
Absolutely, a bad one can damage your air conditioning system, as it acts as a heat exchanger for the air conditioning unit. The engine fan keeps the condenser cool which helps to keep the convertible’s AC system running smoothly.
Does fan clutch make whining?
A whistling or whining noise coming from the engine bay can be pretty serious. There’s a number of possible causes for the whistling noise, but one of the most common causes is a loose serpentine belt. When this happens, the fan clutch is not engaged properly.
At what temperature should a fan clutch kick in?
At what temperatures do fan clutches engage? Answer: Most fan clutches engage at about 170°F air temperature (about 180-190°F engine temperature).
Why is fan clutch engaged cold?
A thermal fan clutch is engaged on a cold startup because the fluid drains into the working area when the engine is shut off. The fan clutch will slow down shortly after startup as result of a pumping action produced by a difference in speed between the shaft and the body of a clutch.
Why do electric fans stop working?
A dried out or sticky pin is one of the most common reasons for blades to stop spinning. If they spin easily and there’s no resistance, try turning your fan on and see if the pin spins. If it doesn’t, the problem isn’t the pin and there is probably a short in the motor.
How can I tell if my radiator fan is working?
A simple way to check if the radiator fan is working is to start your engine and turn the air-conditioning system (A/C) to the maximum speed. If the fan is spinning, then it means that the fan motor, fuse, wiring, and relay are all working properly.
Why does my fan keep running when my car is off?
It is ok for the engine cooling fan to keep running for a few minutes after turning off the car. Your car fan will run for a few minutes after you turn off the car then turn it off. When the engine is turned off, the coolant doesn’t circulate, and the heat stays trapped, therefore prolonging the engine from cooling.
Can you run a clutch fan and electric fan?
You can run both but 2 won’t cool it any better.
How much horsepower does a fan clutch use?
A single large mechanical fan is a slave to engine speed, and can consume as much as 40 horsepower from the engine using outdated technology.
What is the main advantage of having an electric cooling fan compared to a directly driven fan?
A key advantage of electric fans is increased engine cooling and improved air conditioning cooling at idle, when it is most needed. In addition, replacing an engine-driven fan can increase horsepower and improve fuel economy as the engine drag from turning the fan is eliminated.
How much does it cost to fix a fan clutch?
The average for Clutch Fan is $310 Repair Type Zip Cost Clutch Fan 98027 $179 Clutch Fan 7767 $352 Clutch Fan 75097 $391 Clutch Fan 11593 $331.
How long does it take to fix a fan clutch?
The fan clutch on most vehicles take less than an hours labor to replace. You would need to supply the vehicle year, make and model with engine size to get a more accurate labor for this job.
Can a bad fan clutch cause vibration?
It could just be a coincidence that you are noticing this vibration just after the fan and clutch change. The symptoms go with a bad engine mount; vibration at idle that goes away at higher speed.
