Additionally, the oil may leak, and the clutch may come loose. In any of these cases, the clutch would not work as it should. There have been cases where fan clutches spin freely when cold, and when this happens, you have a problem in your hands.

Is a clutch fan supposed to spin freely?

The fan should move freely by hand when the vehicle is off. Any strong resistance means its locking up. Thats when they get noisy.

Should a fan clutch be hard to turn?

It is normal for it to always be turning. However, the clutch should not engage it fully until it has hit the right temp. On mine, it is very clear when the clutch has fully engaged the fan as it sounds like a turbine.

How do you test a fan clutch?

To confirm the diagnosis, start with this simple test: Spin the fan as hard as you can on an engine that has not been started that day. If the fan rotates more than five times, you can bet the clutch is bad. You should feel some resistance and the fan may spin up to three times, depending on the ambient temperature.

What are the symptoms of a bad fan clutch?

1. Roaring. Sometimes a customer will complain about a roaring noise coming from the engine bay. ...
2. Clunking. Sometimes a customer will hear a clunking noise when the engine is running. ...
3. Whistling.

How to know if my fan clutch is bad

Should a viscous fan spin freely?

when engine is cold - and you spin the large rad fan by hand, it should spin freely.

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.

Will 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.

At what temperature does a fan clutch engage?

At what temperatures do fan clutches engage? Answer: Most fan clutches engage at about 170°F air temperature (about 180-190°F engine temperature). They reduce the temperature about 20°F before disengaging.

How stiff should a fan clutch be?

While there should be a little bit of give, it shouldn't spin more than three complete rotations. Too much free-wheeling is usually a sign that the clutch is prone to slipping. On the other hand, too much resistance means the clutch is binding and can't turn freely. ... Ideally, the fan shouldn't spin more than 1-1½ times.

Should a fan clutch spin all the time?

Spin the fan.

Electronic types might freewheel, but most fan clutches should spin with a little effort. If the fan spins more than three times, you may have a bad fan clutch. If the fan doesn't spin at all, the bearing may be seized.

Should a fan clutch spin when cold?

Additionally, the oil may leak, and the clutch may come loose. In any of these cases, the clutch would not work as it should. There have been cases where fan clutches spin freely when cold, and when this happens, you have a problem in your hands.

Will a bad fan clutch cause AC problems?

Registered. Yes, a bad fan clutch will cause A/C issues. The condenser needs air flow to cool hot refrigerant.

How often should a fan clutch be replaced?

The average failure rate of the radiator clutch fan shows that the fan clutch failure that needs replacement is most typical around an average of 140,00 miles. This is no guarantee, but the repair data has shown that around 140,000 miles are the average rate for failure and the average time of fan clutch replacement.

Is a fan clutch necessary?

The fan clutch is one of the most essential components in the operation of cooling fans and greatly contributes to the overall operation of the engine. While many new vehicles use electric cooling fans, many older vehicles utilize a mechanical fan clutch to help control the fans.

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.

What engages a clutch fan?

Most fan clutches are filled with a silicone-based oil. The oil is held in an internal reservoir when the fan is disengaged. To engage the fan, internal valves open and allow the fluid to fill the working area of the clutch. This creates friction between the drive plate and the housing, causing the fan to spin.

Can you lubricate a fan clutch?

Fan Clutch

The bearings that support the drive shaft for this clutch regularly experience high temperatures. ... Krytox™ lubricants have low volatility and high viscosity, providing long life and excellent lubrication to the fan clutch bearing under these high temperature conditions.

How much does it cost to replace a fan clutch?

A fan clutch replacement cost will range anywhere from $75 to $200 for just the part, without the labor costs. When labor is accounted for in the overall fan clutch replacement cost, the total price can range between $285 to $500 to replace the fan clutch only.

Can a clutch fan lock up?

A locked-in fan clutch will cause the radiator fan to be fully engaged. This results in extra strain on the engine and, therefore, your vehicle will consume more power and fuel.

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.

How is a fan clutch supposed to work?

A fan clutch is a thermostatic engine cooling fan that can freewheel at low temperatures when cooling is not needed, allowing the engine to warm up faster, relieving unnecessary load on the engine. As temperatures increase, the clutch engages so that the fan is driven by engine power and moves air to cool the engine.

What does a bad radiator fan sound like?

In some cases, when your radiator cooling fan clutch fails, it will develop a whirring or clicking noise. The noise could result from a bearing that is out of place or a bent fan blade that is touching other components.