Are fan clutches directional?
Are fan clutches directional?
If the pulley is flat and in contact with the backside of the serpentine belt, direction will be counterclockwise. If the wrong direction fan clutch is installed, the engine will overheat from the lack of airflow across the radiator.
Will a fan clutch making noise?
Usually a bad fan clutch will sound like the fan blades rubbing against the radiator type noise. 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.
How does a water pump fan clutch work?
The fan clutch is a thermostatic device, which means it operates based off temperature, and is usually mounted on the water pump, or another belt driven pulley. The fan clutch will spin loosely until the temperature reaches a certain level, at which point the fan clutch will fully engage…
What should I do if my fan clutch is not working?
Switch on the A/C and turn it down to the coldest setting. If it fails to cool down after several minutes, or seems to be emitting unusually warm air, there could be a problem. Hold your hand a few inches away from the vent so slight variations in temperature will be more noticeable.
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.
When to know if your car fan clutch is binding?
Activity that’s louder than normal may indicate binding. A binding fan clutch will typically be accompanied with warm air flow from the A/C, since the fan isn’t turning the way it should be. Start your vehicle and listen for the fan to engage. Give the engine a little time to warm up. After 4-5 minutes, the fan clutch should come to life.
When do you know it’s time to replace the fan clutch?
According to Hayden, here are some signs your fan clutch might need replaced: Fan spins excessively when engine is stopped (three or more times when hot engine is shut off). Poor A/C performance at idle or low vehicle speeds. Fan speed does not increase when engine is hot.
What’s the difference between standard and heavy duty fan clutches?
Standard-Duty Thermal Fan Clutch: This design turns the fan at 60-70 percent of the water pump shaft speed when engaged, and 20-30 percent when disengaged. It’s made for fans with a lighter pitch. Heavy-Duty Thermal Fan Clutch: This fan style turns the fan at 70-90 percent of the shaft speed when engaged for increased cooling.
How does a non thermal fan clutch work?
Non-Thermal Fan Clutches. Non-thermal clutches operate solely based on the shaft speed of the water pump. At low and idling speeds, the clutch allows the fan blade to turn at almost a 1:1 ratio.
How can you tell when a fan clutch is engaged?
You should be able to audibly detect when the fan clutch engages, with an accompanying rush of air. At idle, as engine temperature increases, a thermal fan clutch will engage at a certain temperature. Torque-limiting fan clutches will disengage at a certain engine speed. Alternatively, an optical tachometer can be used to measure fan speed.
