Common questions

How much is a fan clutch repair?

How much is a fan clutch repair?

For a clutch fan replacement, you will pay between $140 and $400, depending on the kind of car you own. The labor should cost you $70 to $130, while the parts can start at $75 and go up to nearly $300.

How do you know if your fan clutch is going out?

Symptoms of a Bad Fan Clutch

  1. Engine overheating at low speed or when stopped is the most-common fan clutch failure symptom.
  2. Insufficient heat in winter is another common problem but caused by the opposite fan clutch failure.
  3. Excess fan noise at high speed is caused by the same problem, a seized fan clutch.

What are the symptoms of a bad or failing fan clutch?

As the fan clutch is a cooling system component, any issues with it can cause overheating and other issues. Usually a bad or failing fan clutch will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver of a potential issue.

What should I do if my fan clutch is leaking?

Give the water pump hose a quick jostle as well to see if the problem might lie there. Spot-check for oil leaks. Run your finger along the edges of the bearing seal on the backside of the fan clutch. If it comes away with a heavy coating of oil, the culprit is either a crack or a faulty seal.

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.

How does a mechanical fan clutch work on a car?

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. 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.

What happens when a bad fan clutch goes bad?

When a fan clutch goes bad and causes your vehicle to overheat, it’s usually because the fan clutch is unable to get into its ‘Engaged’ mode. Thankfully this can be tested (indirectly) by manually locking the fan clutch into its Engaged Mode and I’ll show you how in this case study. What Vehicles Can I Apply This Info To?

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.

Can a fan clutch be replaced without silicone?

Replace the fan clutch. A light smear of silicone fluid could be normal seepage–no seal is perfect. Obviously, if a substantial amount of fluid is missing, the clutch won’t spin as fast as it should.

Where does the fluid go when you replace a fan clutch?

When a leak occurs, it’s at the bearing seal, at the center rear of the clutch. Run your finger around the joint and if you get a big dollop of black goo, that’s silicone fluid that has leaked from the housing. Replace the fan clutch.

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Ruth Doyle