Do I need a new fan clutch?

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. But even if it rotates three or fewer times the clutch could still be bad. You need to do more tests.

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 does a fan clutch do on a water pump?

A fan clutch is a temperature-controlled coupling between the water pump shaft and the fan which allows the fan to be operational at low speeds and disconnected at higher speeds.

What are the different types of fan clutches?

Types of Fan Clutches. The main types are non-thermal, thermal, and electronic — all of which use a silicone fluid to engage and disengage your fan. 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 does a fan clutch work on a radiator?

As hot air blows across the radiator, it heats a thermal spring mounted at the front of the clutch. As the spring is heated, it turns and allows valve ports to open within the clutch. Silicone fluid stored inside a reservoir is allowed to pass through these open ports and enter the working area of the clutch.

What is the purpose of a fan clutch?

What is normal fan clutch operation?

Normal operation of a fan clutch is to be engaged on start up. After a few minutes it should disengage and quiet down. When the air coming across the radiator reaches a set temperature, a thermal spring inside the assembly will turn, causing the clutch to re-engage.

How does a clutch fan operate?

A fan clutch is a temperature-controlled coupling between the water pump shaft and the fan which allows the fan to be operational at low speeds and disconnected at higher speeds. This allows the engine to operate more efficiently by removing the load that the fan places on it.

What is an engine cooling fan clutch?

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.

Do I need a new fan clutch?