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Do fan clutches go bad suddenly or gradually? #1255167
06/21/12 06:30 PM
06/21/12 06:30 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 828
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MoparKansas Offline OP
super stock
MoparKansas  Offline OP
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 828
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I was driving my Challenger last night and it started heating up suddenly while stopped at a railroad track. I pulled over and let it cool down. The upper and lower radiator hoses were both hot, there was seepage around the heater hoses on the fender, the puke tank was full and overflowed a pint or two and the fan would spin about two rotations when spun by hand.

When I left I got on roads that would let the air flow through the radiator while driving at about 45 MPH and it stayed in the lower operating range. I just drove it last week in daytime temps of 95 degrees with a bunch of stops with no problems. Am I on the right track with the fan clutch?

Re: Do fan clutches go bad suddenly or gradually? [Re: MoparKansas] #1255168
06/21/12 07:09 PM
06/21/12 07:09 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1 Offline
Too Many Posts
Challenger 1  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Yes I think you are on the right road. 2 revolutions is too many hot or even cold.

They can go bad at anytime, sometimes gradually or all at once like it sounds like yours did.
I bet you can not hear the fan anymore when reving it up.

I've had 2 or 3 of them go bad on me over the years. They were all hi mileage originals, the one on my 340 is about 12 years old now and still cools my car in 110 degree temps. I've been tuning on it lately and still notice alot of fan sound when I rev it up, you should hear the fan even when it's cool.

Re: Do fan clutches go bad suddenly or gradually? [Re: MoparKansas] #1255169
06/21/12 07:48 PM
06/21/12 07:48 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,684
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Andrewh Offline
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Andrewh  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,684
just as cheap insurance, when you replace the clutch replace the wp too.

I have only had one go bad, and I replaced it, shortly the wp died and took out my radiatior.

Re: Do fan clutches go bad suddenly or gradually? [Re: Challenger 1] #1255170
06/22/12 01:23 AM
06/22/12 01:23 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 322
Itasca, Texas
Mad_Scientist Offline
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Mad_Scientist  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 322
Itasca, Texas
Quote:

Yes I think you are on the right road. 2 revolutions is too many hot or even cold.

They can go bad at anytime, sometimes gradually or all at once like it sounds like yours did.
I bet you can not hear the fan anymore when reving it up.

I've had 2 or 3 of them go bad on me over the years. They were all hi mileage originals, the one on my 340 is about 12 years old now and still cools my car in 110 degree temps. I've been tuning on it lately and still notice alot of fan sound when I rev it up, you should hear the fan even when it's cool.




Mine went out gradually. After replacing it, I could really hear the fan when I gave it some gas. The old clutch went out over time and I had got used to not hearing the fan. Also my clutch only had around 2k miles on it. Made in China???

After I removed it, I noticed that it looked like the oil was leaking out


69 Super Bee 440 5-speed
70 Dart Swinger 340 4-speed
69 Camaro SS 396 4-speed
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Re: Do fan clutches go bad suddenly or gradually? [Re: Mad_Scientist] #1255171
06/22/12 01:50 AM
06/22/12 01:50 AM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 893
Tustin, CA
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pishta Offline
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pishta  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 893
Tustin, CA
yeah, they say your supposed to store them flat, but that doesnt help when it is installed....Maybe the Thermo-trol ones with the spring in them are better/longer lasting?


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