The Fan Clutch is an important part of your cooling system. Its drive shaft attaches to the water pump. Then, the fan attaches to the clutch housing. The fan clutch’s
job is to control when the fan comes on and off
.
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.
Can you run without a fan clutch?
Yes, technically
your engine does not need a cooling fan to operate
. … As such, you should never drive your vehicle if the cooling fan isn’t working even though you can.
What happens if you drive with a bad fan clutch?
A bad fan clutch
may not engage properly or at all
, and as a result, will disable the fans or prevent them from working at maximum efficiency. This may result in the engine overheating, which will lead to more serious issues if left unattended.
What happens when a clutch fan goes out?
A bad fan clutch may not engage properly or at all, and as a result, will
disable the fans
or prevent them from working at maximum efficiency. This may result in the engine overheating, which will lead to more serious issues if left unattended.
Can you still drive with a broken fan clutch?
If your fan clutch is frozen on full lock (and i would guess it is, since it roars all the time and has bad mileage and no balls), i would say it’s
fine for you to drive it for the time being
. If the clutch wasn’t locking up anymore, now that would be different (the fan wouldn’t cool properly).
Is a clutch fan better than a regular fan?
When compared to an electric fan,
fan clutches are quite inefficient
. … The benefits of a Thermatic Fan lay in its ability to provide constant air flow, improved fuel economy, better air-conditioning performance, cooler engine running and increased engine power.
What does a bad fan clutch sound like?
Another common symptom of a faulty fan clutch is excessively
loud cooling fans
. … This may result in an excessively loud engine from the fan blowing at full speed. The sound may be easily audible and present at all times when the engine is cold and hot.
What are the symptoms of a bad clutch?
- Slipping. This is exactly what it sounds like. …
- Burning smell. A burning smell many times goes hand-in-hand with a failing clutch. …
- Noises. …
- Sticky or stuck pedal.
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. For example, at a popular place like AutoZone, the fan clutch parts retail between $90 to $175.
How can you tell a bad clutch?
- Weak Acceleration. …
- Grinding Gears. …
- Loose Clutch Pedal. …
- Sticky Clutch Pedal. …
- Other Noises. …
- Won’t Shift into Gear. …
- Won’t Stay in Gear. …
- Burning Smell.
Should a fan clutch spin freely when cold?
Engine cold and off. If you can spin the
fan freely, it is bad
. If good there will be considerable resistance.
Can a fan clutch be repaired?
While
there are times you can repair the fan clutch
, in most instances it’s best to replace it. … Your engine may have a hard time cooling down (overheating) or heating up since the fan clutch isn’t working.
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.
