Newbie question: how do know whether your fan clutch is working properly? I am able to spin the fan freely, there is no resistance. However, at idle, the fan does rotate. Any thoughts?

Also, if I need a fan clutch better to by new or is it worth getting something second hand (say off of E-bay)?

 

Notoriously hard to test difinitively without an optical tachometer.

A perfectly good fan clutch should give a feeling of "hydraulic resistance," it should feel kind of 'liquid.' It should spin smoothly, no wobble, not sticking, but it should feel sort of like you're twirling a spoon in honey.

However, unless you're having overheat problems, it's likely good enough.

 

a good visual is to have a friend turn off the car and u watch the fan. Once the engineis shut off. IT should only spin like once or twice. Any more than that then its bad or going bad. Fan shouldnt sping alot by themselves once the motor is off. I also know a way to check it with a timing light but thats a little more complicated and i kinda forgot how to do it. lol.

 

The factory service manual has instructions on how to test it, and how its meant to work.

The fan will always rotate at idle, the fluid coupling isn't that free that it has no resistance.

You'll know when its working correctly if it only locks when the engines getting warm (or briefly on cold starts). I replaced mine with a used one because mine was locking too much.

There's loads of threads about it. Read them all and you'll be an expert

 

With the engine hot, just shut it off and feel if there is resistance when trying to turn the fan blades manually. For reference, you can try this when cold and compare the difference.





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