ahagain

My GF's 99 Taco 3.4v6 4x4 with an auto transmission has recently stopped making the roar at startup like it normally does. I can't hear any squeaks like a bad bearing or something like that. I just recently replaced all the belts and they're properly tensioned. It hasn't over heated or had the stock temp. gauge go up or down. The one weird thing is the rpm's at start up are a lil low. Sometimes it barely gets above 1,100rpms at start up and it rises slowly to normal 1,200 rpms after a few seconds and is fine at operating temps. Ihaven't had a chance to look at it as I'm doing that tomorrow and plan to test the fan clutch. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions, like a bad water pump or something more involved than the FC to test before I start in on it?

akwheeler

Just reach in (with the engine off) and spin the fan by hand, does it free spin or does it stop quickly? You should really be concerned about engine temperature more than how loud the fan is. Does your engine run hotter than usual?

Marc

Here's a simple test
How to check fan clutch (with engine off)

Try the following (by hand):
Engine cold: Spins with difficulty, fan roars at start up
Engine warm: Fan spins freely by hand
Engine hot: Fan will not spin and fan roars as idle is increased

ahagain

No it seems to be running fine. I just went out and spun the fan and its a lil hard to spin and probably spins an inch to two inches after I let go. The truck does have 253,000 miles on it and I'm unsure about if the fan clutch has been replaced or not. I'm also just a lil worried that the truck is running fine temp wise because it's winter and hasn't been hot here. It's in the low 30's now...

ahagain

Thanks for the help. I was able to find the fsm directions for testing the clutch and everything seems to be fine. I know it's kind of a newb question, I was just asking because all I could find was "loud roar at startup" questions. I was having the opposite. Thanks again.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

The fan clutch should never engage on a cold start

When Hot after sitting a few minutes it might engage from the Heat Soak

If your idle has changed did it trip the PO505 code??

I wonder what you were hearing??

Malcolm99

All 4 Toyota's in my yard with clutch fans all roar a bit for 2 seconds upon start up, even the 2012 Taco 4.0L does since brand new and continues to at 160,000Km., but again if it isn't overheating than no worries.