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Fan Clutch?

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Old Mar 10, 2011 | 04:24 PM
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Fan Clutch?

What is a good way to test a fan clutch? Fully warm 22re motor, shut it off, reach down to rotate the fan and it spins freely. Is that normal? Shouldn't there be some resistance?
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Old Mar 10, 2011 | 04:33 PM
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From: san bruno, ca
put a sheet of paper over the grill while its running, if it gets sucked in then fan clutch is working. If it falls off then it isnt, but make sure it is warmed up.
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Old Mar 10, 2011 | 06:51 PM
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Any way to test it when not running?
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Old Mar 10, 2011 | 07:12 PM
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From: Cohutta (near Dalton) Georgia
no offense, but why do you wanna test it not running? just do it running, like he ^^^ said to
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Old Mar 10, 2011 | 07:23 PM
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If the fan spins freely on a warm engine, you've definitely got a problem with the fluid clutch. It should have at least some spinning resistance, even if the engine is cool.
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Old Mar 11, 2011 | 05:01 AM
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That is what I was afraid of. I'll try the paper test, but it definitely spins freely when warm.

So is a swap out difficult? Seems like I just remove the radiator shroud. Un bolt from pulley, install the fan blades on new fan clutch, and bolt back on?
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Old Mar 11, 2011 | 08:05 AM
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pretty much it.
just make sure that the water pump pulley doesnt fall off when you take the fan clutch off, cause then you will have to readjust the belt (all held on with the same 4 nuts)

additionally, when installing the new one make sure the fan is in the correct direction, so that you pull air over the motor, not push air out the front of the radiator.

Fianlly,
my two cents.
buy the OEM fan clutch. Yes. it is outrageously priced compared to the aftermarket ones but it is worth it. the ASIN part is twice the size of any aftermarket one you will find. it has better bearings and more fins. Every time I have tried to use aftermarket fan clutches they fail within a year. (two times on two different trucks now)
just drop the cash and get the good one. yes the aftermarket ones have a "lifetime" warranty, but you will see fiddling with it for the rest of your "lifetime" sucks. and a lifetime warranty does not help you out if you are on a trail somewhere.
just my opinion.
toyotapartszone.com sells it for $100 or $160 i think. cant remember exactly
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Old Mar 11, 2011 | 08:22 AM
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Look at going to a flex lite fan...
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Old Mar 11, 2011 | 09:47 AM
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OK so this morning after a cold start (fast idle) it held a piece of paper onto the grill. Then after I drove it to work and it was fully warm, I stuck a rolled up piece of newspaper in the fan with it running. I could rather easily stop the fan. Once I cut the motor, it would easily spin by hand. So what does this tell me? It is not hot outside, maybe 58-60. Did it not get hot enough to lock up the fan clutch? The motor was not overheating and seemed just normal. I'd like to be proactive and prevent problems so is it wise to just go ahead and replace the thing?
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Old Mar 11, 2011 | 09:54 AM
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I would just replace it, they seem to go out at the worst time...
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Old Mar 11, 2011 | 10:03 AM
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I have the opposite problem (my fan is locked all the time) and from my research with the problem, you should be able to stop the fan with your hand on a cold engine. On a hot engine, you should have some pretty good resistance to turn it (after the engine is off). I have read about some people who have tied some weak string or something to the fan and if it breaks on a hot engine and holds the fan on a cold, that means its good. The string method scares me so I didn't try it (I could see it wrapping up in stuff you don't want it wrapped up in).
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 09:49 AM
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Well mine has a little bit of resistance while cold, and no reisitance when warm. Isn't that opposite of the way it should be? Got a new one on order.
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 04:06 PM
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Yeah I would say that yours sounds shot.
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 07:49 PM
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So my buddy with an 85 truck tells me I'm wrong. He says the fan clutch should have some resistance when cold and none when hot. He says that his is the same way and that mine is working fine. That just doesn't seem right to me. It seems that more resistance would mean it sucks more air through the radiator and that is needed more when warm. Who's right? Now I'm confused.
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 07:57 PM
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Just go with electric fan, I did one, cost about $100 total for new parts.
Works magic, engine warm ups faster, body lift is a breeze with it too...
I can send some pics if interested.
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Old Mar 13, 2011 | 08:00 PM
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Sorry, thanks for the suggestion, but I'm not interested in an electric fan. Want to keep it original.
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Old Mar 14, 2011 | 03:41 AM
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You're right, your buddy is wrong. More resistance means your fan locks up and the belts can actually turn it causing it to suck air.
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Old Mar 14, 2011 | 03:56 AM
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It seems that autohausaz.com has the Aisin fan clutch at a better price, $65

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...=W0133-1619456,

Last edited by RustBucket; Mar 14, 2011 at 03:57 AM.
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Old Mar 14, 2011 | 07:15 AM
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From: New Britain, CT
Just did the fan clutch in my truck. No more running hot!

This is the best price I found for the Aisin part and it's where I ordered from:
http://www.carpartsdiscount.com/auto...7149&3671=1002

And for what it's worth, when I inspected the new and old parts side by side, I found that the old one was actually stiffer to turn than the new part. Obviously, both parts were cold when I tested them.

About e-fans, I almost went with one instead of replacing the fan clutch, but I had multiple wise Toyota men tell me that the Chinese budget fans and controllers break quickly, so I just went with a new fan clutch.
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Old Mar 14, 2011 | 07:34 AM
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I thought the price for the clutch on autohausaz was good, but the price on carpartdiscount was even better. Good find.

I agree that cheap e-fans are a bad idea on our motors. I will stick with the proven clutch type fan anyday.
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