Fan Clutch??

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
T

turski

New Member
Posts
7
Location
South Africa
I own a 2010-2012 full sized Range Rover 5 litre supercharged....

I haven't had it for too long and here it is starting to get cold here... since the start of the cold mornings I have head a weird clunking sound right at the front of the engine... goes away when warmed up... possibility of a tin sounding slight ticking, again right at the front of the engine... I think it's coming from the fan area.

Today I reached inside the car engine bay to feel around the rear of the fan area and indeed at the rear of the fan seems a small tin fan blade of sorts.... I can't see it but can feel it.... with the engine off, it spins freely and loosely, so wobble a lot, so i don't think it's attached anywhere.

anyone know what this small fan blade is?... and is it a big issue if its come loose?
 
It sounds like you're describing the viscous clutch. If that is wobbling I would stop driving the car as it will tear the water pump out. I've heard reports of them coming through the bonnet if they let go a high RPM too so yes, I'd suggest that is a big problem!

Looks like this?

1722962276220.png
 
I don't think I have that viscous unit.... my unit as a whole is solid.... there is a small bladed fan at the back which looks like it has about 10 or 12 blades, much like a normal very small fan which is loose and wobbling... I have seen units which use this different type which are for sale for my model.

Its the very small bladed fan that is very loose and spins on its own with the engine off.

I will try and get a picture
 
I just googled a fan clutch image. I think on our cars the fan is a viscous type with an electric motor in it to run when the A/C is on and that's part you are seeing there.

Whatever happens I stand by my comments of not driving it if you have a load of play in that unit, if it fails it will almost certainly take out a whole bunch of expensive parts and leave you stranded. Get the thing off the car and inspect/replace it. Remember, the fan clutch has a left-handed thread on it (clockwise to undo).

When you do get it off, I'd be interested to see a video clip of the failure.

I'm about to do auxiliary belt(s) and idler replacements on mine so I'll be taking the fan off and I will be looking at it carefully now too after your post.

Cheers
 
There seem to be 2 types of fan you can get for the L322 5 litre supercharged...

This one https://britcar.com/product.php/982...ged___discovery_5___range_rover_vogue___sport

And this one https://britcar.com/product.php/590...ged___discovery_5___range_rover_vogue___sport

I have the second one fitted to mine... and its the same one in the video.... The bit in the video above is exactly what spins freely, as the video shows... its really just a thin tin fan that wobbles a little bit and you can hear it a little when its cold, like 3 degrees centigrade outside on startup, but on a warm day nothing. The rest of the unit, the viscous bit? is working normally

I have possibly read that it's not an issue and normal on these cars with this fan and am just investigating more as the info is slim.... it's a shame the video isn't explaining anything, it just shows the fan spinning and doesnt suggest that it should actually be doing that or not, or if its a problem.

Blob... completely appreciate what you are saying and am monitoring this carefully, it's just such a flimsy part that I can't see how (if that's the only issue) it would cause a problem....

First thing to understand is, should it actually spin freely?... if it's supposed to then it may not be a huge issue and it's probably just a tad worn.

Does any know if that should spin freely? Car has done about 8ok miles in total.
 
... as an addendum... looking at those two products.... they may be the same thing, the images may just show both sides of the fan?
 
Is it attached to the water pump? Could the pump bearings have play so it is wobbling more than usual?

Viscous will roar a bit on startup and then go quiet until it heats up enough to engage: that's normal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P38Seb
P38A Viscous fan woes
Replies
8
Views
789
kermit_rr
kermit_rr
mad85
Disco 2 AC fan not kicking in
Replies
10
Views
333
sierrafery
sierrafery
N
Disco 4 (LR4) Lr4 Engine fan runs all the time.
Replies
11
Views
943
Norler
N
P
Freelander 1 kv6 Fan runns at high speed always
Replies
2
Views
1K
Tapio Järnfors
T
MAF Diver
Disco 2 Unknown coolant leak at the front onto the oil filter and diff
Replies
0
Views
215
MAF Diver
MAF Diver
Back
Top