Viscous Fan clutch Gone, overheating at idle only. Advice before i replace everything

Lazylabs · Apr 26, 2015

Hi All

Gems 1998 4.6 83K overheating at idle.

So far I have replaced all coolant hoses and thermostat, coolant has been refreshed twice. I don't have any issues when moving, only when sat at idle with bonnet shut, temp slowly creeps up to Hot.

I'm thinking Viscous Fan Clutch is knackered as it is loose when cold and just as loose when Hot. I've just had the car idling for about an hour, bonnet open no issues. Temp dead on the middle. Shut the bonnet and within 10 mins we are nearly at the red. I turn car off and try to turn the V fan and it spins very easily. No resistance at all. Now correct me if I'm wrong but I shouldn't be able to turn this when engine is hot should I?

Top of Rad is hot and top hose is hard. Coolant is clean. HG have been replaced about 30k ago.

So I'm thinking new V fan clutch?

If radiator was faulty would I have more issues when moving?

Any thoughts?

Regards
Al

tomcat59alan · Apr 26, 2015

Try stopping the V/F when hot, engine running, with a rolled up newspaper ( use "The Sun", its all its fit for ). If you can stop it then its fecked

Lazylabs · Apr 26, 2015

tomcat59alan said:
Try stopping the V/F when hot, engine running, with a rolled up newspaper ( use "The Sun", its all its fit for ). If you can stop it then its fecked

I tried to do that, but just shredded the paper. I wasn't overly forceful...

Whereabouts do you try to stop it? In the blades or on the top?

tomcat59alan · Apr 26, 2015

Lazylabs said:
I tried to do that, but just shredded the paper. I wasn't overly forceful...

Whereabouts do you try to stop it? In the blades or on the top?

If it's shredding the newspaper I doubt its the V/F

Lazylabs · Apr 26, 2015

tomcat59alan said:
If it's shredding the newspaper I doubt its the V/F

ok just tried again, engine running, more force this time and I am able to stop to totally stop the fan.

tomcat59alan · Apr 26, 2015

Lazylabs said:
ok just tried again, engine running, more force this time and I am able to stop to totally stop the fan.

I think you have found your problem, till the next one comes along.

Lazylabs · Apr 26, 2015

tomcat59alan said:
I think you have found your problem, till the next one comes along.

Well I did have it error free for 2 days.. that's an accomplishment.

Now I've just removed the v/Fan.. seemed to easy, adjustable spanner on and quick tap to the left with my hand and its undo... should it be that loose?

Does the tightness of the nut affect the operation?

tomcat59alan · Apr 26, 2015

Lazylabs said:
Well I did have it error free for 2 days.. that's an accomplishment.

Now I've just removed the v/Fan.. seemed to easy, adjustable spanner on and quick tap to the left with my hand and its undo... should it be that loose?

Does the tightness of the nut affect the operation?

No, because it tightens up with the direction of revolution of the engine. Consider yourself very lucky that it was easy to undo considering some of the horror stories on this forum.

Lazylabs · Apr 26, 2015

Oh yes I do.. I've read the horror stories. the smile on my face when it just popped loose.

New one ordered.

Cheers for advice. LZ forums to the rescue again.

Viscous Fan clutch Gone, overheating at idle only. Advice before i replace everything

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tomcat59alan

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tomcat59alan

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