Symptom of Bad Fan Clutch?

Krem · 12-14-2009, 08:39 PM

so as I was taking my car to get repaired last week, I was sitting at a red light waiting for the left arrow to turn green and watched my temp gauge go from middle to prob 85-90% (just below the red hash for hot temp). This was as high as it got as when the light turned green and I accelerated, a quarter of a block later, the temp dropped back to dead middle of the guage (fell in a matter of seconds, as if I shut the car off)

After getting the car back, I was told I need to address the fan clutch as it's going bad. Sat. night as I was omw to pickup gf from work, again I was waiting at a (different) left arrow... waiting for the green, I see the temp spike in the same manner as before... sure enough, just like before, once I started driving away, the temp dropped back down.

Could this be the fan clutch failing and no air circulation past the radiator? causing it to cool down once I drive and push air across the radiator again? or does this sound like it could be something else specific?

cre · 12-15-2009, 02:56 AM

A few things will cause this... A restricted flow in the radiator (especially if you don't have the fan cowl in place) is very common. A bad fan clutch is equally possible, rebuild it and see.

Krem · 12-15-2009, 09:01 PM

well, I seriously doubt the radiator is the problem, else I should get my money back as it was rodded out and rebuilt last week.. but the guy did say my fan clutch needed to be replaced and was "going". Planning on replacing the fan clutch and installing the top and bottom shrouds this weekend... so hopefully that'll fix it... parking the car to play it safe but still driving it to get dinner or make corner store runs at 10pm, etc... if I see it happen again before I can make repairs, would reving or turning the car off and back on help initialize the fan clutch? or is it one of those "never can tell, if it's broke, nothin will help" kinda things?

cre · 12-15-2009, 11:56 PM

The fan clutch is a hydrostatic device (I believe that's the correct term)... nothing to initialize, just a maze filled with oil.

Krem · 12-16-2009, 12:27 AM

hmmmm, well that sux... sounds like the only way I'll be able to re-engage the fan if it's clutch fails is to manually spin it and hope the clutch catches and spins the fan with the crank... well, she won't see much road time in the next few days anyways... but you mentioned oil? is this something sealed within the clutch to lube the moving components? or is this oil something I'll encounter and need to prep for in my fan clutch replacement this weekend?

cre · 12-16-2009, 12:42 AM

Manually spin what??? There's nothing to 'catch'. You really should Google fan clutch and read up on how they work.

12-14-2009, 08:39 PM	#1
Krem 3" Exhaust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 167	Symptom of Bad Fan Clutch? so as I was taking my car to get repaired last week, I was sitting at a red light waiting for the left arrow to turn green and watched my temp gauge go from middle to prob 85-90% (just below the red hash for hot temp). This was as high as it got as when the light turned green and I accelerated, a quarter of a block later, the temp dropped back to dead middle of the guage (fell in a matter of seconds, as if I shut the car off) After getting the car back, I was told I need to address the fan clutch as it's going bad. Sat. night as I was omw to pickup gf from work, again I was waiting at a (different) left arrow... waiting for the green, I see the temp spike in the same manner as before... sure enough, just like before, once I started driving away, the temp dropped back down. Could this be the fan clutch failing and no air circulation past the radiator? causing it to cool down once I drive and push air across the radiator again? or does this sound like it could be something else specific?

12-15-2009, 02:56 AM	#2
cre Toyota Racing Development Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,038	A few things will cause this... A restricted flow in the radiator (especially if you don't have the fan cowl in place) is very common. A bad fan clutch is equally possible, rebuild it and see. __________________ If something breaks or you need to contact a member of the administration please post HERE. Unless it's a private or administration matter please post it on the forum. It benefits no one else if car related questions aren't posted for future users and takes away from the time I'm able to spend helping on the rest of the forum. If you're so inclined I'm always more than happy to accept tips via PayPal. Tip Jar --->

12-15-2009, 11:56 PM	#4
cre Toyota Racing Development Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,038	The fan clutch is a hydrostatic device (I believe that's the correct term)... nothing to initialize, just a maze filled with oil. __________________ If something breaks or you need to contact a member of the administration please post HERE. Unless it's a private or administration matter please post it on the forum. It benefits no one else if car related questions aren't posted for future users and takes away from the time I'm able to spend helping on the rest of the forum. If you're so inclined I'm always more than happy to accept tips via PayPal. Tip Jar --->

12-16-2009, 12:42 AM	#6
cre Toyota Racing Development Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,038	Manually spin what??? There's nothing to 'catch'. You really should Google fan clutch and read up on how they work. __________________ If something breaks or you need to contact a member of the administration please post HERE. Unless it's a private or administration matter please post it on the forum. It benefits no one else if car related questions aren't posted for future users and takes away from the time I'm able to spend helping on the rest of the forum. If you're so inclined I'm always more than happy to accept tips via PayPal. Tip Jar --->

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12-15-2009, 09:01 PM	#3
Krem 3" Exhaust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 167	well, I seriously doubt the radiator is the problem, else I should get my money back as it was rodded out and rebuilt last week.. but the guy did say my fan clutch needed to be replaced and was "going". Planning on replacing the fan clutch and installing the top and bottom shrouds this weekend... so hopefully that'll fix it... parking the car to play it safe but still driving it to get dinner or make corner store runs at 10pm, etc... if I see it happen again before I can make repairs, would reving or turning the car off and back on help initialize the fan clutch? or is it one of those "never can tell, if it's broke, nothin will help" kinda things?

12-16-2009, 12:27 AM	#5
Krem 3" Exhaust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 167	hmmmm, well that sux... sounds like the only way I'll be able to re-engage the fan if it's clutch fails is to manually spin it and hope the clutch catches and spins the fan with the crank... well, she won't see much road time in the next few days anyways... but you mentioned oil? is this something sealed within the clutch to lube the moving components? or is this oil something I'll encounter and need to prep for in my fan clutch replacement this weekend?