Fan clutch

2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
200,000 MILES • V8 • 4WD
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TEDENGINEERING1
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
With a cold engine, if you grab a fan fin and try to spin the fan, there is no free-wheeling (the fan stops right after it is released). The clutch is bad, is it not?
Jul 15, 2018 at 7:05 PM
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CJ MEDEVAC
  • AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 11,004 POSTS
Not a legitimate way to test it.

Normally, if you fire up the engine and watch your gauge until it is at operating temperature. Then go stand at the front of your rig.

If the clutch is operating correctly, you will hear it change from a mild sound to a strong roar (the radiator heat made it engage) After the roaring fan cools the radiator it will return to that mild sound. After a bit, the radiator will get hot again and again it will roar. This will happen over and over.

I have two links for you from "Repair Guides" (top right of our pages)

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-clutch-fan-works

the other

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/fan-clutch-symptoms

The Medic
Jul 16, 2018 at 6:39 PM
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