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New Fan Clutch - now Roars

7K views 8 replies 0 participants last post by  Paul of Dayon 
G
#1 ·
Hi Folks-

I just replaced the fan clutch on my '95 Crown Vic. It's a weird car, it
has 2 fans. The regular mechanical belt drive and also an electric that
seems to run when the A/C is on. Anyway - I was checking trans fluid and
noticed the fan not turning even tho the engine was. so...time for a new
clutch.

I shopped a bit and bought a Hayden since I had used them on other cars and
they're built here in USA. After the swap, the fan roars constantly. It
does not appear to disengage at all. It is a real trip on the freeway! I
took it back and got a second one. So far, it seems the same. The new
clutch is the same general size and shape as the original. There is even a
note in the instructions explaining that a new clutch might not engage right
away because it needs to spin a bit for the fluid to get to where it does
it's thing.

Do these things take a few hundred miles to break in? Could I have gotten
two bad ones in a row?

I can't stand the noise, the car is now louder than some heavy machinery and
people notice...

If there is a more suitable product out there, I'd sure like to know what it
is. I am about to give this back and go to a Ford dealer for one... (twice
the $$, tho...)

Thanks folks - let me know what you think.

PoD
 
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G
#2 ·
On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 02:30:27 GMT, "Paul of Dayton"
<plus1111@NOSPAM.hotmail.com> wrote:

>Hi Folks-
>
>I just replaced the fan clutch on my '95 Crown Vic. It's a weird car, it
>has 2 fans. The regular mechanical belt drive and also an electric that
>seems to run when the A/C is on. Anyway - I was checking trans fluid and
>noticed the fan not turning even tho the engine was. so...time for a new
>clutch.
>
>I shopped a bit and bought a Hayden since I had used them on other cars and
>they're built here in USA. After the swap, the fan roars constantly. It
>does not appear to disengage at all. It is a real trip on the freeway! I
>took it back and got a second one. So far, it seems the same. The new
>clutch is the same general size and shape as the original. There is even a
>note in the instructions explaining that a new clutch might not engage right
>away because it needs to spin a bit for the fluid to get to where it does
>it's thing.
>
>Do these things take a few hundred miles to break in? Could I have gotten
>two bad ones in a row?
>
>I can't stand the noise, the car is now louder than some heavy machinery and
>people notice...
>
>If there is a more suitable product out there, I'd sure like to know what it
>is. I am about to give this back and go to a Ford dealer for one... (twice
>the $$, tho...)
>
>Thanks folks - let me know what you think.
>
>PoD
>


Generally they get quieter as they break in. So I'd give it a few
weeks if you can.
 
G
#3 ·
I understand "shopped a bit" to mean I bought the cheapest one or a
variation on the theme. Thermostatic fans are NOT created equal... cheap
ones are - well, they're cheap ones... unfortunately, expensive ones can be
cheap ones if you fall for the hype...

FWIW, did you change the fan clutch for any other reason than the fan didn't
appear to be turning? Was the car overheating? Was there any noticeable
concern?

If it ain't broke, why "fix" it?


"Paul of Dayton" <plus1111@NOSPAM.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7TB7f.2295$Y61.110@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
> Hi Folks-
>
> I just replaced the fan clutch on my '95 Crown Vic. It's a weird car, it
> has 2 fans. The regular mechanical belt drive and also an electric that
> seems to run when the A/C is on. Anyway - I was checking trans fluid and
> noticed the fan not turning even tho the engine was. so...time for a new
> clutch.
>
> I shopped a bit and bought a Hayden since I had used them on other cars

and
> they're built here in USA. After the swap, the fan roars constantly. It
> does not appear to disengage at all. It is a real trip on the freeway! I
> took it back and got a second one. So far, it seems the same. The new
> clutch is the same general size and shape as the original. There is even

a
> note in the instructions explaining that a new clutch might not engage

right
> away because it needs to spin a bit for the fluid to get to where it does
> it's thing.
>
> Do these things take a few hundred miles to break in? Could I have gotten
> two bad ones in a row?
>
> I can't stand the noise, the car is now louder than some heavy machinery

and
> people notice...
>
> If there is a more suitable product out there, I'd sure like to know what

it
> is. I am about to give this back and go to a Ford dealer for one...

(twice
> the $$, tho...)
>
> Thanks folks - let me know what you think.
>
> PoD
>
>
 
G
#4 ·
Hi Jim-

Actually, I shopped because I wanted a familiar brand name with a good
warranty and I had used Hayden before. It wasn't the cheapest. A reman
no-name was cheapest and a new "Made in China" no-name was second. Ford
factory part is most expensive, followed by a "performance" brand I was
unfamiliar with.

I have had pinging on acceleration but only after the car is warmed up for a
while. I also noticed that my usually stable outside temp display would
rise several degrees at a lite, only to fall again when driving. The dash
coolant display never goes above half, even with a blocked radiator... so I
don't know for sure.

Oh, the fan had a lot of wobble in it with the old clutch, too. The wobble
was worst after driving a while, when the fan didn't turn. After sitting
over night it was tighter.

PoD


"Jim Warman" <mechanic@tenalpsulet.net> wrote in message
news:OUD7f.43503$yS6.5704@clgrps12...
>I understand "shopped a bit" to mean I bought the cheapest one or a
> variation on the theme. Thermostatic fans are NOT created equal... cheap
> ones are - well, they're cheap ones... unfortunately, expensive ones can
> be
> cheap ones if you fall for the hype...
>
> FWIW, did you change the fan clutch for any other reason than the fan
> didn't
> appear to be turning? Was the car overheating? Was there any noticeable
> concern?
>
> If it ain't broke, why "fix" it?
>
>
> "Paul of Dayton" <plus1111@NOSPAM.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:7TB7f.2295$Y61.110@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
>> Hi Folks-
>>
>> I just replaced the fan clutch on my '95 Crown Vic. It's a weird car, it
>> has 2 fans. The regular mechanical belt drive and also an electric that
>> seems to run when the A/C is on. Anyway - I was checking trans fluid and
>> noticed the fan not turning even tho the engine was. so...time for a new
>> clutch.
>>
>> I shopped a bit and bought a Hayden since I had used them on other cars

> and
>> they're built here in USA. After the swap, the fan roars constantly. It
>> does not appear to disengage at all. It is a real trip on the freeway!
>> I
>> took it back and got a second one. So far, it seems the same. The new
>> clutch is the same general size and shape as the original. There is even

> a
>> note in the instructions explaining that a new clutch might not engage

> right
>> away because it needs to spin a bit for the fluid to get to where it does
>> it's thing.
>>
>> Do these things take a few hundred miles to break in? Could I have
>> gotten
>> two bad ones in a row?
>>
>> I can't stand the noise, the car is now louder than some heavy machinery

> and
>> people notice...
>>
>> If there is a more suitable product out there, I'd sure like to know what

> it
>> is. I am about to give this back and go to a Ford dealer for one...

> (twice
>> the $$, tho...)
>>
>> Thanks folks - let me know what you think.
>>
>> PoD
>>
>>

>
>
 
G
#5 ·
I figured there would be a break-in - I wasn't expecting it to last past a
couple of highway trips. It's been several years since I have replaced
one - but I don't remember noise like this before.

Thanks!

PoD


"Ashton Crusher" <Hello@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:ei2ul1h96lvv9ge6qqom8g53ntf68ir9cu@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 02:30:27 GMT, "Paul of Dayton"
> <plus1111@NOSPAM.hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Hi Folks-
>>
>>I just replaced the fan clutch on my '95 Crown Vic. It's a weird car, it
>>has 2 fans. The regular mechanical belt drive and also an electric that
>>seems to run when the A/C is on. Anyway - I was checking trans fluid and
>>noticed the fan not turning even tho the engine was. so...time for a new
>>clutch.
>>
>>I shopped a bit and bought a Hayden since I had used them on other cars
>>and
>>they're built here in USA. After the swap, the fan roars constantly. It
>>does not appear to disengage at all. It is a real trip on the freeway! I
>>took it back and got a second one. So far, it seems the same. The new
>>clutch is the same general size and shape as the original. There is even
>>a
>>note in the instructions explaining that a new clutch might not engage
>>right
>>away because it needs to spin a bit for the fluid to get to where it does
>>it's thing.
>>
>>Do these things take a few hundred miles to break in? Could I have gotten
>>two bad ones in a row?
>>
>>I can't stand the noise, the car is now louder than some heavy machinery
>>and
>>people notice...
>>
>>If there is a more suitable product out there, I'd sure like to know what
>>it
>>is. I am about to give this back and go to a Ford dealer for one...
>>(twice
>>the $$, tho...)
>>
>>Thanks folks - let me know what you think.
>>
>>PoD
>>

>
> Generally they get quieter as they break in. So I'd give it a few
> weeks if you can.
 
G
#6 ·
"Paul of Dayton" wrote

> I just replaced the fan clutch on my '95 Crown Vic.
> I shopped a bit and bought a Hayden since I had used them on other cars and
> they're built here in USA. After the swap, the fan roars constantly. It
> does not appear to disengage at all. It is a real trip on the freeway!


We're sure it's the right part number?
Made to turn the proper direction?
Has the same bi-metal springy thing on the front?
The fan mounting bolts aren't too long, crushing and locking it solid?
Can you spin the fan by hand (although with some effort)?
 
G
#7 ·
Part # double-checked by parts guy and also referenced at the Hayden site
(and some other on-line places.)

Arrow on case seems right (but I will look again to be sure)

It does have the spring - in fact - it looks almost like the original Ford
one.

Mounting bolts are fine - the fan does spin by hand but it is hard to turn -
just like out of the box.

I experienced the wrong direction design once on a different car. It was a
cheepo no name and was replaced 3 times. Finally the parts company gave me
a Hayden, it was right and perfect from the start. That is why I am so
stumped now.

One parts place wanted me to use the clutch from a '92 - it was about half
the size. I figured it would soon fail.

PoD



"MasterBlaster" <Nobody's.Home@My.Place> wrote in message
news:xdJ7f.42293$y_1.35383@edtnps89...
>
> "Paul of Dayton" wrote
>
>> I just replaced the fan clutch on my '95 Crown Vic.
>> I shopped a bit and bought a Hayden since I had used them on other cars
>> and
>> they're built here in USA. After the swap, the fan roars constantly. It
>> does not appear to disengage at all. It is a real trip on the freeway!

>
> We're sure it's the right part number?
> Made to turn the proper direction?
> Has the same bi-metal springy thing on the front?
> The fan mounting bolts aren't too long, crushing and locking it solid?
> Can you spin the fan by hand (although with some effort)?
>
 
G
#8 ·
On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 02:30:27 GMT, "Paul of Dayton"
<plus1111@NOSPAM.hotmail.com> wrote:

>Hi Folks-
>
>I just replaced the fan clutch on my '95 Crown Vic. It's a weird car, it
>has 2 fans. The regular mechanical belt drive and also an electric that
>seems to run when the A/C is on. Anyway - I was checking trans fluid and
>noticed the fan not turning even tho the engine was. so...time for a new
>clutch.
>
>I shopped a bit and bought a Hayden since I had used them on other cars and
>they're built here in USA. After the swap, the fan roars constantly. It
>does not appear to disengage at all. It is a real trip on the freeway! I
>took it back and got a second one. So far, it seems the same. The new
>clutch is the same general size and shape as the original. There is even a
>note in the instructions explaining that a new clutch might not engage right
>away because it needs to spin a bit for the fluid to get to where it does
>it's thing.
>
>Do these things take a few hundred miles to break in? Could I have gotten
>two bad ones in a row?
>
>I can't stand the noise, the car is now louder than some heavy machinery and
>people notice...
>
>If there is a more suitable product out there, I'd sure like to know what it
>is. I am about to give this back and go to a Ford dealer for one... (twice
>the $$, tho...)
>
>Thanks folks - let me know what you think.
>
>PoD
>



One thing you may need to check is whether the replacement
fan is a torque limiting fan or a true thermal fan. Some
run the fan at full speed all the time until the engine RPM
are up at which time is begins to "slip" reducing the amount
of torque to drive it. It will fully lock when the temp
gets high enough. They are noisy all the time and suck up
extra power and fuel (much more than you would think!!).
The true thermal fan will be pretty much locked on cold
start but, will pretty much freewheel after a couple of
minutes unless and until the lock temp is reached. The OEM
on Fords is a true thermal unit. There is also a difference
in which direction they are designed to operate. Make sure
it is the same as the OEM clutch. I have used a couple of
the Eaton replacement clutches with good results but, it has
been several years.

Good luck
Lugnut
 
G
#9 ·
Thanks Lugnut. The web site and the paperwork say thermal. It does have
the spring thing on front. I sent Hayden an email on Monday but no answer,
yet.

The second one is just as loud as the first. I'm going to give it another
day or two, then probably return it if it doesn't quiet down.

I'll let folks know how it turns out.

PoD



"lugnut" <lugnut@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:80rvl1dbolf4sjum56jm4agajof3pn0p9d@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 02:30:27 GMT, "Paul of Dayton"
> <plus1111@NOSPAM.hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Hi Folks-
>>
 
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