Fan clutch

365 Views 17 Replies 5 Participants Last post by richguess, 3 d ago

richguess

Discussion Starter · 10 d ago

Hi all—I have a Chevy Tracker 2001 AWD LX V6. At an oil and belt change, it was noted by the shop that my fan clutch was failing and the fan was cracked. They also noted that the fan (plastic) was not available. I looked, the fan is indeed cracked in several placed but works fine. I did find a forum suggestion on how to remove the fan clutch and blade. Has anybody done this? Difficulty? Complications?

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fordem

· #2 · 10 d ago

richguess said:
Has anybody done this? Difficulty? Complications?

Difficuty?

How big are your hands? How tight are the nuts? How long is a piece of string?

It's as straight forward as it looks - get in there with a wrench, remove the nuts that secure the fan clutch to the water pump pulley, pull the fan & clutch forward and remove.

It might be easier if you removed the fan shroud and/or the radiator, I've done it without removing the radiator, can't remember if the shroud HAS to be removed.

Complications?

Hey, sh!t happens, the nuts get rounded off, the fan might break, the shroud might break, you might stab the wrench through the radiator and it springs a leak.

We don't know your skill level, we don't what your tool set looks like, it's not difficult in the sense that it's not a complex task, something a first year apprentice can be trusted to do.

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Reactions: 1

L84sky

· #3 · 9 d ago

richguess said:
how to remove the fan clutch and blade

Remove the fan belt from the generator.
Drain two inches of coolant from the radiator.
Remove the top radiator hose.
Remove the four shroud bolts.
Remove the four nuts from the water pump studs.
Lift the fan and shroud out together.

Reactions: 1

rallison203

· #4 · 9 d ago

I've had some difficulty reattaching the lower two 10mm (?) bolts that fasten the plastic shroud to the core support. Hard to see and tough to get a wrench down there.

I found it's easiest to remove the 2 bolts completely when removing the shroud, but on reassembly, start the bolts first. Then slide the shroud down and clip it in. That's how I do it anyway.

fordem

· #5 · 9 d ago

Serious question - have you tried getting underneath the vehicle?

Admittedly my experience is with the 2.0 engine, but within the last twelve months, I've had the radiator out (for top tank repairs), the fan clutch out (air conditioner issues) and replaced a leaking water pump - I'm fairly certain those two bolts are easily accessible from underneath.

rallison203

· #6 · 9 d ago

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L84sky

· #7 · 9 d ago

rallison203 said:
I've had some difficulty reattaching the lower two 10mm (?) bolts that fasten the plastic shroud to the core support.

Yeah, those bottom bolts can be frustrating. I can reach the one on the bank 2 side of the engine (passenger side on my LHD car) from the top with my left hand but the one on the driver's side is a lot tougher.

I have tried reaching it from the bottom but access is blocked on three sides. I repostioned the the power steering reservoir and the coolant overflow tank and was able to wiggle my skinny little arm down to the bolt.

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fordem

· #8 · 9 d ago

Ohhhh - I might have been using a cordless ratchet...

rallison203

· #9 · 8 d ago (Edited)

richguess said:
Hi all—I have a Chevy Tracker 2001 AWD LX V6. At an oil and belt change, it was noted by the shop that my fan clutch was failing and the fan was cracked. They also noted that the fan (plastic) was not available. I looked, the fan is indeed cracked in several placed but works fine. I did find a forum suggestion on how to remove the fan clutch and blade. Has anybody done this? Difficulty? Complications?

Follow post #3 and you should be good to go. Also try the junkyard for the fan and clutch, if you're inclined. The 2g Suzuki GV and XL7 fan/clutch assemblies are compatible.

fordem

· #10 · 8 d ago

I'm going to say no to the junkyard fan clutch - go with new off of RockAuto.com.

When the air conditioner shop said my fan clutch was defective, for the first step we refilled it with "silicone oil", and I think we put too much, step #2 was a new, old stock genuine Suzuki that the local dealer ship had, better, but still not right, step #3 was a new GMB from RockAuto - that air conditioner has never worked this good - it been there a year now and still working like a champ.

The fan clutches gradually lose the silicone oil that causes them to lock up, and a junkyard fan clutch is pretty much guaranteed to be in the same condition as the existing one, so for the few bucks it'll cost why not - the GMB I bought was $45.

rallison203

· #11 · 8 d ago

I stand by my observations.

richguess

Discussion Starter · #12 · 3 d ago

Thx. My plan was to buy a new clutch (pretty cheap) but get a fan/clutch at the junkyard. Will post results.

richguess

Discussion Starter · #13 · 3 d ago

fordem said:
Difficuty?

How big are your hands? How tight are the nuts? How long is a piece of string?

It's as straight forward as it looks - get in there with a wrench, remove the nuts that secure the fan clutch to the water pump pulley, pull the fan & clutch forward and remove.

It might be easier if you removed the fan shroud and/or the radiator, I've done it without removing the radiator, can't remember if the shroud HAS to be removed.

Complications?

Hey, sh!t happens, the nuts get rounded off, the fan might break, the shroud might break, you might stab the wrench through the radiator and it springs a leak.

We don't know your skill level, we don't what your tool set looks like, it's not difficult in the sense that it's not a complex task, something a first year apprentice can be trusted to do.

I wouldn’t say I’m the auto shop king, but I did replace the radiator last year myself when it developed a crack (they’re plastic) that I couldn’t repair with JB Weld and other stuff. Was a bit of pain, but not technically difficult. This looks a bit less involved. Moving the shroud forward may be the hardest part.

fordem

· #14 · 3 d ago

Just my experience, JB Weld on a radiator is a "get-you-home" fix at best, it's never lasted me more than a few days. I'd say if you can replace a radiator a fan clutch will be pretty much a walk in the park.

richguess

Discussion Starter · #15 · 3 d ago

Yours and mine both. I could barely see the crack, but it ran transversely across the front end the radiator. I use the Tracker as a RV Toad, so I just ought a gallon of premix antifreeze, and duct taped the hell out of it. I was able to drive it 15-20 miles for fly fishing, replaced the radiator when home. It’s really been very reliable.

L84sky

· #16 · 3 d ago

richguess said:
the crack, ... ran transversely across the front end the radiator.

I believe I had that same crack.

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Max

· #17 · 3 d ago

See the top FAQ section....

www.suzuki-forums.com

When good radiators go bad...

and their plastic tanks give out, this is what you get: I'm not complaining though. 223K on the original ten year old unit ain't bad! After an exhaustive search locally and on the web, I stumbled on a sweet deal NEW replacement! $108 + tax on an import (Indonesia) manufactured radiator in...

www.suzuki-forums.com

www.suzuki-forums.com

richguess

Discussion Starter · #18 · 3 d ago

L84sky said:
View attachment 111681
I believe I had that same crack.

Yup.

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