Just saw this browsing around on Ford's dealer site this morning. For folks who have their cooling fans sounding like a rolling idle, especially when cold, in trucks built before 10/1/2004, fan clutch replacement is the fix. Your dealerships should reference TSB 05-04-03 for further info.

 

thanks, i got that. truck is at the dealer now for 2 other problems. they are waiting for a throttle body and an abs sensor. i wonder what else is going to fail. calling them firsthing in the am about the clutch fan.

 

I am just wondering how come there is such a big deal over the rolling idle of the fan. Does it hurt the truck? Is something broken? Fill me in, just wondering. Also, any chance on getting a little summary of the TSB posted? Thanks!

 

I think it's annoying more than anything. My truck doesn't do it, so I ain't gonna worry about it. In a nutshell, verify the concern by starting the truck after a cold soak, put it in gear and listen for the cooling fan noise to increase and decrease, like a loud whooshing. If it does it, replace the fan clutch.

For a while, engineering didn't have a fix for this concern, and I remember a few people complaining about it on here. Just a heads for those folks.

 

Thanks Quint, mine does that and its annoying as heck, like someones racing the engine. I will be educating my dealer on this TSB soon..

 

Could someone post a good summary of the TSB possibly? Thanks.

 

i was wondering why my truck did that.... you let it idle and the fan sounds like it gets faster and then slows down, gets faster... slows down, gets faster... slows down.... it sounds retarded

 

Thanks Quintin.

I have my truck in for service now and called the service advisor to add this to the list. Don't know why but I thought this was normal, very annoying having the cooling fan running constantly.

 

Define "good summary." NHTSA or someone might have that TSB on their website, but it's relatively new, dated 11 Feb. I technically can't post the entire message word for word, since it's copyright of Ford, and I don't wanna get any F150online.com staff in hot water. I can E-mail you a copy if you wish though.

 

As a side note, cscoios, what brand name/model is your shell; I couldn't quite make it out in looking at your pictures - thanks!

Far from normal. Mine is terrible from highs to lows to on/off; sounds like someone is turning a vacuum cleaner on/off.

Anyway, thanks much 'Quintin' for finding TSB 05-04-03. I just spoke with my dealer and he stated the TSB references replacement fan clutch p/n 5L3Z-8A616-CB. If no one has posted the TSB after I obtain it from the dealer in a few days, I'll post it.

TSB 05-04-03 fix is in reference to Special Service Message (SSM) 17759. Note the effective date of this SMM is 04/30/04 - 10 months to resolve the issue Hopefully this will truly fix the problem and it will not reappear. My bet is it will since the SSM states replacing the fan clutch won't fix the problem. Thus, Ford had to come up with an entirely new/replacement fan clutch.

17759 2004 F-150 - ENGINE COOLING FAN NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A ROLLING IDLE

SOME 2004 F-150 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH EITHER A 5.4L OR 4.6L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COOLING FAN THAT SOUNDS LIKE A ROLLING ENGINE IDLE, MOST NOTICEABLE JUST AFTER A COLD ENGINE STARTUP AND BEFORE THE FAN CLUTCH HAS WARMED UP. THE CAUSE OF THE CONDITION CAN BE VERIFIED BY STARTING A COLD VEHICLE, PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR AND LISTENING FOR A REPEATED COOLING FAN NOISE INCREASE AND DECREASE. ENGINEERING IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THIS CONCERN. REPLACING THE FAN CLUTCH OR OTHER FRONT END ACCESSORY DRIVE (FEAD) COMPONENTS WILL NOT SOLVE THIS CONDITION, SO DO NOT ATTEMPT REPAIR. IF THE ENGINE HAS AN ACTUAL ROLLING IDLE, FOLLOW NORMAL DIAGNOSTICS. EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/30/2004.

 

ftkcignusx1,

The shell is an ARE Z series, cost about $1600.

 

02/18/05 - Technician replaced fan clutch perTSB 05-04-03. Service gave me a copy of the TSB, but it didn't say much other than to replace existing fan clutch with new fan clutch p/n 5L3Z-8A616-CB. The good news, even in cold starts (5 degrees F when I started it in the morning) works like a charm; no more fan cycling from low to high.

 

Quintin-
A big THANK YOU for sharing so much info with us. It is truly appreciated. I have a fantastic service department (so far) and it only makes it that much better when I can go in informed (but not arrogant)!

 

Anything I can do to help, I'm there.

 

i had my truck in for an abs light and eng fail safe mode. took it in on monday and it was back and forth till thursday to get that fixed. finally.

asked the service manager about the rolling idle and he didnt have a clue. he said he would find out about it. he ran my vin number and said nothing came up. i guess that was the end of his search for info. he said that i could leave the truck overnight and they would listen to it in the morning. the farther i can keep my truck away from the dealer the better. if he hadnt played stupid about the problem and fix i might have considered it, but i got to thinking if they did hear it they wouldnt have known what to do about it anyway.