Clutch fan, normal or not?
#1
Clutch fan, normal or not?
Seems anytime I am not keeping my speed up i.e. 0-25mph stop and go traffic for more than 5 minutes or cruising around on the dirt roads with some slight incline the clutch fan kicks on and is loud. Louder than any other truck Ive driven or heard. Had a passenger with me yesterday and as soon as it kicked on he looked at me and said "what the hell is that"
The noise is just the sound of the fan, no whining, growling, clicking or anything other than ordinary. But it is loud. As if the fan is in the cab, really. To me, it is excessive. And why is it coming on so much with just low speed driving? Normal or should I look into seeing if it needs replaced. Temps are down into the 40-50 so it is not hot out. Doesnt matter where my heat selection is, it does it whether it is on or off.
Hunting season coming up. If I have to listen to that 80,000cfm jet engine fan kicking on all the time, no way in hell am I going to sneak up on anything.
The noise is just the sound of the fan, no whining, growling, clicking or anything other than ordinary. But it is loud. As if the fan is in the cab, really. To me, it is excessive. And why is it coming on so much with just low speed driving? Normal or should I look into seeing if it needs replaced. Temps are down into the 40-50 so it is not hot out. Doesnt matter where my heat selection is, it does it whether it is on or off.
Hunting season coming up. If I have to listen to that 80,000cfm jet engine fan kicking on all the time, no way in hell am I going to sneak up on anything.
Last edited by Toyz; 11-10-2014 at 10:08 PM.
#3
#4
In that case, I don't think changin' it is gonna help - the fan clutch cooling strategy is programmed into the PCM and is likely not faulty. Possibly a reflash to a newer PCM strategy may help, but that's just a SWAG. Ask yer dealer to check if updates are available?
Sorry - fergot to check yer truck's vintage. My bad. Yall need to update yer profile ( upper right ).
MGD
#5
Oye - hold on a sec - it's a 2007, right? If so, it uses a PCM-controlled fan clutch, NOT a bimetallic internal t'stat like on the 2006 and older trucks.
In that case, I don't think changin' it is gonna help - the fan clutch cooling strategy is programmed into the PCM and is likely not faulty. Possibly a reflash to a newer PCM strategy may help, but that's just a SWAG. Ask yer dealer to check if updates are available?
Sorry - fergot to check yer truck's vintage. My bad. Yall need to update yer profile ( upper right ).
MGD
In that case, I don't think changin' it is gonna help - the fan clutch cooling strategy is programmed into the PCM and is likely not faulty. Possibly a reflash to a newer PCM strategy may help, but that's just a SWAG. Ask yer dealer to check if updates are available?
Sorry - fergot to check yer truck's vintage. My bad. Yall need to update yer profile ( upper right ).
MGD
07 it is.
I'll have to dig around to bring up some info on what yer sayin.. pcm controlled eh.
So to figure out why it is coming on so often at low speeds. And why it is so loud. There is no fluctuation of the temp (dash gauge) before or during the fan kicking on that I can see.
#6
Oops. I'll get that fixed up real quick.
07 it is.
I'll have to dig around to bring up some info on what yer sayin.. pcm controlled eh.
Sounds like serious business
So to figure out why it is coming on so often at low speeds. And why it is so loud. There is no fluctuation of the temp (dash gauge) before or during the fan kicking on that I can see.
07 it is.
I'll have to dig around to bring up some info on what yer sayin.. pcm controlled eh.
Sounds like serious business
So to figure out why it is coming on so often at low speeds. And why it is so loud. There is no fluctuation of the temp (dash gauge) before or during the fan kicking on that I can see.
For now - I'd keep an eye on it - note any significant changes.
Best of luck
MGD
#7
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#8
#9
Hey guys.
Bringing this back real quick as the problem seems to be getting worse with the weather warming up and it needs to be fixed. I'll probably drop it off sometime next week to have it looked at but figured Id get some ideas on what could be going on before I go in there.
07 5.4L
Still same issue, fan coming on after 25 minutes of normal driving, normal temps. But there are more symptoms that come with the fan coming on. The more serious one is I am getting very hard, loud banging downshifts when the fan is engaged. Sometimes to the point I will pull over and sit for 15 minutes just so the fan will go off and I can go about getting home. During this time btw, the temp gauge is normal as always and no other signs of a heat issue. The downshifts ONLY happen when I can hear the fan is engaged. Otherwise the trans feels normal during normal driving. Once the clutch fan comes on, it stays on until one of two things, It sits long enough to cool down or I can get at a good cruising speed on the highway long enough but even then most the time it will stay on.
What is the relationship with the trans and clutch fan? Trans fluid looks and smells normal but I am thinking of taking it in for a drain and fill just to eliminate the possibility of it being an issue. Does the trans fluid use the radiator as a cooler or is that separate? I know they shared a radiator in my last truck but havent even had a chance to look on this one.
Sorry, still have not had time to make it to the dealer to check for any updates......working 7 days a week this time of the year.
I have gone to bigger tires, 285/70/17 with no calibration... if that would have anything to do with it.
Thanks
Bringing this back real quick as the problem seems to be getting worse with the weather warming up and it needs to be fixed. I'll probably drop it off sometime next week to have it looked at but figured Id get some ideas on what could be going on before I go in there.
07 5.4L
Still same issue, fan coming on after 25 minutes of normal driving, normal temps. But there are more symptoms that come with the fan coming on. The more serious one is I am getting very hard, loud banging downshifts when the fan is engaged. Sometimes to the point I will pull over and sit for 15 minutes just so the fan will go off and I can go about getting home. During this time btw, the temp gauge is normal as always and no other signs of a heat issue. The downshifts ONLY happen when I can hear the fan is engaged. Otherwise the trans feels normal during normal driving. Once the clutch fan comes on, it stays on until one of two things, It sits long enough to cool down or I can get at a good cruising speed on the highway long enough but even then most the time it will stay on.
What is the relationship with the trans and clutch fan? Trans fluid looks and smells normal but I am thinking of taking it in for a drain and fill just to eliminate the possibility of it being an issue. Does the trans fluid use the radiator as a cooler or is that separate? I know they shared a radiator in my last truck but havent even had a chance to look on this one.
Sorry, still have not had time to make it to the dealer to check for any updates......working 7 days a week this time of the year.
I have gone to bigger tires, 285/70/17 with no calibration... if that would have anything to do with it.
Thanks
Last edited by Toyz; 05-06-2015 at 08:38 AM.
#11
Positives:
- Less parasitic drag on the engine.
- Ability to cool while idling in traffic.
- Better access to engine pulley area.
- Better sound; no "fan whir" from the engine bay.
Negatives:
- Reduced cooling potential. There's simply no way an electric fan can flow the same CFM as an engine driven one.
- Greater alternator load.
- More arguable: Less reliable. In my experience, the typical failure mode of an engine-driven fan is a seized pulley, which means the fan will be driven at max capacity. An electric fan's usual failure mode is a bad relay or temp sensor, which means the fan won't turn on at all. If something's going to go wrong, I'd rather have too much cooling than not enough.
For me the cons outweigh the pros. For a truck, that is; for something like a sports car it'd be a different story. Something to think about????
- Less parasitic drag on the engine.
- Ability to cool while idling in traffic.
- Better access to engine pulley area.
- Better sound; no "fan whir" from the engine bay.
Negatives:
- Reduced cooling potential. There's simply no way an electric fan can flow the same CFM as an engine driven one.
- Greater alternator load.
- More arguable: Less reliable. In my experience, the typical failure mode of an engine-driven fan is a seized pulley, which means the fan will be driven at max capacity. An electric fan's usual failure mode is a bad relay or temp sensor, which means the fan won't turn on at all. If something's going to go wrong, I'd rather have too much cooling than not enough.
For me the cons outweigh the pros. For a truck, that is; for something like a sports car it'd be a different story. Something to think about????
#12
#13
Your gauges are nothing more than dummy lights with needles. you need to read actual temperatures via the OBDII port before you can dismiss an actual overheating incident is occuring. The temperature gauge won't move from the middle until the coolant temp is at the point of engine damage or limp mode. I use a scangauge II. Monitors coolant and trans temps all the time.
#14
Your gauges are nothing more than dummy lights with needles. you need to read actual temperatures via the OBDII port before you can dismiss an actual overheating incident is occuring. The temperature gauge won't move from the middle until the coolant temp is at the point of engine damage or limp mode. I use a scangauge II. Monitors coolant and trans temps all the time.
I brought my scangauge down to Florida with me to drive my dads mustang back. At idle it goes up to about 220° and is in the normal range on the highway, so I know his fan isn't working right.
Just saying, 220° doesn't move the needle in the cluster at all, but my scangauge shows me what's really going on.
Bottom line, get one or something similar and see the actual head temps and coolant temps.