My buddy has an 07 FX4 and the fan clutch is going bad. Well he went to buy a new one and learned something even I didn't know. Somewhere along the way Ford decided to add a sensor to the fan clutches on our trucks. Luckily my 04 model doesn't have one cause the local NAPA store quoted him $65 for a normal fan and clutch, the one with a sensor costs over $200. He hasn't taken it apart yet and hasn't bought the new fan either so I was wondering if he can just buy the regular fan and swap over the sensor or is the sensor made onto the clutch? I'm assuming it throws a check engine light when the clutch gets faulty but his light has been on for a while anyway's for some reason so until he get's the codes checked I won't know if it does or not. Thanks for the help.

 

No clue on the fan swap, but has he changed the thermostat and added coolant water mix?

 

The clutch he has isn't a "sensor" so much as it is electronically controlled. The ECU tells the clutch when to engage/disengage. It is eletrco-mechanical as opposed to the normally mechanical-only clutch. If he is looking at spending $200+ to replace, maybe he should consider just going with some E-fans instead. He doesn't have to buy a new clutch, and he gains a few ponies, too. Just throwing that out there.

 

There is a set temperature point where the fan clutch will lock up. On my PCM, the stock set point was 210 degrees. It has other set points for MPH, RPM and WOT. It's not a bad system, but when the clutch goes south it can stay locked and will rob a lot of power.

 

and sound like a freight train. if mine ever locks up im going with troyer e fans. maybe even before it goes bad

 

We know its the fan cause the truck stays at normal operating temps while driving at a good speed but stop in traffic and the truck starts overheating. The fan also isn't cutting on like it should be. I would recommend him getting electric fans also but he's not the type of person that cares about modifying his truck. He just wants it fixed for as cheap as possible. Too bad he can't just install an old style fan with a mechanical clutch. $200 is outrageous for a freaking cooling fan.

 

Time to put E-Fans in. Just unplug the fan clutch and seal the connector with some good tape to keep the water out. I have a Gryphon tuner and it will have a code set indicating low fan RPM, BUT, it will not trip the CEL lamp, so..no problem!!

 

Before I dropped 200 for a factory replacment Id put that 200 towards the troyer e fan kit.

 

its a pulse width modulated electronic clutch instead of the traditional thermostatic clutch.

you will set a PCM code if you unplug the fan

 

Did you check the belt tension? Our fords at work always have failed tensioners and the belt drags enough to spin the fan but not enough to pull air.

 

This is true, however the CEL light will not come on for the code

 

false, tryd and tested 2007 I have 2010 Evans with Hayden vsc controller. It will have codes as the guy above stated. But no light, no light at all.