Temporary Fix for Viscous Fan

[Cannon]

Hi Folks,

After bragging about how well my 2003 V8 was going in another thread ( won't do that again:() it seems my fan has given up the ghost again.

When hot I can stop it with a bit of cardboard & it takes about 10-15 secs to spin up again.

Turn off the engine & it keeps spinning for about 5 secs.

I was wondering what would happen if I was out in the bush somewhere & it failed again.

Is there is a temp fix you could do to get yourself home?

It's still warranteed so I don't want to stick a screw though it or anything.

[bee utey]

Hi Folks,

After bragging about how well my 2003 V8 was going in another thread ( won't do that again:() it seems my fan has given up the ghost again.

When hot I can stop it with a bit of cardboard & it takes about 10-15 secs to spin up again.

Turn off the engine & it keeps spinning for about 5 secs.

I was wondering what would happen if I was out in the bush somewhere & it failed again.

Is there is a temp fix you could do to get yourself home?

It's still warranteed so I don't want to stick a screw though it or anything.

Any temporary fix would risk the fan exploding if you rev it hard. Having said that, you could easily fabricate two or more strips of metal to couple the fan bolts to the pulley bolts, fit them as needed. Frankly, I would carry a spare fan clutch. Look around for a similar clutch off a regular oz made vehicle and acquire a spare.

[SimonM]

Can I ask a stupid question?:angel:

Why do you need to have a temporary fix if it's not working? What would happen if you just left it?

I find stupid questions often help destupidise me a little.

[bee utey]

Can I ask a stupid question?:angel:

Why do you need to have a temporary fix if it's not working? What would happen if you just left it?

I find stupid questions often help destupidise me a little.

Ummm, fan clutch failure in hot weather often results in cooking the motor, or having to wait for much colder conditions before proceeding. Difficult halfway across a sandy stretch of desert highway.

[Debacle]

If it's the sort that can be taken apart then you can refill the fluid inside. It is available, unfortunately from Toyota dealers, but you can probably wear a disguise and no one will know you were there. I have heard of people using vasoline also.

I don't know how the Landrover ones are constructed, but that's how I fixed one off another make of car.

[SimonM]

Ummm, fan clutch failure in hot weather often results in cooking the motor, or having to wait for much colder conditions before proceeding. Difficult halfway across a sandy stretch of desert highway.

Thanks but that would occur if the fan was fixed in place like originally mentioned right? I guess that is what I am trying to work out as I have heard people mention putting a screw through it before.

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

Hi Folks,


It's still warranteed so I don't want to stick a screw though it or anything.
Well go to the dealer and get a new viscous fan under warranty. Why try to patch one later if it fails.

[bee utey]

Thanks but that would occur if the fan was fixed in place like originally mentioned right? I guess that is what I am trying to work out as I have heard people mention putting a screw through it before.
A fan clutch connects the fan to the engine. If the clutch fails it just freewheels instead of pushing air. If a screw is put through the clutch it drives all the time, allowing you to use the vehicle in the heat. This practice also risks blowing off fan blades if you rev the engine too hard, as normally the clutch doesn't drive the fan to full speed. This is part of the clutch having "viscous" fluid inside instead of a set of clutch plates.

[SimonM]

A fan clutch connects the fan to the engine. If the clutch fails it just freewheels instead of pushing air. If a screw is put through the clutch it drives all the time, allowing you to use the vehicle in the heat. This practice also risks blowing off fan blades if you rev the engine too hard, as normally the clutch doesn't drive the fan to full speed. This is part of the clutch having "viscous" fluid inside instead of a set of clutch plates.

Thanks mate. I get it now.

[p38arover]

If it's the sort that can be taken apart then you can refill the fluid inside. It is available, unfortunately from Toyota dealers,

I have two small bottles of the stuff in my garage. If someone needs it, I can check the Toyota part nos.

[Blknight.aus]

the get you home in a pinch fix is a bit of rope, tie it around one blade and then wind the fan against the normal direction of rotation for 3 or 4 turns before tying the rope off on a blade thats opposite the one you started on.

get it tight enough and the rope will drive the fan for your.

You're limited to 2K rpm with the fan locked or it will eventually go splody on you.

[PhilipA]

The reason that viscous fans usually fail is that the seal on the front or rear fails. While adding fluid will help it is only short term.

Have any of you seen what happens when the fan loses a or several blades? Blades can and do go through at various times the bonnet( I have seen this) , the battery ( I have also seen this ,same car). the radiator , the shroud etc etc.
So if you plan to lock up a viscous be aware that you may get home much later if the blades take out the battery and /or the radiator.

IMHO VCs are very reliable and only fail after telling you for many months.
A quick check by pulling it off and checking for front or rear staining from a failed seal can save a lot of drama later.
Regards Philip A

[Cannon]

Thanks all:)

The fan was replaced in August so I'll be off to the warranty shop on Monday.

I'm just glad I've been keeping an eye on the coolant temps with the hot weather here earlier in the week.

Could have been much worse.

[rovercare]

I've driven Self tappers in the hub, also smashed the hub with a hammer to lock it, all have happened when heading bush and people's cars overheat

I would not use rope, it will put it to far out of balance, that's bad

[Blknight.aus]

the rope tricks fine providing you wind on evenly and tie off on opposite blades...

In most landies theres enough room to get in once you take the shroud off to wind some self tappers in and thats definately the better way to go BUT have you been into some engine bays these days?

[rangieman]

Mmmmm maybe a cordless drill a drill bit maybe 6mm and a tube of silicon , If all fluid has leaked out of the vc or simply drill and drain the the fluid out and then fill the vc with silicon allow to set one locked vc ;)

[p38arover]

I've seen people pump light grease into them.

[PhilipA]

Sounds like "Bush Mechanics" as in the series not the practical solution .
Just another solution to get you home , I would probably remove the fan and just join the wires of the temp switch on the thermostat housing. If your Radiator is clean the aircon fans shoiuld cool the car enough especially on road.

Regards Philip A

[Blknight.aus]

Sounds like "Bush Mechanics" as in the series not the practical solution .
Just another solution to get you home , I would probably remove the fan and just join the wires of the temp switch on the thermostat housing. If your Radiator is clean the aircon fans shoiuld cool the car enough especially on road.

Regards Philip A

been there tried that as a lets try it and see, only in manuals and only at 80KPH on the open highway

tdi300 yes up to about 30 degrees centigrade ambient outside temp

v8 yes up to about 25 degrees centigrade outside ambient

Spat the fan on a 93 v8 disco in townsville, from cold start with no fan 5 minutes worth of townsville driving to overheat.... not quite enough to get to work. with the fans 15 minutes, just enough time to do the loop dropping SWMBO off then making it to work.