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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.
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
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.
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
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?
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 ;)
I've seen people pump light grease into them.
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 highwayQuote:
Originally Posted by PhilipA
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.