Thread: Temporary Fix for Viscous Fan

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Can I ask a stupid question?

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.

Originally Posted by Mr Ploppy

Can I ask a stupid question?

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.

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.

Originally Posted by bee utey

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.

Originally Posted by Cannon

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.

Originally Posted by Mr Ploppy

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.

Originally Posted by bee utey

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.