Thermatic Fan on v6

[cooper276 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close cooper276]

Guys,

Quick one - my fan is running 100% of the time the motor is running, but even my limited brain power tells me that it wouldn't have a clutch if it was supposed to do this.

Thoughts? Is mine buggered and needs replacing?

Cheers

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Thermatic Fan on v6

Are you talking about the engine driven fan or the AC electric fan?

The engine fan spins all the time from transfered inertia... it fully locks up at high temperature. When they fail it's normally due to not locking up (causing engine over heating).


Mick

[cooper276 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close cooper276]

Re: Thermatic Fan on v6

Thanks for the reply Mick.

I am referring to the engine mounted fan.

My prob is that it seems to be fully engaged -or is that disengaged?- regardless of engine temp.

My question is, isn't the fan supposed to spin faster as temp increases,or at normal operating temp is it supposed to just be ticking over slowly?
Mine seems to be running at full engine speed constantly (i.e not slowing down when cold) - making it quite noisy.

Secondly, if the answer is yes - do I need a new one?

Thanks Again

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Thermatic Fan on v6

making it quite noisy.

That sort of tells me you are right and it is locked up all the time. Having it locked up wouldn't be doing your fuel economy any favours either.

I've done a couple now that are NOT locking up and just need new silicone oil.

Yours sounds like it could have seized the bearing.

Not sure if the bearing can changed without destroying the unit.

They are quite expensive from Toyota... around the $500 mark.

Mick

[cooper276 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close cooper276]

Re: Thermatic Fan on v6

Your a legend. Cheers.
Happened to think to myself the other day that it seems to be using a bit of fuel.
Bout the same time I noticed the noisy fan.....!!

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: Thermatic Fan on v6

I had a simular problem with my Vitara years ago and heres a possible solution-


Oil Required:The only source for the correct silicon oil that I have found so far is from Toyota. They sell 3 types. They range in viscosities. I have only used the thickest (10000) as this seems to be similar to the original Suzuki oil and seems to work fine.

3000 Toyota part # 08816-03001
6000 Toyota part # 08816-06001
10000 Toyota part # 08816-10001

Tools required: 10mm ring spanner, 10mm socket and rachet, large Phillips head screw driver (right angle makes it easier)

Tightening torque: Suzuki specifies for the fan mounting bolts 9-12Nm (0.9-1.2kgm or 7-8.5ftlb) of torque. This should be adequate for all the M6 bolts (10mm head) that you will need to remove and replace.

Remove the four 10mm nuts that mount the fan assembly to the water pump using a 10mm ring spanner.

Remove the fan from the cowling. (The fan cowling may also need to be removed, if so this attaches with 4 10mm headed screws to the radiator)

Remove the four 10mm nuts that hold the plastic fan onto the clutch body.



Clean the clutch body. It is important to keep dirt out of the inside of the clutch body.

With a felt marker pen draw a line across the join of the two halves so that in reassembly these marks are realigned.

Test the Bi Metal coil for operation by heating with a heat source like a hair dryer or a cigarette lighter. The coil should start to rotate quickly, if not it may be faulty.

Cold


Hot


Remove the four Phillips headed counter sunk screws from the clutch body. (These will be tight, so make sure you have the correct fitting screw driver or the screw will be damaged making an easy job hard)

Leave the clutch body front side down (the front side has the bi metal coil on it) for at least 1 minute so that the oil all runs into the front section.

Separate the halves of the clutch body keeping the mounting end (the section that bolts to the water pump) up.



Add oil into the front section of the clutch body. The exact quantity of oil needed will depend upon how much oil is lost. Add about a tablespoon and try it for operation.



Reassemble the clutch body taking care that the O-ring seal is in its place and that there is no dirt on the mating surfaces. Make sure the studs on the clutch body go through the holes that don’t have provision for a counter sunk screw.

Refit the four Phillips head screw into the counter sunk holes.



Reattach the plastic fan blades to the clutch body. (The fan only goes on one way)

Reattach the fan to the water pump. (Make sure that all the nuts are tight)

Testing:
The fan should engage and blow lots of air on start up and then die down after about 30 seconds. When sitting in traffic for a while you should hear the sound of the fan blowing lots of air when accelerating.

Caution:
This is the method that I used to carry out the repair on my car. It may or may not fix the problem that you have. If you intend to carry this repair out by yourself make sure that you have refitted the fan correctly or possible damage may result.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Thermatic Fan on v6

Here's some pics to go along with with Zookcubr's post.


http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5019

I don't think this is your issue though... lack of silicone oil reduces the drive. Could be damaged/broken/stuck bymetal spring though as it controls a valve/port inside the hub that allows the oil to go into different cambers inside the unit and providing more or less drive.


Mick

[cooper276 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close cooper276]

Re: Thermatic Fan on v6

Update: New (well, 'used'..) fan clutch purchased from wreckers, installed yesterday and all good!

Back to her old, quiet self - looking forward to using a bit less fuel.

Total cost 90 bucks and two stubbies worth of time to rip off and chuck the replacement on.

Thanks gents for the replies.

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Thermatic Fan on v6

While we're on the subject...

Is there any practical reason the Prado should not have an electric fan? They seem so common in cars these days, probably because of the prevalence of east-west engine configurations and front wheel drive, but on the other hand, there might also be advantages for fuel economy and even water crossings if the electric fans would survive the dunking.

Michael

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Thermatic Fan on v6

Is there any practical reason the Prado should not have an electric fan?

An engine driven fan is able to move far more air, it has big wide blades at an aggressive angle and a huge driving force (your engine) ... great for a 4wd slogging through sand on a 40 dgree day... consider it a heavy duty system.


Electric thermo fans are far less powerfull and move far less air... the limiting factor is the electric motor and the fan it can run (much less aggressive blade angle and size even if the overall diameter is the same as an engine powered fan). OK for day to day vehicles but not in a "heavy duty" application.

It's an urban myth that engine driven fans rob your engine of massive horse power and electric fans don't... direct mechanical load or indirect electrical load... it's still a load... nothings for free. The difference is a poofteenth.... electric have slighty less load but moves significantly less air.

Mick

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Thermatic Fan on v6

Thanks MickL. Good to know.

Michael