Fan clutch

[fyremanpat]

I have had a small squeek in the front of the engine for about a week and a half. At first I thought it was the new tensioner pulley I put on going bad. After taking it off and greasing it up...Still nothing. I then thought it was the idler pulley bearing going bad...which I replaced... Now I think its the fan clutch going bad...It sounds like a belt squeek kinda...But once warm it go's away...If it gets too bad is it possible to run without a fan during the winter? I eventually want to go with e-fans...Just dont have $500 bucks laying around rite now. I live in SE VA, where the winters are cool. Thanks

 

[96cherry]

not that this is going to help but i just developed the same problem, when i start my truck first thing in the morning it squeaks a little but after a little while it goes away. i havent changed tensioner...etc... but it would be good to know if it was the fan sorry i cant help

 

[fyremanpat]

In a 105k miles Ive put at least 4 tensioner pulleys on it....guess its all the power:yesnod:

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

i put a new fan clutch on mine 6 months or so ago. IIRC it was like $40 from Napa. easy to put on.

i put on a new tensioner and alternator before the stupid fan clutch. i wouldn't run my truck without a fan on it, but if the clutch is bad its not going to work properly as it is anyway.

 

[fyremanpat]

Dangit! I tried to get the fan clutch off, but it wont budge. According to the "book" it says it shouldnt be this hard...Any suggestions? Also it seems that in 96 GM decided to make it harder to replace these.

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

when i changed mine i used a big adjustable wrech on the fn clutch nut and used a large flatscrew driver between the shaft and the bolts on the water pump pulley to hold it from just turning with the wrench.

one good pop after letting it soak up some primus and it came loose.

there is supposed to be a tool that you stick in the pulley to hold it still... searched high and low and at every parts store in town. no-one had a clue what i was talking about...

 

[fyremanpat]

PB Blaster did the trick...and SOB it wasnt the fan that what making the noise. Anyway left the fan off for now with no adverse effects. Looks like I'm riding the hog to work till I figure it out. Thanks again for the help and hopefully I will figure it out this weekend.