HdPower

I searched the forums and couldn't come up with an answer to my questions so here it is.

How do I determine if the fan clutch is going bad?

The reason I ask ...recently (past 2 days) I am hearing like a whirling noise at about 1800 rpms that change in tone depending on the rpms. I can't really say the noise is coming from the fan or not but it sure sounds like it is coming from under the hood somewhere and doesn't matter if I am moving in gear or in neutral.I went out a few minutes ago an turned the fan by hand and it moves but doesn't spin freely.

It sure was warm here today...like nearly 70 maybe this is working like it is supposed to??

Spooler

It sounds like it is toast(Locked up). Don't buy one from the parts house. It is a waste of money and will not work worth a crap. If it is under warrenty take it in. Other wise buy a new one from Dodge. It will work properly. Been their done that. Got one on my work truck (Durrango) that is a parts house special. Get stuck for 2 or 3 miles every morning and drives me crazy.

HdPower

How much of a pain in the butt is it to change one of those out, and do you know how much the replacement cost? Thanks .

Dodgezilla

Have you been running the A/C the last couple of days? Mine makes some noise when it's engaged. It will come on anytime the A/C is on. It sure works great when it is engaged. I was sitting in some terrible traffic today through Clifton due to a broken down car on a road heavily travelled but only one lane each way. Well, after moving about .5 miles in a half hour my temp started to rise but, worse yet, the tranny temp starting going up. I turned the A/C on and within 3 minutes the temps started to come down. That fan is awesome when it's working....

HdPower

Dodgezilla,

Haven't been running the AC yet...I was tempted today to do just like you did in traffic but opted to have the windows down and enjoy the warm air and other peoples exhaust fumes.

I don't understand why this noise occurs around the 1800 rpm mark.

Dodgezilla

I was enjoying the nice weather myself but I don't enjoy seeing the temps rising like they did. I still had the windows down while the A/C was on...

kelley15

Hdpower, Did you check for codes? There are codes that comes up for the fan clutch. I got it once after I washed my motor.It went away on its own. I forget the # but I will look it up. After a quick search I found it. p0480 Cooling fan 1control circuit/ open(low speed fan relay) or p0483 .Cooling fan speed

ftltmp

Before you pull the fan clutch, check to see if your fan belt has jump 1-2 grooves off the pulley. Mine made the same type noise and thats what it was. Been fine ever since they changed it. Worth a shot.

HdPower

Kelly15, I haven't checked for codes yet but will do that in the am.

ftltmp, After I check for the codes I will have another look at the belt.

Thanks guys.

HdPower

Went out this morning to check to see if there were any codes...and there were none, also checked the the fan belt and that looks fine. Any other ideas why i'm hearing this noise?

eb290

Don't know what the noise you are talking about is but if the fan engages you should hear a roaring sound. It is quite loud, easy to hear in the cab with the windows rolled up. Another way to tell is if you are in heavy traffic with the A/C on and stopped or moving very slowly, the A/C will not work very well, it will get warm in the truck. Don't know where you are, but here in south Texas, you find out pretty quick if the clutch is bad. (I'm on my forth one.)