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snj
Dodge Dakota
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8/03/2003
20:41:29

Subject: fan clutch
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I just put in my third fan clutch in my '96 5.2 magnum. It was running hot - not overheating - but the needle would move up to just a tick before the high hatch mark on the guage. It would build over time, such as when driving long distances, but started getting worse recently, like on a short trip to the store and back. I've got high miles - oh yes - 197,000; me and my Dak rule the road.
The thing is, after the first replacement, I would hear the fan clutch engaged when I cranked the engine cold, just like its supposed to, but even when the motor was running warm I would never hear it "roar" again; in other words, it would only "roar" when it was cranked. A few months later, still running hot, I changed out the radiator, and then a few months after that, the water pump. That was last summer, and it was better - new fan clutch, radiator, and water pump, it better run cooler - but I never heard my "roar", except at start up. So when the warm weather moved back in this summer, it started running hot again, and I was talked into another fan clutch. Bottom line - no difference, no change, nada, zip.
Its been a long time since my original fan clutch, but I distinctly remember clearly hearing the "roar" whenever it would kick in at speed. You'd be tooling down the highway, and all of a sudden you'd think a jet was flying over. The second one would'nt do that, and neither will this new one.
Are all fan clutches working like this now, or is there something going on here that is keeping my fan clutch from kicking in when its supposed to? I want my roar back before I go throwing money away on needless replacements. Does everyone out there still hear the "roar", or has that been engineered out?



Doug
Dodge Dakota
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8/03/2003
22:09:12

RE: fan clutch
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mine "roars" like once every 20 times I start it in the morning.



gotanRT
Dodge Dakota
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8/04/2003
02:35:01

RE: fan clutch
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mine kicks in everytime i start it cold, but i've never heard it kick on driving down the road...the only other time i hear it kick on is if ive been sitting at a stoplight for a while...God knows i do that a lot here in NC...traffic sucks...



snj
Dodge Dakota
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8/04/2003
11:15:17

RE: fan clutch
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One very important detail here: no electric fan. I've got the fan clutch only, so if you've got the later set-up with the combination electric and fan clutch then yours would act differently from mine.



Chipster
Dodge Dakota
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8/04/2003
11:46:10

RE: fan clutch
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When your on the hwy, your clutch fan should
not be turning. I think you should pressure
check your system for leaks. If you have good
pressure. I'd look at the radiator or belt.



Lil Black Dak
Dodge Dakota
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8/05/2003
18:15:26

RE: fan clutch
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Hey guys, cool site. The fan clutch on my "92 5.2L roars for 45 secs. from a cold start and anytime the temp goes past 1/2 towing or with a/c on. I've changed it six times. The aftermarket ones are worse than O.E.. They are all thermostatically controlled.



cal
Dodge Dakota
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8/05/2003
23:01:04

RE: fan clutch
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My 96 5.2 had a few things go wrong all in one month.! First the starter then the water pump, then the fuel pump. Mine also when cold in the morning the fan kicks in, and also when hot outside with a.c. running, it will kick on when the temp guage goes over half way. Only stays on for a very brief time. Thats one thing so far I have not had to worry about...



EBL
Dodge Dakota
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8/06/2003
18:50:39

RE: fan clutch
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I didn't see that you changed your thermostat. They are incredibly important. If you test the thermostat in a boiling pot of water you will find that most don't open at the rate they are supposed to...

I have also found that the stock temp gauge, at least on my 92 is incredibly finicky. At 180 it is on the cold line. At 190 it is 1/4-1/2 of the way up, etc... And it isn't always that way.

I installed an aftermarket temp gauge and it shows my temp is no where as bad as I thought it was...

Lastly, you may want to swap your water pump to a flowkooler. They have a lifetime warrenty and the impeller has a lot better design than the stock ones do.

I just replaced everything but the fan itself trying to fix an overheating problem. I think Most of the issue was a super finicky gauge. Next it was a thermostat.



Scott
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8/07/2003
18:16:41

RE: fan clutch
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I have a 98 4x4 with the 318, I have a functional fan clutch, I hear the roar every day. At 100 plus in traffic with a trailer, I have to tack to 1700 to keep the engine under 210 when I am not moving. I am trying to find a bigger radiator, if I can't, I am switching to aftermarket electric.



Lil Black Dak
Dodge Dakota
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8/07/2003
18:16:56

RE: fan clutch
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Hey guys, thanks for the input, but in my case the fan clutch is the "problem" and I chose just to live with the roar. I've replaced the rad,pump and 'stat and checked the operating temp. with both the DRB II and an infrared temp. gage- it checks out.P.S. If you by a new water pump from the dealer, they now come with the pulley cast on ( no bolts)which can make getting the clutch off later difficult without a tool to hold the pulley still.




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