1999 Ford V10 Cooling Fan Clutch problem

tderonne,

My scangauge wasn't working this week so it can't tell me anything. The engine temperature gauge was in the red but it didn't boil over. I stopped, left the engine running with the heater wide open and poured cool water over the radiator, the temperature dropped and I didn't seem to have any engine problems thereafter except on long steep hills. By shutting down the AC, turning the heater to full hot and running its fan on high we were able to keep the temperature below the red mark thereafter.

Dave

Thanks for your quick & good replies.

Our Ford dealer doesn’t generally work on V10s; therefore, didn’t know where all of the grease zerks were or that there was an emergency brake fluid reservoir at the rear of the transmission that needs to be checked occasionally plus they have to work on motor homes outside on the ground, therefore, they recommended my mechanic’s shop many years ago for better service.

My mechanic has a truck repair shop and works on V10s but has never done a clutch under a motor home chassis; therefore, he was not sure how to price the job until he could check access from the dog house &/or underneath. He has always done a good job for me on other repairs so I’ll have him check access to see if he can do it more reasonable than $1,000.

Thanks again

Dave

Please define "over heating". Do you have a scangauge or other device to know what the temperature is? Is it boiling over? Fan should kick on at about 205° water temp. Are you getting that hot?

I'm not familiar with Indiana but our clutch fan froze near Granite City(East St. Louis) and we found a truck shop with a really great owner who got us in and out in half a day for about $250 or maybe $200. I don't remember(CRS) or Old Timers Disease, your choice. The Chevy dealer recommended him.

I agree that you need a more reasonable mechanic.

Try a local RV repair place, or truck repair place. They should be able to get the fan shroud off, then the fan blade, then the clutch. Water pump at the same time will probably only add a few dollars to the project, however if you need to change the water pump in 2 years, the whole process of removing the clutch is repeated, then about 8 more bolts to remove the water pump, then re-assemble everything again.

Might even call a Ford dealer. They can beat a $1,000 price estimate.

Fred.

It can be a DIY project. I did mine in 2012 on a 2000 V-10 in a 34 foot Dutch Star. I did it from underneath and also had to get into the doghouse. Fan shroud had to come off, then fan removal. I got fan clutch tools from Advance Auto or O Reilly (CRS at my age). Do not get yourself confused as to whether the threads are right or left hand. I did and after being a gorilla with an air chisel found that they are right hand threads and would have come apart easily if turned correct direction. As a result I decided to be safe and change water pump in case I had damaged it with the gorilla action of the air chisel. Yes, My philosophy is never force anything just get a bigger hammer or a more powerful tool.
Any how it is certainly doable if you have some mechanical aptitude.

Ford factory parts are not expensive and you can probably access the fan from under the coach, although I haven't tried. Maybe your mechanic charges like my accountant, That could explain the $1,000.00

First find you a new Mechanic. Depending on your dog house cutout you can lay of engine and remove it your self. I use a piece of hard foam. Took a couple of hours at most. My also is a 99. The part was just over $100


http://www.haydenauto.com/Upload/HaydenAuto/documents/InstructionSheets/P-464-thermal-fan-clutchs.pdf

I have had experience with a clutch fan problem but not on a Ford. First off I would check for codes. I would expect a faulty clutch fan to throw one. Secondly that number sounds way out of line. My Cummin's fan was $125 and if it's anything like mine it should be maybe two hours to change out.