And the hits, they just keep coming....fan clutch issue
This is weird. Fan clutch appears to be working normally when not towing and engine temp stays same as always.
WHEN TOWING, climbing a hill in drive or low 2, fan goes into full engagement and usually stays there, although it can vary in speed a little. The roar is so loud the radio can't be heard. This happens at speeds up to 65mph and beyond (I know, I know. 65 is max. This is purely experimental. I normally tow around 63 mph). Even if I descend down a grade at highway speed in OD, then manually go into drive, the fan speed picks up to engine speed the whole way down the grade when the truck isn't even working, picking up speed on its own, no accelerator input. Tooling along the PA Turnpike at 65 in OD the fan cannot be heard. Slow to a rest plaza and fan roars incessantly at slower speeds, 15 mph, etc. It doesn't do it until the engine gets warmed up for a few miles, and only while towing, but I drove the whole way to Slippery Rock and back to Harrisburg like this. Thinking it's not doing my fuel mileage any good, either.
Not towing, seems normal. Can't get it to engage.
I know engagement is thermostatically controlled, but how much more difference could there be in engine compartment temps between cruising down the Turnpike towing, and not? That thing should be silent at highway speeds no matter what, shouldn't it? I drove it for almost the first two years and never hear it come on even while towing. The first time it came on scared the heck out of us.
I hate to just change it without considering all other possibilities, but I'm thinking there aren't too many other possibilities. That sucker is $400 bucks! What say ye?
WHEN TOWING, climbing a hill in drive or low 2, fan goes into full engagement and usually stays there, although it can vary in speed a little. The roar is so loud the radio can't be heard. This happens at speeds up to 65mph and beyond (I know, I know. 65 is max. This is purely experimental. I normally tow around 63 mph). Even if I descend down a grade at highway speed in OD, then manually go into drive, the fan speed picks up to engine speed the whole way down the grade when the truck isn't even working, picking up speed on its own, no accelerator input. Tooling along the PA Turnpike at 65 in OD the fan cannot be heard. Slow to a rest plaza and fan roars incessantly at slower speeds, 15 mph, etc. It doesn't do it until the engine gets warmed up for a few miles, and only while towing, but I drove the whole way to Slippery Rock and back to Harrisburg like this. Thinking it's not doing my fuel mileage any good, either.
Not towing, seems normal. Can't get it to engage.
I know engagement is thermostatically controlled, but how much more difference could there be in engine compartment temps between cruising down the Turnpike towing, and not? That thing should be silent at highway speeds no matter what, shouldn't it? I drove it for almost the first two years and never hear it come on even while towing. The first time it came on scared the heck out of us.
I hate to just change it without considering all other possibilities, but I'm thinking there aren't too many other possibilities. That sucker is $400 bucks! What say ye?
