1st Gen Durango 1998 - 2003 Durango's

Cooling fan(s) questions

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Old 08-15-2011, 09:03 PM
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So I have had an overheating issue develop in the last 2 years. Now my temp gauge stays at 210 to 215 when the ambient temp gets 70 and above. Also at speeds of 35 and lower it will get higher, much higher like 230-240. Now here is the question. I checked out my fan clutch by spinning it by hand. It spun with out stopping as long as I kept it going. I stopped after the 6th revolution, now it had been sitting for 3hrs, does it make a difference or should I let it sit overnight? The next question is what do guys think of adding an electric cooling fan, we are getting a travel trailer soon and my vehicle will most likely be used to pull it. Thanks in advance.
 
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Old 08-15-2011, 09:15 PM
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From what I've read and partially understand from my reading of threads on this forum, I believe the fan clutch has gone. on my rig, when i give it a spin, it goes no more than a quarter turn. However, someone who knows more will chime in and tell you what the problem may be.
 
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Old 08-15-2011, 09:25 PM
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Thats what I thought, I didn't know if it had to be completely cool or not.
 
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Old 08-15-2011, 10:17 PM
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adukart when you spin the clutch fan by hand you just give it a push and let go, how far does it go? that is the way to check it, all clutch fans will keep going as long as you are pushing them, the important part is how far they spin once you let go (just grab the top blade and give it a push across the front of the truck, tell us what happens)

maybe i should make a youtube video of checking the clutch fan to make it easier to explain to people . . .
 
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Old 08-15-2011, 10:20 PM
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Ok that makes sense. I would go out now but it is hailing out and our shop is separate from the house. Will update in the morning. Whats your take on adding an e-fan?
 
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Old 08-15-2011, 10:33 PM
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it will help since your truck didnt come with one from the factory, however buying new parts and getting it wired up to work correctly and automatically is alot of work and not cheap, if your clutch fan is fine and your not having any problems it might not be worth the cost
 
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Old 08-16-2011, 12:44 AM
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I was gonna put a switch in my dash to turn it on and off manually, but I was going wire it in with a spare fuse in the engine compartment fuse block. That way when the key is off the so is the fan. Also in the winter it won't be running when I have my defroster and everything else running and it is not needed.
 
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Old 08-16-2011, 09:56 AM
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thats the hackish way to do it, if you want to do it i suggest doing it the right way with a controller of some sort (try the spal, it seems to be the favorite in the dak section http://www.spalusa.com/store/Main.as...tem=FAN-PWM-V3)
 
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Old 08-16-2011, 10:09 PM
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Ok thanks for that link, I will keep that link somewhere if I can't solve my problem. I checked my fan right after I drove it and it spun about 1/4 to 3/8 of a turn. Now my other question is I can't hear it start to put out until my engine hits 230, now normally my fan is really noisy when it finally turns on but again it waits until 230 and it will only stay on til 215 and won't cool any lower. This happened today and it was only 72 degrees here.
 
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Old 08-16-2011, 11:28 PM
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Now that sounds like a classic bad clutch fan. Replace the clutch.
 


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