Hello everyone,
I just recently started having an issue that hopefully someone can help me out on. Let me start off by telling you exactly what I have. I have a 2001 Dodge Durango SLT 4WD 4.7.
About a week and half ago when I got in and started it up in the morning it sounded unusually loud. And when I would be pushing on the throttle it almost sounded like a race car on how loud it was. Thing is, it drives fine and I haven't had any other issues with anything that would seem related. It accelerates fine and doesn't seem to have any issues switching gears.
I also have to note that I just recently replaced the TPS because I was having the issue of it spiking about 200-300rpms while driving and that fixed that issue by replacing that. I was in the auto shop today with my wife's car and asked the guy what he thought it could be and he suggested that it is the fan clutch. So I got to looking into that and not entirely convinced and really have not found out any more information that would lead me to believe that would fix my issue.
Would also have to say I am not overly mechanical so basically anything I would be doing would be with help and purely from reading stuff online. But I don't want to go spending money and time on replacing a fan clutch if that is not going to fix my issue.
I hope I have provided enough information on what the situation is and I will be checking back often so if you need any more information please feel free to ask and I will be more then happy to provide it. I can also get a video of what it is doing if that would help out. Just let me know.
Thank you all in advance and keep up the great work everyone!

Thanks,
Brandon

 

if it only does it for the first minute or 2 then its normal.

 

It's a 4.7, take the clutch fan off and leave it off. It'll stay cool with the electric fan. I, along with a few others I know have run it this way with no issues, even in 100+ weather.


.02


Is your noise a roaring noise or more of a whining noise? A video would help.

 

Is the clutch fan new? If so, it will take an average of 12k-15k miles to break in the clutch where it won't stay locked for a long time. If it is still the original clutch and the roaring never goes away. Sounds like it seized up.

A word of caution of you plan to drive without the clutch and solely depend on the electric fan. If you plan on towing anything, you will need to re-install/replace your fan clutch.

 

The sound is definitely a loud "roaring" noise. If it wasn't for how much louder it is then before I wouldn't even think twice about it. But it is significantly louder and noticeable and I don't want something else to go wrong if I just ignore it. The time frame of when its the loudest is when accelerating and when its above 2k RPM. Just really sounds like a tornado in the engine when I am driving. No difference when in idle or when not on the throttle. Only happens when your pushing on the throttle will you hear how loud it is. I will try and get a video up today which hopefully would help on letting you hear. But like I said, just loud enough from what it normally was to make me wonder if something is going bad in it.

 

Well I bought my Durango a little over a year ago and it had 88k miles on it. I now have about 95k miles and have never touched the fan clutch nor replaced anything besides the TPS and now that I am thinking about it I did have to have the water pump replaced about 8 months ago.

 

Roaring is usually a clutch fan going bad.

 

In the case of a clutch fan, how difficult is it to replace? Because I really don't want to take to a shop to get it done if I can help it because I don't mind spending the time and work into just doing it myself. If anyone happens to know a DIY link and could shoot that my way that would be wonderful.
I do appreciate everyone that has posted and trying to help out. Thank you very much!
Brandon

 

Unless you tow(as said), I wouldn't replace it.


Put a pair of vice-grips to latch the water pump and the pulley(on the drivers side), take a pipe wrench, grab the nut on it and bust it lose. Or, if you have the proper size wrench, just put that on with a quick smack of a decent sized hammer and it should also pop loose.


If you re-install, just spin it on. Since it turns that way, it'll self-tighten.

 

if it makes the truck sound like a diesel truck driving down the road (best way i can think to describe it) its the clutch fan, and as long as it goes away w/in maybe a mile of driving (mine is usually done as soon as it shifts out of first gear) it is normal, if it doesnt stop then i agree with the fan clutch being bad