I am a first timer when it comes to fixing my own truck. I am trying to replace the water pump and can't seem to get the fan clutch off, what should I do?

 

It is a 2000 dakota 3.9L, 4x4

 

do a Google search and type the following:

"fan clutch removal 2000 dakota site:dodgeforum.com"

Use the parenthesis or you won't get what you want!

Good luck!

Edit: Welcome to the forum!

 

Autozone and most other parts stores rent a special tool kit for removing the fan clutch nut. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not work so well. The first time I removed my fan clutch I had to rent the tool from Autozone and still could not get the fan clutch nut loose. I finally stuck two bolts in two opposite holes on the face of the water pump pulley and used the spanner wrench from the rental tool kit across the bolt heads to hold the pulley still while I cranked the nut loose with a large adjustable wrench. Others have fabbed up a tool with metal stock and a couple of bolts or pins to stick into the holes on the pulley face so hold the pulley still while loosening the nut. Others have set large vise grips on the edge of the water pump pulley to hold it still.

If your fan is like mine there are two blades that are spaced a little further apart than the others, turn the fan so those blades are facing up, it will give you more room to work. Removing the top half of the fan shroud gives more room to work and see what you are doing too. Sometimes you can pop the fan clutch nut loose by setting a big adjustable wrench down on the nut with the wrench handle pointing up between the two wider fan blades. Smack the wrench handle a few times with a good sized hammer, hit the wrench handle towards the passenger's side fender. Sometimes the nut will pop loose that way without too much trouble.

While you are at it be sure to replace your bypass hose. That is the short little right angle hose behind the water pump. You don't want to have to through this again later on just to replace that hose, everything would have to be taken apart again, including removing the fan clutch nut again.

Good luck with it.

Jimmy

 

In this economy learning how to fix your Dakota can save you some serious cash and not all that hard to learn/do
Download a service manual on this forum and get a Chilton’s repair book for your year Dakota.

Have patience plan well and think each repair from beginning to end and include any possible problems that may happen and ways to get around them.

Read all the posts you can it helps get you acquainted with the common problems you will see on your Dakota this gets you a jump start on any problems as they happen.

No need to buy expensive tools start cheap and upgrade as money permits many tools can be rented at places like AutoZone call a few days before you need them you can make reservations on tools also.

A good start on tools is buy a tool kit these can be found at very low prices and a best buy for any beginner DIY rookie.

A good tool set to consider as a start LINK or a better set LINK and a cheap set of screwdrivers

 

Wasn't sure on the diff between 3.9 and 4.7, so I could only offer the valuable search string.

Pretty much the same way on the 4.7. Two bolts and a crowbar to hold it in place and a large wrench on the nut.

~learned that after reading dozens of posts and threads all over this site~ Pretty easy now that I have that knowledge.

 

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/home-g...intenance.html

These books can get you knowledge on a lot of simple needed information to help you understand any car how things work and how to work with them what to be careful with and common DIY mistakes you can avoid.

I look at it this way the money you save more than pays for the tools you buy along the way after a year or two you should have more than enough tools and stop buying them

Keep everything you replace you may need it sometime it can save you many headaches

 

I was able to use this bar and one bolt to lock things in place.


I then used an adjustable wrench and a rubber mallet to whack the wrench and the nut popped loose. I did all this on the bench since I could remove the pump and fan assembly as one piece.

 

Use vise grips on the pulley to hold it. Trick is not to tighten to tight could bend the pulley. Pipe wrench works to get fan off.

 

For some reason, the fan came off very easy for me. I just used channel locks, a shot of wd-40 and some elbow grease. Came off in a matter of seconds.

That's not usually the case though (or, so I'm told).