Trying to remove the fan clutch on my 1999 dodge dakota, but cant figure out how to hold the water pump pulley because it doesnt have the bolts on the outside of the pulley? HELP. thanks

 

welcome to DF... get a strap wrench... it's hard rubber strap with a long handle.. it allows you to wrap the strap around the pulley to hold it tight while you remove the clutch.

 

You can do the loan a tool at Autozone, which actually you buy then they reimburse you when you bring it back. But they have the clutch fan wrench ($20) and I just stuck a screw driver in one of the holes in the fan assembly and was able to unscrew the fan off. It wasn't easy but that's good because I wouldn't want it coming off under the hood. It was just hard to get it started. You might want to spray some PB Blaster on it before hand to help loosen it up.

 

thanks i will give it a shot, i just dont want to pay someone 100 bucks an hour to do something i might be able to,

 

the strap wrench is also a cheep good way to go... i've had mine for 10 years now and it gets used often enough to keep it.

 

I had the same exact problem when I replaced my water pump. The pulley has 4 holes and there is a tool made to fit in and secure it while you can loosen the clutch fan bolt. I forget the name of the tool, but I assume if you go to the autopart store to rent a strap tool they might know the one I am speaking of. Once you get that off your pretty much on your way. Just make sure you get a new bypass hose b/c the old one might be hard to get off. Good luck.

 

yeah that bypass hose sucks! get a new one. when you re-fill the system make sure you use distilled water and not tap. then there will be no worries about gunk building up in your motor.

 

Already broken one strap wrench (93 Dakota 3.9). None of the forks or wrenches in the kit I rented from autozone fit anything under there.

I'm at a loss as to how to secure this pulley so I can break that big nut loose.

 

did you try soaking the bolt in penetrating fluid.

the strap wrench idea will work.. just remember that you dont want to apply pressure alot of pressure slowly to it. it that makes sense. you want to apply alot of pressure fast to it. like take a hammer to the wrench. and that should do it

 

To get the fan clutch bolt off take the belt off and get a strap wrench and wrap it around the water pulley in a way so that when you have a big wrench around the nut the strap wrench stays taut. It may take some time but you can have a helper hold the wrench tight. Then get a big hammer and hit the big wrench, i think its 1-1/4, a few times. Always works for me. If that doesnt work spray penitrating fluid on it. Just keep at it it will come loose.