fan clutch inconsistencies

I've owned a few Tacomas over the years. I've always heard the fan kick on and off.

In my 99 V6, it was occasional. In my 2004 V6, it was a lot, especially when climbing hills, and it was loud.

I just bought a 2003 V6. I don't ever hear it come on. I even replaced it with a new OE clutch. Still don't hear it. I don't get it. My 2004 prerunner had a loud one that I heard all the time. And that model year shares the same cab/hood design as the 2003 so sound should carry the same way.

Is there something else that could be preventing the fan from kicking in, besides the clutch (which is new)?

How do I check that it's functioning properly?

I'd be happy if it was working right and I just couldn't hear it in the cab. But base on past experience with these trucks, I want to make sure something isn't amiss.

 

Can no one say anything about a fan clutch? It was 108 degrees here in Sacramento yesterday and I drove around all day and didn't hear the fan once. No changes in sound at stop lights, slow acceleration, hills, etc. I just want to be sure before I take this thing out on a long road trip.

What is the procedure to verifying the fan clutch is opening and closing? When the truck is off it has a normal spin (it's brand new).

 

I've never noticed mine. Even back when I had stock exhaust.

 

Okay, then maybe mine could be normal. But then that begs the question: why did I hear it so loudly on my other Tacomas? '99 V6 4x4 and '04 V6 Prerunner.


Isn't it supposed to kick on when the air is still and building up heat around the radiator? Like at a stoplight when it's 108 degrees?

I'd still like to know how to verify it's functioning properly. I'm trying to take a summer trip across the desert soon. Trying to get the truck dialed in.

 

Watch your temperature gauge.
If it's staying mid-range, your system is working fine.

 

With every car I've owned w/ a mechanical fan, I've never known that the fan clutch engaged. Well, except once, when the bearing failed and the clutch locked and the fan stopped "freewheeling". The way to test the clutch is to block most of the air flow in front of the radiator (after the engine is warmed up). Turn on the a/c and let the engine idle at 2000 rpms. It may take a few minutes, but the fan clutch should engage. You'll definitely hear the difference in the sound of the fan. You could put a baking thermometer behind the fan to see what temp the clutch engages. It's probably around 175 degrees.

Like I said, I've never heard a fan clutch engage, but I don't live at high altitude or where the temp reaches 105 degrees. As long as your temp gauge is staying out of the red, I wouldn't worry about it.

Happy Independence Day...time to load the musket and go harass some English!

 

Thanks Larry. Yeah, I wouldn't be tripping about it either except that I heard it engaging on two similar models I've owned. I'll try what you said.

I became interested in it because I have an ultra gauge, and monitor the coolant temp.. When I bought the truck it was running about 10 degrees hot, with increases at stop lights. I suspected the fan. But then I found the posts about the jiggle valve position of the thermostat. And also, the PO had put green coolant in the truck. So, I bought a fan clutch, flushed the cooling system, installed red, and replaced the thermostat (it was in upside down).
Now it's 10 degrees cooler. Probably was just the thermostat. But the fan still makes me wonder since it seems different than the other Tacomas I've owned.

The truck stays between 188 and 194 degrees. I'm guessing its okay. Like I said though, I haven't really pushed it yet.

And I have an extra fan clutch now. Does anyone buy a used fan clutch?

 

The whole tacoma fan clutch thing is kinda weird, my 2000 the fan clutch engages right at start up for a few seconds then drops out , all my previous vehicles this wouldn't happen until vehicle was up & running for a while or turning on A/C , the easiest way to check the clutch is with engine off, grasp the fan by hand & check for "forward resistance" while spinning it, if this is present & the fan itself is turning true, most likely fan is fine

 

Yeah, my roommate's 2001 5spd manual, extra cab, V6 TRD roars upon startup and then the fan shuts off after 5-10 seconds, whereas mine does not do that at all.

Mine behaves like yours - I don't even notice the fan is on when it is.

I believe I have the orange clutch, whereas my roommate has the green one. (or the opposite...)

 

I notice mine on hot days around town. I do have tow package.

 

Mine is loud at start up.I looked at it and the base is pink.Looked like a centrifugal clutch.Usually on the front of most of those fan clutches the facing has to reach a certain temperature for it to fully engage.If the thermostat and system are running optimal you may not hear it.The a/c will heat up the condenser and get the fan to engage on hotter days usually.A good tool for diagnosing any cooling system failures is an infrared thermometer.We use them all the time.T-stat opens around 180ish.If the fan is rated for 215 you won't hear it with regular use.Can't find the specs for the fan but if you are not over heating you'll be fine.Hot days in traffic running the a/c or pulling hills in the heat while loaded will be the only time you hear it come on.

 

The truck just threw a P0116. Coolant temperature sensor, so says google. I started a thread here:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1s...ruck-threw-p0116-where-start.html#post8870377

 

My fan is the green hub, and roars for 15 seconds whether it is 20 below, or 95 above F.
Just to be clear, they don't shut off, they just pretty quickly freewheel when they get quiet, maybe 80-90% slippage.

 

I have the orange one too.

 

See, that's the thing. It was 108 degrees here the other day and I was driving around all day with the AC on full blast and never heard the fan.

I dont' have a tow package though. It's possible the old Prerunner I had did though. Maybe the fan clutch for the tow package engages at a lower temp?