QuestionEngine running a little hotter than normal, needle is about 3/4 instead of 1/2. Fan is running but seems slow. Takes about 15 to 20 minutes to get to temp. Coolant level fine.
AnswerKelvin,
Sounds like your fan clutch is going out. This is a common occurance. If you look in the engine bay, at the front of the engine, you will notice the fan is attached by a large nut to the water pump pulley. This nut is LEFT-HAND THREAD! So to loosen the nut you will need to spin it clock-wise. It shouldn't be on there very tight, as there is no need to tighten them down, the engine spinning clockwise is enough to keep it tight. Take the new fan clutch you purchased, transfer the plastic fan blades to the new clutch, and re-install. remember to thread it on counter-clockwise. Once you the the nut started, just spin the fan by hand and it will run up. Dont run the nut all the way down, leave the fan about 1/4" away from being tightened all the way. When you start the car, the engine will tighten it perfectly. That's it!
If you notice, you can spin the fan with the engine off, so the fan is not directly connected to the engine. The fan clutch is designed to allow the engine to warm up without spinning the fan as hard, and when it is hot, to spin at full blast. There is a thick silicone solution inside this clutch, and the viscosity changes as it gets warmer. Dont try this, but if the engine is cold, you can actually stop the fan by hand, but with the engine warm... you would probably hurt your fingers.
This is a REALLY simple thing to change, it would literally take me 5-10 minutes to do.
Hope this helps,
Josh
