Isuzu Repair: 1995 Passport aka rodeo fan clutch, coolant temperature sensor, rodeo fan

Question
Greets, just trying to confirm that these fan clutches are the same as the ones of the 70's and 80's when I enjoyed fixing toys.

The fan clutch when cool felt good, spins 1 or 2 blades with a moderate thrust. The thing is it overheated so it was time for some maint anyway so I did  a timing belt, water pump, tensioner and idler along with a hose out of the block and flushed the radiator a bit as well.

It overheated again on the highway (overheat = getting close to the red, I ain't quite silly enough to lunch the motor but I am gettin old!) I kicked on the heater and sure enough the needle began to drop so I parked it and hopped out and spun the fan and much to my dismay it spins almost free. This would indicate a bad fan clutch on the older styles am I correct in the same thinking or are there more gizmos in these newer ones?

Answer
Well if the fan clutch catches or grinds or just has any resistance in it at all, yes it should be replaced. Yes the clutch should be the same but I would check at a local parts store just to make sure Rich. The overheating could be a small problem or large problem. You say that when you kick on the heater the needle drops. Well that could indicate a faulty CTS(coolant temperature sensor) or a faulty thermostat as well. Let me know what you find out and I am glad to help you with any other questions.