Roaring Rene?

psinsyd · **Posted:** Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:23 pm

Hey everyone,

Just had a weird issue crop up with the Rene yesterday which is still going on today. I'm not a mechanic by any means, but can get a few things done under the hood and elsewhere when needed, but I'll give it a shot and try to describe it as best as I can.

When you first fire up the KJ and begin to drive it, it sounds kind of "roar"-ish for the first couple of seconds which I'm assuming is the fan running at full speed? This sound changes with RPMs and then goes away after the first couple of seconds of driving....this is the normal scenario.

What is going on with mine is that it started sounding like this all the time yesterday. No matter how long I'm driving it.

My question is, fan clutch?(If it even has one)...sensor? Thermostat?? Anyone else experience something like this before?

Temp gauge is totally fine and the KJ is driving normally, other than the fan on at full blast which changes with RPMs.

TIA everyone!!!!!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:13 pm

Do you have the HD cooling? If you have a mechanical fan and a electric fan(2 fans) then you do have HD cooling.And yes the roar you are hearing could be the fan clutch going out,sticking making the mechanical fan run at all times.

If you can't turn the mechanical fan by hand with the engine off it's seized----*****CAUTION---only try to do this with the engine off****-------.It should be free when the engine is cold,it may be locked if the engine is hot,the clutch runs off a fluid that expands when hot to lock the clutch,so try when the engine is cold.

psinsyd · **Posted:** Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:31 pm

Thanks for the reply TJKJ2002. Well, it looks like I do have the HD cooling system as I suspected. I just tried manually turning the mechanical fan with the motor cold and it at first seemed seized, but then I was able to turn it. It does, however, take some effort. Sounds like you're on to something.

I'm wondering how much of a PITA it is to swap it and how expensive something like that's going to be. :roll:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:36 pm

psinsyd wrote:

Thanks for the reply TJKJ2002. Well, it looks like I do have the HD cooling system as I suspected. I just tried manually turning the mechanical fan with the motor cold and it at first seemed seized, but then I was able to turn it. It does, however, take some effort. Sounds like you're on to something.

I'm wondering how much of a PITA it is to swap it and how expensive something like that's going to be. :roll:

Well if it still turns it not totall seized yet,could be close though.The mechanical fan does require 2 special tools to remove and install,one tool to hold the fan and a special wrench to loosen and tighten the fan.The tools are pricy from MAC or Snap-on(they have the tool kits for these type of fans),sure a independent shop shouldn't charge more than a 1/2 hour labor(1 hour at the very max,and that's pushing it for a 10 min job) to change it out.

psinsyd · **Posted:** Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:49 pm

Sounds good. Napa has one for $73 and Auto Zone for @$65. I'm going to call Napa tomorrow to see if they have one in stock, and will call my shop on Monday for an appointment to swap it out.

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:58 pm

Yep....I think we get about 7/10s of an hour to change one.Here is a new tool that our shop bought to make the job a little easier.
http://www.toolsource.com/prod_thumbs/91751.jpg
Theres a long shaft to fit your air hammer that hooks into the wrench,and with one squeeze of the air hammer trigger,the fan nut usually comes loose very easily.It's almost fun to use.

Ron

psinsyd · **Posted:** Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:20 am

LiLredLibby wrote:

Yep....I think we get about 7/10s of an hour to change one.Here is a new tool that our shop bought to make the job a little easier.
http://www.toolsource.com/prod_thumbs/91751.jpg
Theres a long shaft to fit your air hammer that hooks into the wrench,and with one squeeze of the air hammer trigger,the fan nut usually comes loose very easily.It's almost fun to use.

Ron

You're right, seems like it would be fun to use! I've got just about all other air tools...except an air hammer. I'm hoping Napa will have the clutch in stock, and the shop can squeeze me in cuz I need the truck on Friday.

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Sun Jul 15, 2007 1:28 pm

psinsyd wrote:

LiLredLibby wrote:

Yep....I think we get about 7/10s of an hour to change one.Here is a new tool that our shop bought to make the job a little easier.
http://www.toolsource.com/prod_thumbs/91751.jpg
Theres a long shaft to fit your air hammer that hooks into the wrench,and with one squeeze of the air hammer trigger,the fan nut usually comes loose very easily.It's almost fun to use.

Ron

You're right, seems like it would be fun to use! I've got just about all other air tools...except an air hammer. I'm hoping Napa will have the clutch in stock, and the shop can squeeze me in cuz I need the truck on Friday.

If you could find a large enough wrench to fit the nut on the cluth fan,you could hold it down low,and take a BFH and smack it a few times and it would loosen up.I think NAPA will have one in stock,they usually do.Don't any of your neighbors tinker with cars? They would probably love to have a gravy job like that,and earn a little extra money.Heck if I lived next door to you,I would do it for 15 or 20 bucks.Keep us posted. :wink:

Ron

psinsyd · **Posted:** Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:12 pm

Lol, no I haven't seen any wrenchers in my new neighborhood as of yet. Heck, I'd give ya $50 if you lived next door and took care of it for me! BTW, yup Napa had one in stock and I picked it up today.

I'll let ya know how everything goes!

Thanks again for all the help. Totally appreciated!

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:46 pm

psinsyd wrote:

Lol, no I haven't seen any wrenchers in my new neighborhood as of yet. Heck, I'd give ya $50 if you lived next door and took care of it for me! BTW, yup Napa had one in stock and I picked it up today.

I'll let ya know how everything goes!

Thanks again for all the help. Totally appreciated!

Good news on the part.....I figured they have one.Your description of the noise sounds like this should take care of it.

Off Topic.....but your location sounds close to a place I would go once or twice a year to visit my dads family.My uncle used to build summer cottages along the "Rock" river just outside of Rockford in a little town called "Lost Nation".Just curious if you were close or knew where it was?I have'nt been in over 15 years cause all of his family is deceased,but that place was beautiful,and I'd sure like to make a return visit some day.Oh well...enough rambling.

Ron

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:02 pm

I wonder if Napa would have the Fan blades? ive always wanted the engine driven fan. I called around to all the local auto parts stores about a year ago and they didnt know what I was talking about.

If I got the clutch and the blades, would that be everything I needed? Or would I need to get something else?

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:11 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

I wonder if Napa would have the Fan blades? ive always wanted the engine driven fan. I called around to all the local auto parts stores about a year ago and they didnt know what I was talking about.

If I got the clutch and the blades, would that be everything I needed? Or would I need to get something else?

If the front of the water pump is threaded,I'd bet thats all you would need.Call some local savage yards and I'd bet they would sell you one.They usually don't come with a used engine so they would probably part with it pretty cheap.Or ,do a search on e-bay,someone will have one. :wink:

Ron

LoganSix · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:27 am

Glad I found this thread, I think I have the same issue.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:41 am

Jeepjeepster wrote:

I wonder if Napa would have the Fan blades? ive always wanted the engine driven fan. I called around to all the local auto parts stores about a year ago and they didnt know what I was talking about.

If I got the clutch and the blades, would that be everything I needed? Or would I need to get something else?

Don't forget the fan shroud,a fan is almost useless without a shroud.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 11:33 am

Yup, the water pump has a cap over the threads.. And my liberty already has the bigger fan shroud.. All it needs is the fan and clutch..

How do you all thread the clutch on? Can you get to the nut with a regular wrench or what? I heard that someone had to buy a special wrench from the dealer.

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:49 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Yup, the water pump has a cap over the threads.. And my liberty already has the bigger fan shroud.. All it needs is the fan and clutch..

How do you all thread the clutch on? Can you get to the nut with a regular wrench or what? I heard that someone had to buy a special wrench from the dealer.

Not sure of the size of the one for the 3.7,but most are so large that they actually cut them from a piece of 1/4 inch plate.
When you start the nut on,just hold it up there with your left hand in the center,and slowly spin the blades until it starts,then it should spin on easily the rest of the way on. You could measure across the nut on the clutch fan,and make you a card board template shaped like a wrench and have someone cut you one out.

Ron

psinsyd · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:02 pm

LiLredLibby wrote:

psinsyd wrote:

Lol, no I haven't seen any wrenchers in my new neighborhood as of yet. Heck, I'd give ya $50 if you lived next door and took care of it for me! BTW, yup Napa had one in stock and I picked it up today.

I'll let ya know how everything goes!

Thanks again for all the help. Totally appreciated!

Good news on the part.....I figured they have one.Your description of the noise sounds like this should take care of it.

Off Topic.....but your location sounds close to a place I would go once or twice a year to visit my dads family.My uncle used to build summer cottages along the "Rock" river just outside of Rockford in a little town called "Lost Nation".Just curious if you were close or knew where it was?I have'nt been in over 15 years cause all of his family is deceased,but that place was beautiful,and I'd sure like to make a return visit some day.Oh well...enough rambling.

Ron

I'm a bit NE of Rockford. Just about @ 10-15 minutes W of Great America. If ya ever decide to come up to Rock River, shoot me a PM or email and we could do lunch and talk Jeeps or somethin'!

Thanks again for the help and the offer of helping if you lived closer! Shop said the Rene's all set, and work totaled $87.04.

I'll keep everyone posted as to the results, but sounds like this should be taken care of!

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:16 pm

Just might do that.

Hope this solves your issues.

Ron

psinsyd · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:30 pm

Hey everyone,

Sorry it's taken so long for me to update this thread. Totally super-busy here lately.

Just wanted to update everyone that the mechanical fan's clutch replacement did solve the problem.

Thanks for all the help, everyone!!!

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:17 pm

psinsyd wrote:

Hey everyone,

Sorry it's taken so long for me to update this thread. Totally super-busy here lately.

Just wanted to update everyone that the mechanical fan's clutch replacement did solve the problem.

Thanks for all the help, everyone!!!

Good to hear.Thanks for the update.

Ron

Roaring Rene?

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