03 engine fan clutch

[GSchneuer]

My fan clutch puked today at 37,455 miles on the clock. Can these things be repaired?. What is the main malfunction if any?. Thanks for your inputs, Gary.

 

[MMeier]

Main malfunction is... they are a POS!! Plain and simple, on number three on my '03, member GShail here is like on number 14 or something crazy!! Right around $400 smackers at the dealer, depending how you buy your parts. No warranty left?

 

[MChessick]

Wow, there doesn't seem to be any rhythm:confused or reason as to when these things go. I still have my original on my 03 with 152k on the clock. I can't see it being a bad batch??



Mark

 

[GShail]

The fan clutches for the 03's are a complete piece of garbage. Adding some electric fans has them lasting much longer. My most recent fan clutch crapped out a couple of weeks ago making it # 14. The addittion of two Thinline Rapid Cool fans from Hayden has helped tremendously. The last fan clutch had nearly 60,000 miles on it before it tanked. MY AC blows quite frigidly now even at an idle and there is no hint of failure when towing steep grades with the addittional electric fans. Funny thing is that if you research addittional electirc fans you will get varying opinions but from my experience they cured the problem or at least made it more acceptable. Not many things more frustrating than overheating that truck when it's 105 degrees outside. Props to Sag2 for giving me the heads up on adding the fans, thanks Sag2!

 

[Money Maker]

GShail,

I've read of your situation and still I cannot help but think that in your case something in your system is causing your failure rate. I just had my original fail at 251K. My truck was manufactured in '03 so not sure you can just say all '03's are garbage. Glade to hear those additional fans weren't a waste.

 

[GShail]

Let us know how long your new fan clutch lasts, keep your fingers crossed.

 

[wild4stangs]

Just hit 100k, all's well with the cluytch fan...

 

[BHaner]

How can you tell that they are going out?



When I was on the dyno the other day, the water temp came up, fan came on for about 3 seconds... Then I got this high pitched screetching if I went over 1500...

 

[PLohr]

I think the fan clutch on my 2003 is on its way out. Sometimes when I turn off the engine, a squealing sound comes from the fan clutch (pretty sure its the fan clutch). The sound lasts 2-3 seconds from the moment the key is turned off. I noticed that the squealing does not occur if the fan clutch is coupled when the key is turned off(the fan stops in sync with the engine). I would guess this is the bearing that may be starting to fail.



The truck has 69K miles on it.



Paul Lohr

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Most folks don't have fan clutch problems. My original fan and clutch on my early 2004 (engine built in July 2003) seems fine after 90,000 miles. It may well be that the real source of problems for the minority of owners who have experienced premature failures can be found elsewhere. Pulley alignment and fan balance are two obvious possibilities.

 

[WPeschel]

For all you guys with the 03s i need the plastic wire loom that holds the wire out of the fan... Mine kinda broke and got wrapped up in the fan. . I called the dealer and they said gotta buy a whole fan clutch... . If one of you got one off a broken fan let me know how much it would take to get it off your hands. . PM me thanks Wesley