Update: 15,000 Miles on a Manual Fan Clutch and a Ford Fan

[FPollard]

I kept having problems on my '06 with the fan clutch wiring getting hung up, pulling out, then the truck just dies. When the clutch started spraying its visco contents all over the engine bay I decided that I had enough. I found this video on YouTube in which the guy says to replace the electronic setup using a 1999 Dodge 2500 V10 manual fan clutch paired with a 2003 Ford PowerStroke fan. I have had this combination on my 2006 for over a year and here to report the combination works perfectly! I haven't experienced any overheat conditions with loads on hills and I push my truck, I live in Flagstaff at 7500ft of elevation and tow heavy loads down to Phoenix at 2500ft of elevation and back frequently.

 

[Bob4x4]

Dtc ?.That would fail smog test in Cali

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

I went a similar route, while using the stock fan on my '09...

I have an adapter to mount a '97 Ford 7.3 fan drive to the stock fan. It works well with engine temps, but AC performance is the same as you describe. Gonna toy around with different thermostats to see what happens. I do know that a '97 Ford 7.3 runs a 203* thermostat, but it's the temp the radiator throws at the fan drive that really counts. I know that my '92 had the fan at full lockup last January with a 160* thermostat, so I may try a 180* to see what it does.

 

[FPollard]

I went a similar route, while using the stock fan on my '09...

I have an adapter to mount a '97 Ford 7.3 fan drive to the stock fan. It works well with engine temps, but AC performance is the same as you describe. Gonna toy around with different thermostats to see what happens. I do know that a '97 Ford 7.3 runs a 203* thermostat, but it's the temp the radiator throws at the fan drive that really counts. I know that my '92 had the fan at full lockup last January with a 160* thermostat, so I may try a 180* to see what it does.

Yeah, living in Flagstaff, AZ - A/C is not really necessary unless I head downhill to Phoenix, by then my truck is more than warm enough....

 

[FPollard]

Dtc ?.That would fail smog test in Cali

No smog laws in AZ...

 

[GrantP]

No smog laws in AZ...

Not quite, if you're in Phoenix or Tucson you have to get tested.

 

[Ozymandias]

Is there a CEL present or not with that conversion?

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

Is there a CEL present or not with that conversion?

No light, but a code will show up with a scanner.

 

[Ozymandias]

So you just unpluged the Fan connection and that's it?
That works, you have full engine power and only a hidden code.?

 

[cerberusiam]

Codes for fan performance do not normally set a CEL or derate the engine, they just leave DTC's that will cause a fail in emissions testing. Symptoms of a bad fan can cause CEL's and derate but not the source.

 

[Ozymandias]

Thats a good info, if one has a fan problem in remote areas, just unplug it and keep an eye in the water temp.

 

[Killer223]

hey I live in Flagpole also!!!