Can I drive my car with a bad radiator fan clutch?
Can I still drive my Trailblazer if the radiator fan clutch is going bad? I have to make a 200 mile trip and have no other vehicle to drive
My car has 117900 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
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When it fails, the engine is at risk of serious damage due to overheating. If your fan clutch is bad or failed, replace it as soon as possible to prevent engine damage.
Overheating engine is the most common symptom of a bad or failing fan clutch. It controls the operation of the cooling fans. These cooling fans will disable/not work at maximum efficiency as the bad clutch will not engage properly. This result in overheating which may lead to serious issues if not timely attended.
As mentioned, the car`s fan cools the radiator by drawing the air in and over the radiator, which cools the coolant that flows through the engine. However, know that you can still operate your vehicle without a cooling fan. At that point, the air will still flow in via the radiator shroud when the fan no longer works.
That fan has nothing to do with your transmission problem.
You can make it hours, days, or even weeks sometimes when your clutch just starts slipping. But if your car`s clutch begins to slip when you`re driving in higher gears – say, gear three and up – it`s not long until it`s going to leave you stranded.
Driving a car with a faulty clutch can cause further damage to your gearbox, starter motor or shifter. It is important to resolve any damage spotted with your clutch.
If your clutch is overheating, it is likely slipping. A slipping clutch will not stay engaged to allow the power transfer between the engine and the transmission. A slipping clutch is a clutch that needs to be adjusted or replaced if it cannot be rebuilt.
If the fan isn`t operating properly, it can lead to overheating fast and stop you in your tracks. Prolonged overheating can also damage engine parts, so it`s important to get the problem checked out as quickly as possible.
You should not drive or run the vehicle if the cooling fan is not moving or the engine may overheat and cause severe damage. Have the cooling fan and fan clutch checked to make sure it is working properly.
Yes you can drive it but you wont get far and the engine will overheat. The fan is required to cool the engine. If you continue to drive ignoring the overheat then your engine will seize or engine might cut off.
Whistling. A whistling or whining noise coming from the engine bay can be pretty serious. There`s a number of possible causes for the whistling noise, but one of the most common causes is a loose serpentine belt. When this happens, the fan clutch is not engaged properly.
First of all, when a specific burning smell appears and if the car starts to move in jerks, it is necessary to go to a car service as soon as possible. You cannot drive a car in this state. Otherwise, you will have to replace the clutch, as well as the flywheel.
With a sudden breakdown, the clutch ceases to work entirely and the car won`t move. With gradual failure, you may experience problems such as the car not stopping when you press the pedal. Sudden failure is most often caused by a broken or loose clutch cable, linkable or a failed hydraulic master/slave cylinder.
As a general rule, your car clutch will need to be replaced every 100,000 kilometres. However, you may need a clutch service or replacement more often depending on how you use your car.
If you`ve got a bad clutch, the signs will be anything but subtle. The smell of a clutch gone wrong is potent. It might smell similar to burning brakes, but has been described as a sickly, heavy stench. Some people have related it to sulphur or gun smoke.
Fans do not cool the air, so air currents flowing over the body must be cooler than your body temperature to cool you down. When indoor air temperatures are hotter than about 95 °F: Fan use may cause your body to gain heat instead of lose it.
The rapid air movement caused by a fan can dry out your mouth and nasal passages, your eyes and can even cause dry skin conditions, according to Mark Reddick from Sleep Advisor. Reddick says: “As a fan moves air around the room, it causes flurries of dust and pollen to make their way into your sinuses.
If you happen to notice your car emitting a burning smell, similar to burning rubber, then this is a sign that your clutch is overheating and your clutch plate is beginning to wear and tear. This is usually caused by riding the clutch and is most common in slow-moving traffic.
If at all possible, call in for towing assistance and have the clutch seen to immediately. There is not much you can do once your clutch is entirely burnt-out, other than replace it. So rather than try push your vehicle, have it seen to – repaired or replaced – as soon as possible.
If your cooling fans are working, but the engine still overheats, the radiator itself might be going bad. Over time, rust and corrosion can disrupt the flow of coolant through the radiator, meaning it can`t do its job as effectively.
As long as your fan is clean, sleeping with it on generally does not cause serious health problems. But fans circulate air that may dry your nose and throat and trigger other uncomfortable symptoms. Keeping your home clean and free of dust is one of many ways to help prevent those issues.
Whistling. A whistling or whining noise coming from the engine bay can be pretty serious. There`s a number of possible causes for the whistling noise, but one of the most common causes is a loose serpentine belt. When this happens, the fan clutch is not engaged properly.
The most common reason for a loud cooling fan is the clutch being stuck in the fully engaged position. When this happens, the fan runs at engine speed regardless of the actual engine temperature. This condition can cause unnecessary drag on the engine as it works harder against the cooling fan rotation.
There is no set mileage that this part will last, rather it`s important to watch for early warning signs that it may be giving out. While there are times you can repair the fan clutch, in most instances it`s best to replace it.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
When replacing my fan clutch should I change my cooling fan to a flex-a-light and get a new flex-a-light clutch?
ANSWER : Hi there. It is best to always put on the OEM parts that are required for the vehicle. However, you can get a flex-a-light clutch fan for your vehicle as long as it will bolt up to your water pump pulley and clear the radiator and shroud. I recommend having a clutch design fan for your vehicle and not a fan that spins with the engine all the time. Those fans will cause the engine to overheat on highways and in town especially in hot weather. If you need further assistance with your cooling fan, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I drive my car with a bad radiator fan clutch?
When I turn on my AC the radiator fans do not turn on. The fans do come on when the car warms up so I know they are working and the fuses are good. The AC compressor does come on and the air blows ice cold when the car is moving. Car is a 2006 Chrysler Sebring Sedan 2.7l v6.
ANSWER : The control circuit for the fans needs to be checked. For example, there is usually a condenser fan relay in the A/C electrical controls. There could be a fault with that relay and/or wiring problems, perhaps even just a loose connection, blown or loose fuse, and so forth. To resolve something like this, the recommended service is an electrical component diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic service, the responding certified mechanic will get the problem pinpointed and resolved. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I drive my car with a bad radiator fan clutch?
Car will overheat if I don’t have the fan on. When fan is off it doesn’t come on to release heat from engine. So the fan is always on.
ANSWER : Check the wiring to the coolant temperature sensor and see if there is power to the sensor switch. If there is no power, then check the cooling fan relay and see if its clicking on. If there is no clicking motion, then remove the relay and check for power to the relay. If there is power to the relay, then the cooling fan relay needs replaced. If there is no power to the relay, then check the fuse. If the fuse is burned, replace the fuse. If the fuse is good, then check power from the fuse to the main circuit on the fuse box. If there is no power, then the fuse box needs replaced. If the fan comes on with the air conditioning system switch turned on, that is because the switch overrides the cooling switch to make the condenser cool down to make the air conditioning system work properly.
If you need further assistance with your cooling fans not coming on when the engine gets hot, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I drive my car with a bad radiator fan clutch?
My car cooling fan works for a few seconds when I turn the car off, not on when the car’s on. Is the temperature sensor bad?
ANSWER : If it doesn’t run for more than about a minute, that could be a normal situation. The fan is triggered by temperature at the cylinder head, and when the engine is off and the coolant isn’t circulating, the heat rises to the top of the engine. If the car is fully warmed up and it’s a hot day outside, the fan may come on for a short time when the car is off. If it runs on and on, it may be a different matter and you will want to have it checked out.
The leak, should concern you. Left to themselves, things always go from bad to worse and it could get worse at a very inconvenient time. If you contact Your Mechanic, they can send a technician to your home or office to check out your Honda and let you know what can be done for it.
The leak, should concern you. Left to themselves, things always go from bad to worse and it could get worse at a very inconvenient time. If you contact Your Mechanic, they can send a technician to your home or office to check out your Honda and let you know what can be done for it.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I drive my car with a bad radiator fan clutch?
I had my radiator replaced also my lower radiator holes replaced and my car keeps shaking really bad when the car is still
ANSWER : The shaking could be the result of a number of issues, including the engine having a misfire (not firing on all cylinders). The radiator replacement would not have created this condition. The vehicle should be inspected in order to diagnose this issue. A YourMechanic certified mechanic can come to your home or place of business to perform a car is shaking or vibrating inspection on your vehicle.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I drive my car with a bad radiator fan clutch?
Replaced alternator on car 2 times each time shows it’s charging 14v let car run for a little bit then test drive and car voltage
ANSWER : There are reports that the replacement alternators will not communicate with the engine computer and will not charge correctly. I recommend using only the manufacturer approved replacement part. It can be new or remanufactured but approved for use in the vehicle. Some lower cost alternators on the aftermarket will have charging problems since they will not communicate with the ECM on the vehicle and will stop charging.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I drive my car with a bad radiator fan clutch?
Radiator fans wont turn off unless I turn off the car, why?
ANSWER : It sounds like you have checked just about everything that controls the fans other than the fan power relay itself. As you may know the coolant fan relay turns the fans off and on by receiving information from the coolant temperature sensor at specific temperature thresholds. When this relay is not working properly, this can cause the fans to come on intermittently, stay on all the time or sometimes not at all. When this happens you will notice a temperature spike and drop occasionally as the fan comes on and off. I would suggest having an expert from Your Mechanic come to your home to diagnose your coolant fan.
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Is it bad to drive a car with a bad throttle body??
ANSWER : Hey there. This may not immediately affect your car’s engine. However, it will continue to cause intermittent misfires and will gradually get worse. This may also have an impact on other parts as well since the missing cylinder will still be receiving fuel. This fuel only has one of two places it could go: either out of the exhaust as raw unburnt fuel causing damage to the catalytic converter (which may also trigger more fault codes such as the O2 sensor), OR this fuel will end up down in the oil with the oil which causes the oil to break down. When this happens, the oil loses its effectiveness on protecting other vital engine parts. For more help, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to diagnose and repair the misfire for you.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I drive my car with a bad radiator fan clutch?
