How fan clutches work

Mooseman

Original poster
Moderator
Dec 4, 2011
25,402
Ottawa, ON
Found this video on rebuilding fan clutches. Although ours aren't rebuildable (electro-viscous or thermal), this gives a look inside a clutch and shows why they are basically locked up, or fully engaged, on startup.

 

Mooseman

Original poster
Moderator
Dec 4, 2011
25,402
Ottawa, ON
This one shows how the friction happens to engage the clutch:


On top of that, I also found this old GM Tech Link that explains how the electro-viscous fan clutch works. Funny that it says that the PCM will engage the fan at 100% when it is completely overheated at 264F.

Changed the title as this is more than why they are noisy on startup.
 

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