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What is the test for a fan clutch?
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,874
Likes: 100
From: Northern Ontario, Canada
Year: 1990, 1999, 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
if you can move your clutch fan when the engine is warm,(and off. lol) your clutch fan needs replaced. but you should be able to move it when it's cold.
that's how a clutch fan works. there is fluid in there so when it warms up, it gets solid. but it needs to slip when the engine is still cold and warming up. when you rev it up, the fan slips so it doesn't keep your coolant cold when it should be warming up. theoretically, if i worded it right.
that's how a clutch fan works. there is fluid in there so when it warms up, it gets solid. but it needs to slip when the engine is still cold and warming up. when you rev it up, the fan slips so it doesn't keep your coolant cold when it should be warming up. theoretically, if i worded it right.
CF Veteran


Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,478
Likes: 275
From: Southern Texas (former AZ & Aus)
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: I6 4.0L
if you can move your clutch fan when the engine is warm,(and off. lol) your clutch fan needs replaced. but you should be able to move it when it's cold.
that's how a clutch fan works. there is fluid in there so when it warms up, it gets solid. but it needs to slip when the engine is still cold and warming up. when you rev it up, the fan slips so it doesn't keep your coolant cold when it should be warming up. theoretically, if i worded it right.
that's how a clutch fan works. there is fluid in there so when it warms up, it gets solid. but it needs to slip when the engine is still cold and warming up. when you rev it up, the fan slips so it doesn't keep your coolant cold when it should be warming up. theoretically, if i worded it right.
When cold (and off)... if you get anywhere near a full rotation or if you get very little resistance when attempting to rotate the fan, that could be sign of it failing.. it should rotate a little bit. For example... when I give mine a flick... I watch which blade I start with, and it might rotate a 1/4 of a rotation before it stops. So not very far at all with average pressure to turn it with. If you flick it and it just spins fairly freely w/little resistance and good rotation... it's time for a new one.
CF Veteran


Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,478
Likes: 275
From: Southern Texas (former AZ & Aus)
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: I6 4.0L
but either way a mechanical fan on an XJ spinning for 14 seconds AFTER the engine has been shut off is nuts.
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