R51 Fan Clutch Shot?

[SkinnyPedal]

So my 2005 Pathfinder (just passed 100K on the odo) sounds like a garbage truck when I step on the gas. All the neighbors stop and stare as I'm driving down the street I assume it's the fan clutch (apparently a common issue on the VQs?) I've read that this is a 10 minute job to swap out on some VQs, but I can't find anything Pathfinder-specific.

Has anybody had the same issue and can confirm it as an easy job?

Also, does anybody know if this would negatively impact fuel economy?

[Bender]

It is common, it will be on all the time, sound mean going down the road like a transport truck perhaps? Easy peasy to do, and yes this will affect you fuel economy. I replaced mine on the X, got rid of the snarling bear sound, and gained 50 or so km per tank easily.

Grab the fan and see how it spins, is it really stiff? Can you stop it with your hand ( seen this done in the back, but not for the inexperienced!)?

[SkinnyPedal]

Can you stop it with your hand ( seen this done in the back, but not for the inexperienced!)?

Hah! I've only tried with my tongue and it hurt like hell.

Doing more research here and apparently bad tensioners are even more common, but I don't really understand how a loose belt could cause this level of dumptruck-ness

Thanks for the quick reply Bender - you have a price on that part, or is that a PM level thing?

[Bender]

There is a bulletin out for new updated parts to replace the belt and tensioner if there was a noise at start up or after long periods of driving. Your issue is the fan clutch...PM sent.

[Jayman]

I had to do this on my X this summer. Aside form the bolts being a PITA to get too, the job itself was fairly straight forward.

For me, I was having cooling issues because the fan was not spinning fast enough to blow enough air through the rad.

[simps19]

Is this the same fan that could cause a rough idle? Basically, if im sitting still with the brake on (like in the never ending TIm's line-up) it goes off and on every 20 seconds or so.....when its on the rpm go down to 700 or so, causing the truck to have a rough idle.

[Simon]

That's more than likely your AC compressor kicking in. Do you have your HVAC set to defrost? If so, it'll cycle the AC on and off like that.

[Adam]

Yeah never leave it on defrost unless you need it. Even the defrost/floor mode cycles the a/c and wastes gas.

[Bender]

Your AC cycles all the time, leaving it on those settings make it happen a bit more, this is designed so your compressor does not seize up like they did way back when from lack of use.

[simps19]

I belive it was set to the defrost/floor mode at the time. Ill try and remember to turn it off next time im stopped to see if this is the issue. thanks.

[ironman]

I haven't had any that issue yet but my belt tentioner squeaks until it worms up havnt goten any info on it yet though.

[SkinnyPedal]

Thanks to Bender I got it all fixed up tonight. It wasn't the 10 minute job I was hoping for - there was no way I was getting that fan and clutch out of there without removing the intake, fan shroud, top rad hose etc., but it all worked out. Unfortunately, I did lose one of the nuts that reattaches the clutch with my butter fingers, but at least the other 3 are on good and finger tight.

[LGM]

Funny thing after reading this thread, I realize that Bonnie's R51 has the "school bus" syndrome as well. The fan is always on.

Skinnypedal and/or Bender would you mind PMing me the details on how you went about fixing this?

Thanks Sandor.

[ironman]

Since this was a 10min fix would you mind sharing the fix or the part needed I have some sort of fan/pulley noise.

[Simon]

..... but at least the other 3 are on good and finger tight.

That's what I like to hear!

[Bender]

Way to go butter fingers, PM sent!

[SkinnyPedal]

It wasn't a 10 minute job for me, but I am a hump. Unless you've done it a bunch of times, I have no sweet clue how you could do this in 10 minutes on an 2005+ truck. Having said that, the "how" is pretty obvious when you open the hood, it's just a matter of getting to the 4 bolts that hold the fan clutch on and then how you get the fan and clutch assembly out.

I guess I should have done a writeup, but I wouldn't mind giving LGM a hand with his and snap some pics at the same time. Just don't let ole butterfingers here replace the nuts. The small ratcheting wrenches help out a lot - particularly when you replace the assembly - as I found out the hard way when I lost that first nut.