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Dodster
Dodge Dakota
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6/17/2002
12:27:20
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 Subject: Another fan question..Please forgive
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Can someone clarify something I think I read in this forum? Have some guys removed clutch fan and just relied on the stock electric fan behind the radiator?? I have a 2000 4.7. I live in VA summer is usually around 90 degrees high humidity. If I read right it seems like some guys removed clutch fan and didn't put in a replacement electric fan. I am going to remove clutch fan and if necessary will replace with electric fan. I am leaning toward the BM flex-a-lite. Any info is appreciated. Thanks
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alex
Dodge Dakota
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6/17/2002
13:08:48
| RE: Another fan question..Please forgive
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Yes, you can run just the auxillary factory electric fan with no clutch fan IF and only IF you replace the thremostat with a 180 degree thermostat. It works down here in Atlanta in the summer heat and never runs hot.
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don94
Dodge Dakota
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6/17/2002
13:31:42
| RE: Another fan question..Please forgive
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on my dakII v6 5speed my clutch fan is in constant use. and in the winter it runs no matter how cold it is and therefore engine temp take forever to warm up and in the summer even on the highway my fan never shuts down. viscous fans dont do that and i say if u have one and get a fiberfan blade i, in my humble opinion think that fan is best to use, cause of air and v8 motors. maybe i am way off base but cost wise and otherwise how can u beat the viscous fan with lighter fan blade and still stay cool :)
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alex
Dodge Dakota
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6/17/2002
14:22:54
| RE: Another fan question..Please forgive
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A clutch fan is a viscous fan. It is a viscous clutch. When the fan clutch is engaged, it spiins with the motor, but it is not being driven directly at the speed of the motor. If you are brave enough, you can stop the fan with your hand and the motor will continue to turn.
When it is hot enough (or at first start up) the clutch fuid will circulate out to the oter parts of the clutch unit and the fan will spin at the same speed as the motor. It is what causes the "roaring" sound at first start up and when it is extremely hot outside.
Basically unless the fan is "roaring" all of the time, it is only freewheeling with the motor. If you go searching for a "viscous fan" it will pretty much be an exact duplicate of what you already have. As for flex fans, you are pretty much wasting your money to put a flex fan on the front of a clutch unit. They are doing the same thing.
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don94
Dodge Dakota
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6/17/2002
14:27:29
| RE: Another fan question..Please forgive
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alex:
a cluth fan is different, 5speed is disk which is constant drive and auto is viscous, so i am stuck with a drive that stinks read ur manual pls
i have done so , that why i am asking knowledgeable answers. no pun intended :)
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alex
Dodge Dakota
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6/17/2002
14:59:30
| RE: Another fan question..Please forgive
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I don't know where you read that any radiator fan has a clutch disk. I think you better check your own manual. I've read mine.....
There have been viscous fluid clutch fans used to cool the Dakota radiator since the Magnum motor was introduced (from 1992 forward at least). It's a pretty standard item on almost any vehicle that has a belt-driven radiator fan.
Maybe you are confusing the "cooling" section with the "driveline" section of the manual. The driveline has a disk in the clutch assmbly between the motor and the transmission. If yo have an automatic transmission, then the torque converter is a viscous connection between the motor and the transmission......
Is that what you're thinking of?
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Boomer
Dodge Dakota
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6/17/2002
15:24:02
| RE: Another fan question..Please forgive
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I can vouch for the stopping of the fan with my bare hands. Call me idiot, and it was sheer accidental, but my knuckles hit it for a split second and the fan slowed down, no cuts or anything.
Boomer
Idiot Dak driver...well I dirve well, just repair like an idiot.
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Dodster
Dodge Dakota
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6/17/2002
15:30:44
| RE: Another fan question..Please forgive
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Hey Alex I'm not the best mechanic in the world. I can handle minor mods like air intake, TB, shocks etc. I have never replaced a t-stat in a late model engine. I'm sure it's not too difficult. Could you give a brief description of the process? What should I NOT do? Also when I remove clutch fan do I need to do anything to make sure the pulley doesn't fly off? Thanks very much!
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alex
Dodge Dakota
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6/17/2002
16:51:40
| RE: Another fan question..Please forgive
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I'll be honest with you.... after you've replaced the t-stat in a truck, and made a mess and almost killed your neighbor's dog (anti freeze poisons dogs & kids), it suddenly becomes apparent why Pep Boys charges $50-$75 to do that sort of thing. Well, since I had already doen the swap twice on my 1992, I decided that it was worth the $$ to just let Manny Moe & Jack handle the mess. I stood right there and talked to the mechanic the whole time, but at least the mess was in his shop and not my driveway.
If you want to do it yourself, though, the 4.7 L thermostat is way down low on the front of the engine block. You need to drain the coolant system into a container, undo the bolts on the front of the thermostat housing pop out the old thermostat and insert the new Robert Shaw 180 degree thermostat that you bought at AutoZone for $8. You will need to bolt the housing back onto the block, refill your coolant system and keep a close eye on the temp guage to make sure that there are no air pockets creating hot spots or vapor locks.....
If you have the V-6 or the 5.2/5.9 motor, here is a handy link for that installation...
http://www.dakota-truck.net/UPGRADES/TSTAT/index.html
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alex
Dodge Dakota
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6/17/2002
16:52:49
| RE: Another fan question..Please forgive
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PS- when you have taken off the fan, the water pump pulley is pressed on and there is nothing else necessary to hold it on. It will look risky, but it's there for good.
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Dodster
Dodge Dakota
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6/17/2002
17:02:31
| RE: Another fan question..Please forgive
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Thanks much for the info, Alex. Perhaps I'll let MM&J handle the t-stat swap. I was glad to hear from another southerner from the coast. I'm sure our summers are close climate wise. Temp 90-100 humid as heck at it's worst. My truck should behave similar to yours.
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alex
Dodge Dakota
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6/17/2002
17:24:08
| RE: Another fan question..Please forgive
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Here's the secret..... if you have removed the clutch fan and have the 180 dgree t-stat, you just keep an eye on traffic and the other eye on the temp guage. When you see the needle headed for 210 (the center mark), reach over and turn on the A/C. ANy time the A/C compressor kicks on, the auxillary electric fan runs automatically. The longer you leave the A/C on, the cooler the engine will run. It just defies all logic, but these 4.7 motors have aluminum heads and plastic intake manifolds and really dissipate the heat pretty well.
So, if you forget to turn on the A/C while you're sitting at the end of the driveway talking to your mom & pops for about 5 or 10 minutes (oops.... did it just the other day), then the computer will automatically kick on the fan when the temp reaches 210 degrees. But I like to have it turn on before that point. So far, sitting in standstill 5 o'clock rush hour traffic with the A/C on and 97 degrees outside has not been a problem. I even returned the auxillary switch that I had purchased. I was going to wire up a temp sensitive switch that would override the computer and kick it on early. Well, there's no need to do that......
Yet again, Dodge was really on it when they figured out this motor.....
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CaribbeanKota
Dodge Dakota
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6/18/2002
08:10:34
|  RE: Another fan question..Please forgive
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I had my fan off for a while but I decided to put it back on...didn't notice a difference one way or the other as fan as the butt dyno goes, only that now with the fan back on it deffinatley runs cooler and well with the same temps in 80-90's 365 days a year, I just think its safer with the clutch fan installed...plus the lack of behind rear seat storage was a hassle with the fan laying on the floor board for that "just In Case" peace of mind. Changing the T stat on this 4.7L motor is like taking candy from a baby...just use a large drain pan...I personally notched my t stat but alot of the other cats on the board reinstalled with no notch so its all up to the individual.
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don94
Dodge Dakota
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6/18/2002
08:21:22
| RE: Another fan question..Please forgive
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alex:
just to clarify my type of fan. my dak is not air conditioned and therefore i have a solid spacer between the fan and the water pump pulley. this causes the fan to run all the time. all v6 and v8 engines that are not air conditioned have this type of fan from the factory. this is from haynes manual for daks 87 to 96.
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alex
Dodge Dakota
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6/18/2002
08:56:04
|  RE: Another fan question..Please forgive
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You didnt' say you had no A/C. I was not aware of this configuration.
Well, since we're talking about it, and you want a clutch fan, I have the clutch unit and fan assembly brand new in the Mopar boxes. I was going to replace the electric fan on my 1992 truck, but sold it before I installed the parts. They are still in the Mopar boxes from the dealer.
I am not pulling your chain here.
I will sell you the clutch unit and fan blade assembly brand new- never even bolted on the truck. It was intended for the 1992 trucks. Are you interested?
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