Fan Clutch debacle, manufacture information

[SirRobyn0]

Early last week we had a couple days of hot for us weather, and the A/C in the truck wasn't blowing cold at idle as well as idle temps were creeping up. Didn't take long to realize the fan clutch was free wheeling.

Long story short, between last week and today I have installed a total of 4 defective out of the box fan clutches and one good one. Murray, carquest, NAPA, 4 seasons, and possibly Duralast all of the fan clutch varieties available locally are re-branded Hayden fan clutches. Hayden has moved production to Korea and while there are good parts coming out of Korea Hayden isn't one of them. I don't know if they are getting the kinks worked out or, I got lucky and got into a bad batch, but 3 of my clutches were stuck locked, and one freewheeled. All were severe duty fan clutches. No way would a standard be able to keep up on a hot day with truck, trailer on secondary roads in hot weather with the A/C running, so I did not try a standard. I finally ordered a A/C Delco unit yesterday and had it overnighted, to the tune of $180. 3 times the cost of the other units, but it is stamped made in USA on the head of it and get this it works correctly!

I'm willing to bet with Hayden they'll get this corrected, but just thought you'd all want to know my recent experience. Which is to bad, back in the day Hayden was my go to fan clutch brand.

 

[ali_c20]

Thanks for sharing, I need a new fan clutch for my C20 so I will stay away from Hayden and go Delco.

 

[SirRobyn0]

Thanks for sharing, I need a new fan clutch for my C20 so I will stay away from Hayden and go Delco.

It's really to bad. I remember back in the day when more vehicles had fan clutches Hayden was my go to brand for replacement, but in those days they were american made....

 

[Matt69olds]

You mean to tell me a long respected, well reputed manufacturer suffers from quality control issues once production is moved to a 3rd world country?! I find that difficult to believe!!

My phone is dripping with sarcasm.

 

[Craig 85]

By chance does your truck have the OEM aux pusher fan IFO the radiator? I added it to mine since my truck did not originally come with the factory tow package. It definitely helps at low speed and idling in hot weather with the A/C on.

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[SquareRoot]

I didn't know mechanical fans were still being made these days? I thought they had gone the way of rotary phones and clocks with hands.

 

[SirRobyn0]

By chance does your truck have the OEM aux pusher fan IFO the radiator? I added it to mine since my truck did not originally come with the factory tow package. It definitely helps at low speed and idling in hot weather with the A/C on.

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No, it does not. Thanks for the mention of it. I've been thinking of adding one. Having a properly working fan clutch will help the low speed A/C operation, but even with it working correctly there is a difference between idle and moving vent temps. Tell me is the pusher fan very noisy?

 

[Grit dog]

You mean to tell me a long respected, well reputed manufacturer suffers from quality control issues once production is moved to a 3rd world country?! I find that difficult to believe!!

My phone is dripping with sarcasm.

I’ve seen the same thing. Not with fan clutches but parts in general.

 

[Craig 85]

No, it does not. Thanks for the mention of it. I've been thinking of adding one. Having a properly working fan clutch will help the low speed A/C operation, but even with it working correctly there is a difference between idle and moving vent temps. Tell me is the pusher fan very noisy?

No it's not very noisy, but it's also only a 5 bladed fan. I'm sure similar sized aftermarket ones move more air.

I used this part number for the block temp sensor. It installs in passenger head. I had to use one for a 91-95 SBC as the 1985 version is unavailable. Basically is a ground for the fan relay. It comes on about 210*. These are all the different part numbers for the sensor.

GM 10096148
ACDelco 15-2624
Airtex 1S4408
SMP TS-252
Wells SW571

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[SirRobyn0]

@Craig 85 Thanks for the info. Do you have the relay wired to kick it on with the A/C as well?

 

[Craig 85]

@Craig 85 Thanks for the info. Do you have the relay wired to kick it on with the A/C as well?

I used the factory style relay from Napa for an '85 (Electric Fan Relay -Echlin ECH AR225; Relay Connector -Echlin ECH EC85. I don't believe it directly ties into the A/C. It is based on engine temp. The factory relay ties into an ignition "On" wire to trigger the relay (pink wire/black chaser Circuit 439). The above listed sensor is the ground that turns on the relay once the engine is hot enough. It works with or without the A/C.

I'm sure it would be easy to have my fan turn on immediately with the A/C. I would just create a second ground path for my relay to turn on when the A/C comes on or a manual switch.

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[AuroraGirl]

I didn't know mechanical fans were still being made these days? I thought they had gone the way of rotary phones and clocks with hands.

You just gotta LS swap the electric motors of fans and boom problem solved

 

[AuroraGirl]

No it's not very noisy, but it's also only a 5 bladed fan. I'm sure similar sized aftermarket ones move more air.

I used this part number for the block temp sensor. It installs in passenger head. I had to use one for a 91-95 SBC as the 1985 version is unavailable. Basically is a ground for the fan relay. It comes on about 210*. These are all the different part numbers for the sensor.

GM 10096148
ACDelco 15-2624
Airtex 1S4408
SMP TS-252
Wells SW571

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I think I may put something similar in my F150 at some point with a trans cooler up front, too, because I definitely notice AC performance cut down at low speeds and I even went with a motorcraft fan clutch. But its Ford, so it needs all the help it can get anyway

 

[SquareRoot]

You just gotta LS swap the electric motors of fans and boom problem solved

I'm over the LS thing. It's all about Duramax these days. I'm loving my baby max and it's 33 mpg.

 

[SirRobyn0]

I used the factory style relay from Napa for an '85 (Electric Fan Relay -Echlin ECH AR225; Relay Connector -Echlin ECH EC85. I don't believe it directly ties into the A/C. It is based on engine temp. The factory relay ties into an ignition "On" wire to trigger the relay (pink wire/black chaser Circuit 439). The above listed sensor is the ground that turns on the relay once the engine is hot enough. It works with or without the A/C.

I'm sure it would be easy to have my fan turn on immediately with the A/C. I would just create a second ground path for my relay to turn on when the A/C comes on or a manual switch.

Yes I think it would be easy to tie it into the A/C as well and probably the way I'd wire it even though not factory. Speaking of factory those are nice pictures under the hood of your truck. I enjoy engine that are stock or near stock in appearance still.