[s-cars] Check the Viscous Fan Coupling for excessive play

[SJM Autotechnik]

I don't know if this problem has happened to any S-car owners, but thought
I would pass along this info.

A new customer with a 1995 S6 had an expensive problem the other day. He
came in with the coolant low warning.

His engine driven fan viscous coupling (fan clutch) had excessive play and
allowed the plastic cooling fan  to wobble enough to hit the power steering
pump pulley which sheared off some blades on the plastic fan. The broken
fan pieces were then jammed into the radiator core hard enough by the
rotating fan blades to puncture the radiator core in several places.

Ouch! This got expensive in a hurry.

The Bentley indicates the fan should have no more than 15mm side to side
play as measured at the outer circumference of the fan, but that seems a
little too excessive, and is cutting it a little close.
HTH

Scott Mockry
SJM Autotechnik