[s-cars] Re: Shattered Radiator Fan

[Chad A. Clark]

Kevin,

  I can definitely relate a btdt with my '92 car. Ever since my ownership of
3  years, I too had noticed that my viscous fan actually flexed towards the
motor upon reving the throttle and coming awfully close to the "nut" you
describe. This is opposite of proper operation of the fan as it should
actually move ever-so-slightly away from the motor. Eventually, and like you
have experienced, the fan blades touched this metal bolt cover "nut" to the
power steering pump and shattered a few blades off the fan itself. I was
fortunate to not have them go through my radiator. I removed that metal cap
that IMO, doesn't do anything except look pretty and stick out too far. New
plastic fan and I thought all was well. Fan still sucked towards the motor.
Fast forward 6 months. At 50mph, I hear a loud BANG which was the viscous
fan clutch and bearing failing altogether, stopping the motor, warning
lights a plenty, and threw the serpentine belt off. After cleaning my
drawers, had car towed to mechanic. Once again, luckily the fan didn't
shrapnel into my radiator. Needed a new viscous fan and clutch. Now the
operation of the fan is finally correct-moving away from the motor when you
rev the throttle. (No, the fan blade was not on backwards) So, I'd suggest
that you have your viscous fan bearing replaced. It's not a cheap repair but
I'd hate for it to happen to you again. Especially if the fan still moves
towards the motor. It's another one of those items for everyone to check. As
Kevin and I have experienced, it ain't pretty when she blows. The fan that
is:-) HTH,


Chad

> Frank,
>
> I have a 1995.5 S6 which recently gave me some problems.  Recently, while
> accelerating hard from a stop light, I heard a ?pop? sound, which was
> quickly followed by an illuminated low coolant/engine overheating warning
> light, a stalled motor, and coolant gushing from the radiator.  When I
> opened the hood, I found all of the blades of the radiator fan strewn about
> the engine compartment.  I took it to a local mechanic who replaced the
> radiator, the radiator fan, the fan shroud, the fan clutch and the
> thermometer.  Turns out that at high rpm, the radiator fan blades would
> flex towards the motor and rub against a large six-sided object mounted on
> the motor (basically, this object is a nut (not a bolt in the motor) to
> receive a wrench or socket).  Eventually, the blades got too close to this
> nut, and they all shattered and came off the fan (damaging the radiator and
> other parts in the process).  When my mechanic replaced the fan, the new
> blades where again rubbing against the nut, so he removed the nut, and now
> I don?t have a problem...or do I?  I searched through some S4/S6 chat rooms
> and couldn?t find anyone who was complaining of a similar problem.  Sounds
> like a design flaw in either the motor or the radiator, but since no one
> else has complained of this, I?m wondering if and why I had this unique
> (and expensive) problem.  Have you ever heard of such a problem?  Please
> advise.
> Thanks for your help,
> Kevin Rohnstock
>
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