The clutch fan engages when you start until the silicone goo inside gets
soft enough to release and allow free rotation of the blades. This is
normal (although somewhat annoying).
The delayed tranny shifts are due to a trans temp sensor buried within the
trans. Once it reaches certain temp ranges, the trans will late shift in an
attempt to bring the fluid to its optimum temp range. Think of it as a
thermostat. Also normal. My old Shelby Dak wouldn't upshift to OD until I
had been on the road for abou 3-4 miles. Similar but quicker in the RE
based transmissions.
TonyC
-----Original Message-----
From: Travis Bailey <dusterrt@msn.com>
To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net <dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net>
Date: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 11:07 PM
Subject: DML: Symptoms of a HD Fan Clutch?
I've got this slightly obnoxious "problem." When I first start my truck,
the fan clutch is engauged, or at least sure feels like it. It doesn't
matter if it's 4 degrees or in the 60's (that's all the temp range I've
experienced since getting it), or if I let it idle and warm up partially or
all the way to normal temps, it's on until I drive it for a block or two.
Sounds like it's trying to suck the Hellas through the grille, and feels
like it is sucking up about 40 horsepower doing so. Also: will not shift
below 2300 RPMS or so, kinda annoying when you're trying to sneak out of the
subdivision with straight pipes, lol. As soon as the fan shuts up, all is
fine and normal, warmed up or still cold. It's worst when cold, but does
something similar if it is warm, shut off for a short bit, and then
re-started.
My theory is this: truck came from Miami which is where it has been up
until a few weeks ago. Not only is it mad at me for making it stay in this
midwest tundra, one of the previous owners put in a heavy duty fan clutch.
The viscous goo in the clutch is really viscous when cold and it takes a bit
to warm it up and let the fan spin freely. The fan moves a poopload of air
and eats up power doing so making the transmission think, "There is a load,
delay shifts to higher RPMs!" Am I on the right track here or should I not
have used a rattle can to paint a large piece of furnature in a
less-than-perfectly ventilated area?
Travis
'92 Dak 5.2 4x4
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