How do you replace fan clutch

[trip_dad]

I have a 97 Safari. A/C is not blowing cold air. Was told the fan clutch is going bad. Can anyone walk me through the replacement? I can't afford paying someone else to do it.

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by trip_dad

I have a 97 Safari. A/C is not blowing cold air. Was told the fan clutch is going bad. Can anyone walk me through the replacement? I can't afford paying someone else to do it.

there is no fan clutch on the A/C, it might be a compressor clutch. The compressor clutch will not engage if your freon pressure is low. I suggest you take it to an A/C shop for analysis, you might get off with a simple recharge.

[Blue Bowtie]

If you determine that the refrigerant charge is correct, and that there is no cooling because of inadequate condensing, and that there is no condensing because the stock fan clutch on your '97 Safari has failed (freewheeling) you can replace the fan clutch by removing the upper shroud and fan. Try turning the hub counter-clockwise (normal right hand thread), unbolt the GRP blade, and install it on a new or remanufactured hub.

[trip_dad]

I was able to replace the fan clutch. I first removed the air cleaner assembly, then the upper fan shroud. I had to borrow a fan clutch wrench from Checker Auto - it did not fit so I went to AutoZone & they had one that worked. It was the original fan clutch & took quite a bit of muscle to get it to loosen up. I can't imagine not having the clutch wrench set to get the job done because you need the counter pressure to keep the fan from turning. Once the fan clutch & fan were off, I took the fan off the clutch and put it on the new clutch & then did everything in reverse.

The A/C works great!

[Blue Bowtie]

I've had reasonable success with a strap wrench on the water pump pulley (it's a "pulley" in this case, and not a "sheave" because of the lack of grooves) and a large wrench on the hex hub of the fan.