How do you check the fan clutch and water pump output on an 02 ford explorer?
1 Answer
With the engine cold turn the fan by hand. There should be a little resistance but the blade should not spin freely. If it spins freely, like spinning the blades on an electric fan, the clutch is bad. If it doesn't turn at all or excessive force is required to turn the blades the clutch is bad. As for the pump, if it is not leaking coolant from the shaft, you are ninty percent home free. Make sure it is not leaking from around any of the dozen or so mounting bolts securring the pump to the block. Remove the belt from the pump pulley. Grasp the pulley (not the blades) and turn the pulley in the direction of engine rotation. It should turn freely. It should not bind at any spot and operation should be silent. A grinding noise or feel could indicate a bearing ready to go kaputt.