How to test if your radiator fan clutch is working properly?

[IS300E30]

Would like to know how you can test if your radiator fan clutch is working properly.

My radiator fan does spin fast when car is on. I read about pushing some newspaper in the fans location while running and if it stops its bad and if it doesnt stop its fine. I did that and the fan didnt stop.

Is there any other way to test to see if the fan clutch is working to its peak performance?

[xwill112x]

its working if it chewed up a rolled up magazine

[IS300E30]

its working if it chewed up a rolled up magazine

It didn't "chew up" the rolled up couple pages of newspaper (I didn't put a lot of newspaper but a few pages rolled up). But, it didn't stop the radiator fan either it didn't skip a beat and kept going strong. It put little indentions in the newspaper pages. I didn't want to push it too hard as I didn't want to break something that wasn't broken to begin with. Maybe I wussed out.

[xwill112x]

its working dude, some techs even use a broom stick. lol

[IS300E30]

Is it really safe to use a whole magazine rolled up to test the radiator fan clutch?

[jlevie]

Yes.

[immajackuup]

put your wee wee in there. if it stop the fan then you know clutch fan is bad.

[leone30]

radiator fan

In my car, the radiator fan turns on when temperature needle just passes 12 and it emits loud a howling. Push gas pedal, the sound grows. then temperature needle goes to 11. you can see it clear.
howl dissapears. You can not mistaken this sound. I think if no howl, the fan is dead.

[IS300E30]

In my car, the radiator fan turns on when temperature needle just passes 12 and it emits loud a howling. Push gas pedal, the sound grows. then temperature needle goes to 11. you can see it clear.
howl dissapears. You can not mistaken this sound. I think if no howl, the fan is dead.

My radiator fan goes on right when I turn on the car. It is always on until I turn off the car. Is that not how it is supposed to work?

[Hey_You]

Be glad your fan is working, better it on all the time than not. Yes, the tech's at my shop usually use their hand to test the fan...not the best idea, but they can usually tell if the fan clutch is bad by the A/C pressures they work with all day.

[Farbin Kaiber]

My radiator fan goes on right when I turn on the car. It is always on until I turn off the car. Is that not how it is supposed to work?

Does it howl like a Nissan P/U? If so, clutch is likely seized.

[Jaxx_]

My radiator fan goes on right when I turn on the car. It is always on until I turn off the car. Is that not how it is supposed to work?

he's talking about the auxiliary fan in front of the AC compressor... ignore that post. lol

[joonsup]

Sorry to bump this thread but yesterday I replaced the fan clutch with one i bought used from antoher member that was in good condition. I drove the car around and it was pretty warm outside and then i let it idle, popped the hood, took a magazine and rolled it up and stuck it in the fan to see if it would chew it up and it seemed like it's chewing it up a bit but once I stick the magazine in further the fan will slow down. I guess I'm having trouble determining how much resistance the fan is supposed to have once you stick the magazine into the spinning fan.

[Keith M]

There isn't a scientific method of testing with a rolled up magazine, it's just a basic test. If you are unsure, the best thing to do is buy a new fan clutch. They are not expensive and you will be good for years.