Fan Clutch Problems

Hello. :smile: I am new here, but this looks like a great place to ask answers and hopefully get answers!

I have a 2002 TB LT. Has 49,400 miles on it. We had to replace the fan clutch about a month ago. It started making this loud noise, loss of power, and finally the check engine light came on, so I took it to the dealer and had them hook it up on the computer. They told me what it was, and then told me the part alone was $400. And then labor was something like $40/hour. :eek: No way I could afford that, so I looked and looked until I found one at a salvage yard. It was guaranteed to work - and it did... for about 2 weeks. It is now intermittently doing the same thing the other one had started doing.

My question is - could something ELSE be causing the fan clutch to go bad? I have read numerous complaints from TB owners about the fan clutch, so I am just a bit paranoid about going and spending $400 on a new one, only to have it go bad after a short period of time! This one we bought salvage costed $150, PLUS I had to drive 2 hours to get it. That was bad enough! I cannot keep replacing the same part.

Other than this problem, I have had NO problems with my TB. We traded our Grand Cherokee for it a few months ago, and I would NOT trade back.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Who installed the one from the salvage yard? Is it possible they over torque it? That can make a fan clutch go bad extemely fast. Also, did you also replace the fan clutch bearing? If not...maybe the bearing is bad...

First of all a fan clutch for $400 sounds crazy. If you have any mechanical know how , you can change it yourself in about 30 minutes.

Yes fan clutches for this engine are around $400. We have seen several failures at around 50-60 thousand miles. Maybe the used one you bought was already close to that. The test to verify it is the fan clutch is to unplug the wiring connector, run the engine for 2 minutes at 2000 rpm. Sut the engine off and see if the fan turns free, if it does it is a control problem, if it is still stiff it needs a new clutch.

Mince was SUPER LOUD so I had to have mine replaced too.

First of all a fan clutch for $400 sounds crazy.

Yes it does, but that is what they cost. Every parts store we called said it was a 'dealer only' part. And every dealer was $395-$399. Not much difference in prices at all.

baskerj - I am assuming the mechanic did not over-torque it, but as for the other question, No, we didn't replace the fan clutch bearings, as far as I know.

billqual - Thanks for the diagnostic test - will try it!

Thanks, everybody!

Hey Redbayf9

How often did your truck make the noise. I have a noise sometimes that sounds like the fan but it stops after a while and doesn't do it all the time. I thought it was normal.

I tried getting around a faulty fan clutch by installing an electric fan only to find myself fighting a Check Engine Light. I even tried to reinstall the fan clutch without the blades only to have the light come on again.

Does anyone know how to get around this issue?

:feedback:

It is a shame GM has managed to over-complicate something as simple as a $20 fan clutch. Plus, to add to the insult, the tankful I ran with the light on, using the electric fan, returned a 4.5mpg improvement versus driving with the A/C on with the engine mounted fan!!!

I'm having the same problem with the fan clutch. It started right after I bought it new and they said that was normal but now it makes the noise until you get it up to about 50mph then it goes away. I now have 42,000 mile. Think maybe we should all write our Attorney General Office about the problem and cc: it to General Motor. Oh and by the way I've had right front head light problem as well. The female socket that plugs into the light melted. After replacing the socket for $21.00 and still had the problem I took a couple of tooth picks and inserted them beside the small metal guides that house the wire so far so good. GM should step up to the plate on the fan clutch.

Good news... :smile:

I had the dealership diagnose and replace the fan clutch. The bill started at $550! Needless to say, I had words with the Service Writer... the bill ended up at $450. :eek2:

Not stopping there (especially since he said they keep a half dozen in stock because the repair has become fairly common), I called the Chevy Customer Assistance number in my owner's manual.

After giving them all of the necessary information, GM--with surprising little debate (as I was prepared to "blow off" on them)--asked I send in the necessary information for reimbursement!!

Admittedly, if this is as common as it seems, GM should step up to the plate and send out letters to all TB/Envoy/etc. owners that they are reimbursing for this repair since it isn't cheap. I guess this is just proof the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

I must admit, however, that the Chevy Customer Assistance hotline has been rather apologetic and efficient in its handling of my case. Hope everyone else has the same luck!

P.S.-- Trailblazer02: If your truck sounds like a leaf blower, the clutch is going bad and will wear out the serpentine belt in a hurry. Other than when taking off from a start, you should hardly hear the fan.

First of all a fan clutch for $400 sounds crazy. If you have any mechanical know how , you can change it yourself in about 30 minutes.

Boy I'd like to see that.

The fan clutches in these vehicles are computor controlled (thank the goverment for that not GM).
The PCM controls the on/off time plus reads the speed that they spin at.
There have been some issues with faulty clutch assemblies, but there are a number of GM technical bulletins regarding clutch problems and new PCM calibrations to address these issues.
The new assemblies are more robust and last longer (I have yet to see one come back)..

[QUOTE=wwalbright]Good news... :smile:

I had the dealership diagnose and replace the fan clutch. The bill started at $550! Needless to say, I had words with the Service Writer... the bill ended up at $450. :eek2:



Did you give the approval to repair the vehicle with an agreed apon price of $550?
If you agreed to that price from the beginning, you should have paid the bill and thanked the SA for taking care of the problem. (if you said fix it,I don't care how much, then that was your bad judgement...if the SA told you 450 and when you got the bill it was higher, then you got a fight)
Here is my point...the dealer is in the business to make money (as is every other business)..when you the customer comes in and fights over a bill and the dealer discounts it, who do you think picks up what you didn't pay?
That expense is turned over to the customer base in the way of higher labor and parts prices. You see the immediate result of a lowered bill for you, not realizing that in the long term YOU will be paying for it in the long run.
SO in a nut shell..YOU have screwed everyone else...
I say this as a shop owner...the difference between my Net and Gross profits are very thin and cannot withstand an impact of a 10-20% reduction in a customers bill...any loss is turned back to the customer in the way of higher labor and parts prices.
As a dealer tech, I have seen the Net and Gross profit figures and I have seen how many thousands of dollars a month are lost towards "goodwill" adjustments to customers bills...75-80% of the adjusted bills are from 1 time customers.

Whoa, GMMerlin!

Having been in the car business myself, I understand your argument. My point of argument revolved around the fact that the service writer thought the Warranty Co. was going to cover the repair... so imagine my shock (to the tune of $550)when they didn't!

The reason I wrote was that you and I know there is a lot of mark-up in that part... and GM has managed to keep it at their exclusion. There is no reason in my mind for GM to price gouge a part they have a monopoly on. I agree that if people insist on OEM parts, they agree to paying the price, but, to me, "Dealer Only" parts price gouging is not fair.

Additionally, you said:
"There have been some issues with faulty clutch assemblies, but there are a number of GM technical bulletins regarding clutch problems and new PCM calibrations to address these issues.
The new assemblies are more robust and last longer (I have yet to see one come back).."

How is it then, if GM is aware of this issue--rather obviously so at that--they are not correcting it for all customers... EQUALLY??????????????

Having been the exclusive owner of German vehicles until now, GM's moral stand on this seems rather questionable. Let me emphasize: I am not saying none of my German makers have done the same thing, it is just that I never had a problem with them before.

Whoa, GMMerlin!

Having been in the car business myself, I understand your argument. My point of argument revolved around the fact that the service writer thought the Warranty Co. was going to cover the repair... so imagine my shock (to the tune of $550)when they didn't!


GMM: Well you did not state that in your original statement. From what you are telling me now, you have a fight. The SA did not do his job, therefore you should not have to pay for work you didn’t authorize.
My problem is with the countless posts I read about people trying to “get one over” on repair shops. Demanding warranty coverage on problems when their vehicle is out of warranty, refusing to pay repair bills that they authorized and expecting me to diagnose their car for free.

The reason I wrote was that you and I know there is a lot of mark-up in that part... and GM has managed to keep it at their exclusion. There is no reason in my mind for GM to price gouge a part they have a monopoly on. I agree that if people insist on OEM parts, they agree to paying the price, but, to me, "Dealer Only" parts price gouging is not fair.

GMM: Yes there is a mark up on parts..a lot of time it’s not as high as people think. Why should a company not be able to recoup the investment they made into research and development, production, shipping, storage. Logistics and any other cost incurred in the development of a part.
When the aftermarket starts to supply a part, the major costs of R&D has been absorbed by the original manufacture..also, product quality may or may not be consitant with original equipment specifications. (I am very picky about the brand aftermarket parts I will install on a customers vehicle…and for some original equipment is the only way)
It all has to do with the free market system and supply and demand.
What you may not have noticed is the dramatic reduction of prices on some common parts over the last year


Additionally, you said:
"There have been some issues with faulty clutch assemblies, but there are a number of GM technical bulletins regarding clutch problems and new PCM calibrations to address these issues.
The new assemblies are more robust and last longer (I have yet to see one come back).."

How is it then, if GM is aware of this issue--rather obviously so at that--they are not correcting it for all customers... EQUALLY??????????????

GMM: GM (and every other car maker) is constantly reevaluating their product and making improvements everyday.
The car maker has decided that for a given period of time they will repair their product at no charge to you. After that time any repairs are the responsibility of the owner.
Remember when warranty coverage was 12/12?
Also individual dealers are allowed to extend warranty coverage (called Goodwill coverage) to owners for an additional period of time after the original warranty coverage has expired. The individual dealer must meet certain requirements to be able to authorize the warranty coverage. Each dealer is different and each dealer has a different level of authorization. Also your loyalty to the dealer plays into this equation..a customer that visits the dealer for service as well as warranty repairs usually has a better chance of having the “goodwill” coverage extended to them then the guy who comes in off the street for the first time raising hell about a problem.

Having been the exclusive owner of German vehicles until now, GM's moral stand on this seems rather questionable. Let me emphasize: I am not saying none of my German makers have done the same thing, it is just that I never had a problem with them before.

GMM: Funny thing is I have heard from many owners of foreign made vehicles stating that the dealer refused warranty coverage when their vehicle went 1 mile or 1 day out of warranty.
I have read many complaints on these boards about how badly people are treated at dealers (GM ones in particular) and I look at all the ways the dealer I work for “bends over backwards” to satisfy the customer…even the ones who have never been here before.

Just a word in edgewise: I found out the hard way that it pays to check with the dealership before having a vehicle worked on if there are any non-published warranties that cover specific ongoing problems. From what I understand GM has extended the warranty until 2009 for the 4.2L Vortec 4200 because of premature failure. Evidently the sidewalls of the piston sleeves are weak and the newer engine was redesigned. In the case of the Clutch fan...there is a good possibility that if this is a high failure item GM may have extended the warranty to cover it also.
Just a thought. It never hurts to ask. One of the reasons I switched to GM from Crysler is for that specific reason. GM seems to take better care of their customers. A happy customer is a repeat customer.

I just got the word from the dealership that the fan clutch is $700 (Can$) replaced. I called the GM Customer Service Centre and they told me that they had never heard of any problems regarding the fan clutch. They suggested calling the dealership that I bought it from and they might discount it a little. Cripes!

I just got the word from the dealership that the fan clutch is $700 (Can$) replaced.

I would have to assume you did not specify the dealership NOT proceed with repairs until contacting you first? I always require the dealership (in writing) to consult me first prior to making repairs. This way I can research the problem and get back to them on whether or not they should proceed. This way I don't get caught with high charges for things they shouldn't replace.

So after talking with GM Canada customer service I had it done. They told me (along with two GM dealerships) that they hadn't heard of any Trailblazer Fan Clutch problems. However, I got quotes from two seperate dealerships and one quoted at $200 cheaper than the other. Then for a power steering pump the more expensive dealership quoted at nearly $500 cheaper for the job. Who knew that 'Goodwrench Service' could vary so much between dealerships in the same city.