What should I expect to pay for new fan clutch???

[aggieEB]

I took my 97 X to the shop recently because the A/C is not blowing cool air. The shop told me that there is no leak, but the fan clutch is not working correctly and that is why I am not getting any cool air. What should I expect to pay for something like this? I am still waiting on an estimate from them.

Thanks in advance.

 

[jgilbs]

if your fan clutch was bad, you should also experience a huge decrease in fuel economy. a new one will set u back about $60 for the part, and an hour of labor. this is a job that you can do yourself if you can use a wrench. (this is how u do one for a first gen, 2nd gen may be different) all you do is remove the plastic intake hose(2 screws) then use a special tool (rent one for free at autozone) to unbolt the fan from the water pump. next just unscrew the 2 bolts holding the shroud on, and just remove the fan/housing at the same time. then unbolt the old clutch from the fan, then install the new one. installation is the reverse of removal.

this of course assumes you have a bad fan clutch. more likely you have a bad COMPRESSOR clutch(symptoms would include loud screeching coming from your serpentine belt), which will run you about $75-$100 and should be installed by a professional.

 

[Trail Runner]

There are to way for your fan clutch to go bad.
1: Seize up, and that would cause the fan to turn at engine RPM, this would kill your HP and it would sound like a Turbo prop, but the fan would be cooling things just fine.
2: The clutch would be completely loose and the fan would not turn at all or very little. That is what the mechanic is implying. With the truck off you should be able to turn the fan and feel some resistance. If it turns VERY easy then I'd say it is bad.

 

[aggieEB]

if your fan clutch was bad, you should also experience a huge decrease in fuel economy. a new one will set u back about $60 for the part, and an hour of labor. this is a job that you can do yourself if you can use a wrench. (this is how u do one for a first gen, 2nd gen may be different) all you do is remove the plastic intake hose(2 screws) then use a special tool (rent one for free at autozone) to unbolt the fan from the water pump. next just unscrew the 2 bolts holding the shroud on, and just remove the fan/housing at the same time. then unbolt the old clutch from the fan, then install the new one. installation is the reverse of removal.

this of course assumes you have a bad fan clutch. more likely you have a bad COMPRESSOR clutch(symptoms would include loud screeching coming from your serpentine belt), which will run you about $75-$100 and should be installed by a professional.

The symptoms I am seeing sound more like a bad compressor clutch than a fan clutch but my mechanic says it is definitely a bad fan clutch. I have not noticed a decrease in fuel economy nor a problem with overheating. I also haven't noticed any loud screeching coming from the serpentine belt. The only symptoms is that when I turn on the A/C, only hot air comes out. The mechanic wants $280 for the work so I want to do this myself but I just have to doubt that it is the fan clutch. Could the fan clutch being bad really cause this?