This AM (i live in New Englnd whee it is very very cold) I noticed a rattle when I first turned the engine over. Popped the hood and noticed that the radiator fan was rattling and one blade was actually contacting the circlular plastic frame that it spins inside ( I could tell when I turned off the car and slowly revolved the fan manually). I could actially touch the fan and stop it and it would then slowly start and pick up speed again (car was running). As the car warmed up the problem went away. I guess I have 2 questions. 1 What would cause this and 2. Although I have never attempted it should I be able to manually..with my hand..stop the fan from rotating? When I let go it spins again obviously. Something tells me that I should not be able to do this but I had never tried before in fear of losing a finger. (this time I was wearing heavy leather gloves) LOL. Let me know what you think. Could the fan clutch ot something like that be gone? Hope it is nothing bad....just the weather but something tells me if it was a hot day my car would be overheating because the fan would not be spinning fast enough.

Thanks in advance
JP

The engine should move around slightly as it is ideling and rock back and forth when you blip the throttle. If it just sits there like a lump then the mounts have collapsed and need replaceing. The driver side one is pretty easy but the turbo makes the passenger side one a real pain. If the fan is easy to spin when the SHUT OFF engine and coolant are hot then your fan clutch is probably bad. It should be easier when it's cold. The fan clutch seal usually starts leaking around the shaft. When the viscous material is gone the fan is loose all the time.

You probably need new engine mounts. They eventually collapse and the fan does as you describe. The car will be much quieter when you replace the mounts.
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Paul NW Indiana '89 740 Turbo 110,000

Thanks, I have been told I need new mounts.....with respect to the fan...should I be able to stop it with my hand (gloves on) or is that an indication of other problems. Is that fairly normal? ( I know sticking my hand in there is not good) but you get my point

Thanks!

JP

The fan clutch allows the fan to be stopped when the fan clutch is cool.
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john

Thanks All! I will look into new mounts...any idea in the northeast how much that job costs?

JP

Last time I checked hydraulic mounts were about $110 apiece (try ipdusa.com) and figure a couple hours labor, maybe $120-180 or so or total less than $400.

It's not that hard to change hydraulic engine mounts. Might consider doing it yourself.

LOOK at the cross member...if the pan is sitting on it then the hydraulic mounts have collapsed. If there is about a 1/2" clearance, it's not the mounts.

although rare, it's possible the fan clutch has failed and is wobbling on the shaft...