My '89 XJ starts to overheat when idle or running at low speeds, after doing
some searching it seems the most likely problem is the fan clutch. How
difficult is it to replace? Anyone know of any guides online? Also when I
went to look at an online parts store I notice they had two types listed,
thermal and non-thermal, what's the difference? Thanks in advance.

 

The job isn't too hard. There are 4 nuts on it that need two wrenches
to get off or a strap wrench. I hold the clutch with a wrench on one
nut while breaking the others loose, then if I can't jam a screwdriver
across to hold it, I let one of the last broken free ones tighten back
up as I use it to brace for the last stuck on one. Once the last one is
broken free, the one just tightened come off easy.

You should test it first. If you get the engine nice and hot and have
someone shut it down while you watch, a good fan clutch will stop the
fan almost instantly.

There are two major types of clutches! One is the reverse rotation one
your serpentine belt needs and the other is a normal rotation one for a
V belt engine.

I am not sure what the thermal or non thermal means. The clutch is
activated by heat, so...

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Kyonn Gowans wrote:
>
> My '89 XJ starts to overheat when idle or running at low speeds, after doing
> some searching it seems the most likely problem is the fan clutch. How
> difficult is it to replace? Anyone know of any guides online? Also when I
> went to look at an online parts store I notice they had two types listed,
> thermal and non-thermal, what's the difference? Thanks in advance.

 

The job isn't too hard. There are 4 nuts on it that need two wrenches
to get off or a strap wrench. I hold the clutch with a wrench on one
nut while breaking the others loose, then if I can't jam a screwdriver
across to hold it, I let one of the last broken free ones tighten back
up as I use it to brace for the last stuck on one. Once the last one is
broken free, the one just tightened come off easy.

You should test it first. If you get the engine nice and hot and have
someone shut it down while you watch, a good fan clutch will stop the
fan almost instantly.

There are two major types of clutches! One is the reverse rotation one
your serpentine belt needs and the other is a normal rotation one for a
V belt engine.

I am not sure what the thermal or non thermal means. The clutch is
activated by heat, so...

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Kyonn Gowans wrote:
>
> My '89 XJ starts to overheat when idle or running at low speeds, after doing
> some searching it seems the most likely problem is the fan clutch. How
> difficult is it to replace? Anyone know of any guides online? Also when I
> went to look at an online parts store I notice they had two types listed,
> thermal and non-thermal, what's the difference? Thanks in advance.

 

The job isn't too hard. There are 4 nuts on it that need two wrenches
to get off or a strap wrench. I hold the clutch with a wrench on one
nut while breaking the others loose, then if I can't jam a screwdriver
across to hold it, I let one of the last broken free ones tighten back
up as I use it to brace for the last stuck on one. Once the last one is
broken free, the one just tightened come off easy.

You should test it first. If you get the engine nice and hot and have
someone shut it down while you watch, a good fan clutch will stop the
fan almost instantly.

There are two major types of clutches! One is the reverse rotation one
your serpentine belt needs and the other is a normal rotation one for a
V belt engine.

I am not sure what the thermal or non thermal means. The clutch is
activated by heat, so...

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Kyonn Gowans wrote:
>
> My '89 XJ starts to overheat when idle or running at low speeds, after doing
> some searching it seems the most likely problem is the fan clutch. How
> difficult is it to replace? Anyone know of any guides online? Also when I
> went to look at an online parts store I notice they had two types listed,
> thermal and non-thermal, what's the difference? Thanks in advance.

 

The job isn't too hard. There are 4 nuts on it that need two wrenches
to get off or a strap wrench. I hold the clutch with a wrench on one
nut while breaking the others loose, then if I can't jam a screwdriver
across to hold it, I let one of the last broken free ones tighten back
up as I use it to brace for the last stuck on one. Once the last one is
broken free, the one just tightened come off easy.

You should test it first. If you get the engine nice and hot and have
someone shut it down while you watch, a good fan clutch will stop the
fan almost instantly.

There are two major types of clutches! One is the reverse rotation one
your serpentine belt needs and the other is a normal rotation one for a
V belt engine.

I am not sure what the thermal or non thermal means. The clutch is
activated by heat, so...

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Kyonn Gowans wrote:
>
> My '89 XJ starts to overheat when idle or running at low speeds, after doing
> some searching it seems the most likely problem is the fan clutch. How
> difficult is it to replace? Anyone know of any guides online? Also when I
> went to look at an online parts store I notice they had two types listed,
> thermal and non-thermal, what's the difference? Thanks in advance.

 

The other is centrifugal, designed to save horsepower at speeds
about forty miles an hour, you want the thermal that locks up at
temperature, makes it possible to drive in the lower gears off-road and
not over heat.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Kyonn Gowans wrote:
>
> My '89 XJ starts to overheat when idle or running at low speeds, after doing
> some searching it seems the most likely problem is the fan clutch. How
> difficult is it to replace? Anyone know of any guides online? Also when I
> went to look at an online parts store I notice they had two types listed,
> thermal and non-thermal, what's the difference? Thanks in advance.

 

The other is centrifugal, designed to save horsepower at speeds
about forty miles an hour, you want the thermal that locks up at
temperature, makes it possible to drive in the lower gears off-road and
not over heat.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Kyonn Gowans wrote:
>
> My '89 XJ starts to overheat when idle or running at low speeds, after doing
> some searching it seems the most likely problem is the fan clutch. How
> difficult is it to replace? Anyone know of any guides online? Also when I
> went to look at an online parts store I notice they had two types listed,
> thermal and non-thermal, what's the difference? Thanks in advance.

 

The other is centrifugal, designed to save horsepower at speeds
about forty miles an hour, you want the thermal that locks up at
temperature, makes it possible to drive in the lower gears off-road and
not over heat.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Kyonn Gowans wrote:
>
> My '89 XJ starts to overheat when idle or running at low speeds, after doing
> some searching it seems the most likely problem is the fan clutch. How
> difficult is it to replace? Anyone know of any guides online? Also when I
> went to look at an online parts store I notice they had two types listed,
> thermal and non-thermal, what's the difference? Thanks in advance.

 

The other is centrifugal, designed to save horsepower at speeds
about forty miles an hour, you want the thermal that locks up at
temperature, makes it possible to drive in the lower gears off-road and
not over heat.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Kyonn Gowans wrote:
>
> My '89 XJ starts to overheat when idle or running at low speeds, after doing
> some searching it seems the most likely problem is the fan clutch. How
> difficult is it to replace? Anyone know of any guides online? Also when I
> went to look at an online parts store I notice they had two types listed,
> thermal and non-thermal, what's the difference? Thanks in advance.

 

Thermal is based on the temp through the radiator blowing on a coil the
hotter the more clutch. Non-thermal uses a liquid in the clutch hub but
does the same thing. There is a big nut behind the clutch rightly tight
lefty loosey, remove fan blade reinstall on new assembly reinstall on shaft.

--
Coasty
Semper Paratus
(Always Ready)

"Kyonn Gowans" <kyonn@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1118089742.3e2b145a48256061a254e9d5ba586091@t eranews...
> My '89 XJ starts to overheat when idle or running at low speeds, after
> doing some searching it seems the most likely problem is the fan clutch.
> How difficult is it to replace? Anyone know of any guides online? Also
> when I went to look at an online parts store I notice they had two types
> listed, thermal and non-thermal, what's the difference? Thanks in advance.
>
>