'89 XJ40 Radiator cooling fan

I’ve decided to replace the yellow engine driven cooling fan and clutch on my 1989 Xj40.

Based on some of the stories I’ve heard it’s a ticking time bomb if it loses a blade and the black replacement fan is far superior. So … any feedback on a good place to purchase the black fan and associated clutch?

Groove - have you thought about converting to an electric fan(s) setup like the later XJ40s use?

Mike …

I have thought of converting to later model electric fans, very seriously actually.

I really do love retro fitting things that are more modern and work better. I’ve looked into it and It appears the electric fan shroud would need modifying and then there’s the wiring issue. Not sure if the fans are multi speed and are computer controlled or if they are triggered by water temperature. Also there’s the question of the extra load on the alternator (may or may not be a factor).

Anyone out there with this modification ?? if it’s been successfully done I’m all in :cowboy_hat_face:

Boy oh boy, today is your lucky day! Here’s a little something to help out with the wiring piece of the puzzle:
Cooling Fans.pdf (29.1 KB)

Thanks Mike for the fan schematic …

Just got back from a run of about 15 miles to Home Depot. Outside temperature 101F. As I was pulling into the garage the water temp gauge showed 3 bars above 90C (221F) … Yikes! Strangely enough when the air temperature is around 80F the gauge rarely even gets to 90C.

2 year old radiator, water level is fine, and I flush the system every 2 years.

I’m a little skeptical of my cooling fan clutch. With the engine stone cold if I give it a spin it will travel about 1/2 turn. When i got back with the hot engine I gave it a spin and it traveled about 2/3 of a turn … that can’t be right !

I watched about a dozen videos about fan clutches and none of them make a lot of sense. Isn’t the clutched designed to more or less free wheel when it’s cold (less noise and engine drag) and lock up with higher temperatures (maximum air flow)?

Another strange thing is that the aux cooling fan only ran for about 5 minutes after I shut off the car. Seems to me with that high a water temp the fan would run quite a bit longer (If I remember correctly the switch for the fan is set somewhere around 91-93C).

Let me first say my '94 has electric fans in lieu of the mechanical fan so my first-hand knowledge of the mechanical fan with clutch system is zilch. I did find this Web site that provides a basic understanding of how the mechanical fan systems work:

I had a peek at the trusty Haynes manual and found this:

Do these help?

Hi Groove
My XJ40 was running hot discovered I had a inlet manifold gasket that had a crack so replaced that and tightened the clamps on the coolant pipe under the inlet manifold now it is not running hot

Hmmm …

OK Mike according to the trusty Haynes manual when the fan is cold it should “turn freely”, and when hot “some resistance” should be felt. What does that even mean? Does “turn freely” mean no resistance at all, and “some resistance” mean it’s not seized ?

I’d like to know in both conditions when I manually spin the fan how many revolutions should I expect to see ?

James … I rebuilt my head a few years ago so the intake manifold gasket is pretty new. Also I have no indications of a vacuum leak. Engine runs perfectly and idles like a sewing machine at 650 rpm. But I will do a quick smoke test with my very cool tester that I made a few years back, so thanks for the tip.

As I mentioned earlier the videos on YouTtube on checking a fan clutch results are all over the place.

Here the famous young Norwegian Jaguar mechanic “Lars” explains the fan operation …

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The best answer could be provided by someone with the mechanical fan & clutch that would check their fan’s operation (hello, any takers out there in Jag-loverville?) In the meantime, from the Sun Auto Service info found at the link I previously provided:

“The fan clutch is a thermostatic device, operating based on temperature, that is most often mounted to the fan and on the water pump or other belt-driven pulley. The fan clutch spins loosely until the temperature in the engine reaches a specific level of heat, engaging the clutch…”

I would interpret that as ‘no resistance’ when, as you stated, the car is ‘stone cold’ and varying, greater resistance as the temp increases.

Mike …

That’s my take on it. Since the fan only rotates 1/2 turn when cold (that dosen’t sound like it’s turning freely) I assume the clutch is bad.

As Mike mentioned I would love a little input from some “mechanical fan” people to see what they observe.

Ok, I gave me stone cold 1992 mechanical fan a manual whirl in both directions. It “flew” around about a quarter turn in both directions. By stone cold I mean the car has been sitting for 2 days. Note, I am not experiencing any overheating conditions, even with 90 degree heat.

I retro fitted an aftermarket electric fan to my ‘40 years ago (since sold) I think I heath robinson’d a shroud to take up any gaps. The first fan burnt out after a few years but the second one works fine while I remained the custodian.

It’s cold here this morning (3C). I gave the fan on my 92 4 litre a spin and it turned a quarter, as usual. It never spins completely freely. The fan always spins from start. I replaced fan and clutch about three years ago.

Going back to my reason for this post …

It’s been discussed that the original yellow fan is a ticking time bomb if it loses a blade and the black replacement fan is far superior. So … any feedback on a good place to purchase the black fan and associated clutch?

Screen Shot 2022-06-28 at 10.49.01 AM

The prices are all over the place with the same part number (EBC 4552) and picture, for example …

SNG Barratt … $76 or $267 (labeled Jaguar product)

AutohausAZ … $ 59

So has anyone out there purchased one these ??

Well I finally purchased a new fan clutch and … bingo … it solved my hot summer overheating problem. Now the coolant temperature gauge stays right at 90c (on my 1989 digital dash) despite the 104F temperatures we’re having here in Dallas Texas. So the good news is I have no need to modify the system to electric fans :grinning:

The temperature sensor on the old clutch was caked with grime and grease …


… so I’m not sure if that was the cause, but I wasn’t about to clean it and put it back on
to try it … way too much work !

Another job well done. The folks that have the mechanical (that is, not electric) fan will benefit from having this information - and the picture you included - in the archive.

Dennis,

How freely your rather recent fan turns when it is cold?

Did you buy a Jaguar labeled fan or something else?

Hello Otto …

After sitting overnight when I give my fan a good flick of the fingers it rotates less than 1/2 of a turn.

Screenshot 2023-06-02 at 9.20.56 AM

These are the only fan blades I’ve seen for this car. The yellow fan I know was was original with the car. After many years I replaced it with the white one because of some hairline cracks. I recently replaced the white one with the black fan which everyone says is much less prone to failure, I believe it’s aftermarket. The Part number EAC 9367 is what comes up when you search for a XJ40 radiator fan.

Hi Groove,
My 5.3 has a mechanical fan (black) that works just fine. Let’s see if I can explain this properly-
When you are out driving the car, and the engine needs the fan to engage, that is accomplished by the movement of fluid (silicone based?) which acts as a clutch.
When you shut down the engine, that fluid stays where it is. (Engaged) The next time you test the clutch, or start the engine, the clutch “thinks” you have a hot engine and the fan spins as though that is true. It takes a few moments for the clutch fluid to go to the “Cold” attitude, and you will hear the fan running for a few moments. “Testing” the spin of the fan means that you need to remember all that!

Dave …

Your explanation about the fan spin test possibly not be accurate certainly makes sense. Since I shut down my car yesterday after a long ride in very warm weather and haven’t started it yet today I think I’ll open the hood and have my wife start the car and see if I can detect that momentary change in fan speed.

Here’s an excellent visual explanation of how the fan clutch works … (although the narrator looks like he’s delivering this presentation at gunpoint :grinning:)

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