How long to change a fan & visco unit?
Can't live with the car I am driving 1200km home knowing the yellow fan has cracks.
I can send a new unit to current owner ready to change when I get there, is it possible to change the fan outside a motel?

What tools do i need and how long...
Or cross my fingers, latest 98,00 miles so change it when I get home?

 

You'll want some spanners to loosen the fan belt, a couple of washers and nuts as spare, maybe a couple of sockets and a small ratchet (no more than 1/4" drive).

I'd say no more than an hour if you don't f*ck anything up whilst at it...

 

Agree, an hour will do it, if you don't have to look for lost nuts and washers under the car.

You will need 9/16" spanner for the fan belt tightener and 1/2" for the fan to clutch nuts. Bring some spare 1/2" nuts and thin washers as you otherwise will loose the original nuts and washer in the gravel or fan shrouding...

You may want to take the thin coolant bleed hose of to get better access, for that you will need a flat screwdriver. Maybe you prefer not to do this as you will let in some air and have to bleed afterwards...

Good luck and enjoy the drive !

 

It's not a tough job and you'll see it,,, when you see it.

+100 to the lost nuts and washers idea! It can be a real show stopper,,, even when not at a motel,,, when they fall into the abyss... Having some handy will pay off even if it's just for peace of mind while working. Having to go get replacements,,, after dropping one or two sets,,, parked in front of a motel don't sound like fun to me. Heed the warnings. Good luck and enjoy the 1200. Sounds lovely.

 

I mean this isn't a job that requires a lift or anything, you can do it at Taco Bell if you want. I'd say its like a 45min job but could be less if you've done it a few times. You can 100% get the clutch off and remove the fan without touching the shroud, but it takes some wrestling.

When you go to break the nuts loose you should be able to press on the belt to keep the pulley in place. Try to break all the nuts free and then begin working them off. You can rotate the hub around using the nuts which isn't an issue after they are broken free, just remember to try and pop them loose quickly with your wrench. Maybe I am forgetting something but I don't know why everyone is mentioning tightening and loosening the fan belt.

 

You can't spin the fan hub without loosening the belt As you will always TOPS have 3 nuts visible and the 4th hidden away, you at least want some movement.

 

As a note when you are doing this, be careful with the tips of the fan blade as you are taking the old fan off or putting in the new one. It's very easy to damage the radiator with the fan blade while trying to get the fan out.

 

Do it in the autozone parking lot early. No one will be around and everything you need will be a short walk away.

 

You can....if talented...do the entire new fan+clutch pre-assembled in one go, regardless please put cardboard in front of the Rad so you don't damage it before even starting anything, you'll have to back the fan housing off to slide a peice down, removing the top bleeder hose helps to.

Upvote for doing it at the car parts store parking lot, thats the smartest thing I've read in weeks.

 

 

 

Hi Duke

Having replaced these Fans a few times, this is 'Not' a job I'd want to do in a Motel Car Park or by the side of the road, not unless I absolutely had to

As what I have found is the angle of the Bonnet/Hood, together with the 'Gas Struts' always seem to get right in the way, which can give you restricted access for doing this kind of a job

And so whenever I've done this, I've always removed the 'Gas Struts' and then tied the Bonnet/Hood up in the Air, as Vertical as I am able to do without damaging the 'Grill'

Which to all intents and purposes is in an almost Vertical position

In my own personal experience, I've never yet found this job to be what I'd call 'A walk in the Park' as if you get unlucky, then things can go wrong

Where once it took me over 2 hours, just to be able to free off the Fan Belt adjuster, which is more or less essential, as one of those nuts you need to undo will be right at the bottom and almost impossible to get to

Also the Fan Shroud could get in the way, at which point you may be tempted to take off the Top closing Panel, which covers the Top of the Rad, which even in ideal conditions can leave you with a water leak that could be hard to fix in a Motel Car Park

'Sods Law' could play a part here, so you could be dammed if you do or dammed if you don't. although its not a job I'd want to do until I got her home

As for details of the Lift you're Building, I'm sure that we would like to follow your build if it makes life easier for working on these Cars, which can be very difficult at the best of times

 

OB... thanks for your input, wise words it seems.
After speaking with a Jag owner / wrecker (has 42 jags on his property, retired and this is his play $$, selling parts. Has a XJS with big dent in bonnet and radiator gone from the said fan in his shop) He said he would remove the bonnet and coolant hose for access to move the radiator forward and NOT a job he would do outside any store. If I was to try and it turned to poo then we would miss our ferry ride $$ to get to the North Island and the flow on from there... all bad.

So I am thinking... the fan has small cracks... owner has said... he also said he would drive the car to Auckland no worries, 98,000 miles on the clock I only want it to do 99,200 to get me home! He has recently done 500+k drive no worries, thinks I am parriniod!
Jag dude also said 2hr job for a Jag mechanic?

Others have said 45min... I'm leaning towards running the gauntlet...crossing my fingers, praying and going for it!
I will price up having it changed before the drive if the current owner will help.

Don't want to pay the money for a shop but it might be the best option for piece of mind... and we all know the bad outcome if bang happens.

 

If you don't rev it., it wil (most likely) not crack for a long time. Revs increase the load a lot !
I suppose you have done a test drive before buying it including good accelerations, and it has survived that.
I would just drive it home as is.

That said: I have done the job twice without removing bonnet, radiator, coolant hoses and so on. It is possible.

BR Leo

 

Hi Duke

If it takes a Jag Mechanic 2hours just think how long it might take you or me!

This is one of those no rush jobs where it pays to take your time and work at your own speed when not under any pressure, so imagine what would happen, if you 'dinged' the Rad $$$

Or took off the Top Closing Panel and the Water Rails, where in my own case it took weeks to find out where the leak was coming from

You're not alone in being 'Paranoid' but in a Motel Car Park, this could be the sort of job you wish you'd never started, although like many things in life, it always looks so simple, on a piece of paper

So I think 'Risk Assessment' could well be your best friend

Keep your Speed down, enjoy the drive and save the 'Spirited stuff' for when she's fixed

 

I guess it depends on your mechanical skills, but I didn't remove the bonnet or rad top rail. I'm pretty sure I had it done in under a hour. I usually loosen the fan shroud and partly lift that up to make removal a bit easier.

If it's not a big crack and you drive gently you'll probably be fine. it's sudden changes in engine speed that can do them in, such as kickdown for overtaking. Also check the condition of the fan clutch, if it's reasonably loose it will also be fine. It's when they have locked up that you have problems with overspeeding the fan.

 

 

Yeah... Now I'm wondering what kinds of cracks we are talking about here... I guess I kinda imagined that they were bad enough that there was no option... Do you have photos so folks can have a better sense?

I have had to remove my fan more than once,,, and yes dropped bolts and nutts. A common XJS theme,,, and where the hell do they go, lol? Is there a secret thread somewhere, haha?? Anyways, the fan turns with the belt in place and actually helps in the loosening and tightening at beginning and end o job. It's four nuts and bolts, in a tricky spot, yes, but doable. I also liked the idea of doing it in the lot of an auto supply house if that's what HAS to happen. Or having replacement N&B, just because.

If there is absolutely no choice but to do this now,,, where you are,,, it's possible using the suggestions of the folks saying it's a 1 to 2 hour job... It is... my 2cents... remove one bonnet strut and support the bonnet if need be. I wouldn't open the coolant line and introduce air. I wouldnt move rad at all. I might loosen shroud and get the extra inch or two when it's clear I needed and inch or two. Then wiggle the fan in,,, and out,,, with care.

pictures would be cool if ya have em!

 

Thank you everyone for your comments, current owner has said the cracks are small and not a concern, the clutch is free and working fine.
So based on the above comments, we will be cruising home at a nice leisurely pace and fix it when I get home.
I will also take some epoxy with me so i can fill the cracks and keep an eye on them over the four days home.

I will update this thread once i have some pictures.

 

Sounds like a reasonable course of action. When you are home and changing it, also take a look between the radiator and AC condenser, you can often find a lot of debris in between those 2 components that restricts airflow.