I just finished installing a new water pump & belt & hoses. All went OK thanks to many of you who have posted info about replacing the water pumps !! Thanks.

While testing out everything after WP install I became aware that my fan clutch really never gets "tight" even after engine is in normal temp range. When engine is cold it is easy to spin the fan blades -- there is no bearing noise at all. I expected it to be much tighter coupled and harder to spin the fan blades once the engine temp had heated the clutch, but it appears to be loosly coupled hot or cold.

Is my clutch behaving normally?

My engine temps look OK to me; never rises over the un-numbered mark which is between 80 and 120.

If this is not working as it should are the units repairable? There is a 1/2" small green rubber washer ? Is this some sort of fill cap for some fluid or What?

Advise sought ... I plan to just drive it unless something is amiss.

DanielW

87 300E 183K

You should be hearing the fan clutch in before you get to 100 C (the mark between 80 and 120). Try this. Start the engine from cold. Rev it a few times to about 2000 rpm. Remember what that sounds like. Let it idle until about 82-85 C. Rev it again. Should sound about the same. Now, turn on the A/C, let it idle until it approaches about 100 C. Try the rev thing again. It should start to sound off if it's working. It is a distinct turbine like roar. If you do not hear it, wait a bit longer and try again. The fan clutch usually starts to come in between 90 and 100 C. If you don't hear it at all, the clutch is worn out and will have to be replaced.

__________________
Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE
No matter what you fix, there will always be something else to fix..
"Warranty" is just another way of postponing the inevitable.