How do I check for a worn viscous clutch for the radiator fan? Mine is very easy to spin by hand with the motor off. The car tends to run warm at idle and below 40 mph.

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Use the SEARCH facility on this site. There's tons of stuff on this subject; alot posted quite recently.

Mike Murrell
Boerne Texas
'91 300-SEL

Well what I've done was (may have been a bit adventurous) I simply grabbed the blades while the engine was running. It should not injure your hand however you will know for sure if the cluch is defective. Mine was.

Alex

Alex, you are very lucky dude. Don't ever take that chance again. When that fan is engaged, it can absorb up to 10 horsepower. I doubt that your hand could do likewise.

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Jeff L
1987 300e
1989 300e
1987 BMW 325

Same here. I stucka rubber hose while the engine was idling and with a temp of 95 and the hose stopped the fan. Too bad for me the dealer wont replace it coz' they claim it's really like that. BRAND NEW fan for my 603 engine. I hope there are other 603 engine owners that could help me if this is normal.

Just wait 'til Deezel gets through with you guys, you won't be able to sit down for a week.

Good luck,

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 516K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

I saw this post kind of late, but have been thinking about it and what I could possibly say? I do not wish to make any personal attacks, nor make lite of the situation. While eating a delicious Portobello Mushroom sandwich, the following train of thought occurred which I will share with you now:

Who ever was brave enough to experiment years ago and eat the first ugly looking mushroom and live to tell about it did a great service to all of us. Someone had to take that leap, if we were to ever fnd out and in the end, benefit from this discovery! There were probably some pretty powerful motivations back then, like starvation! Once the experiment was done, we all benefitted and there was no more risk! Compare this to any action you take while working on a car, whether investgating a fan clutch or checking the underside of a car, don't put your self at risk, you really gain nothing and benefit no one! All you are doinf is cheating death or injury at that moment and will likely eventually lose at this game. Proving that the fan clutch was OK this time, does not mean it won't chop your hand off the next time!

Please be careful. I bet each and every one of us is a role model and mechanical mentor to a neighbor, child, relative, etc. Know your limitations and leave the right impression!

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Deezel
87 300TDT
150,000 miles