1996 Z3

[Steve White]

Hi all: I have a problem with the fan clutch. It spins fine but the problem is when it revs up to 2500 rpms the fan wobbels and hits the raditor hoses and makes an annoying sound. Some of the blades are broken due to it hitting. What is behind the clutch fan? Could the shaft be bent? Or could it be the fan clutch? Any help would be great. I read the Fan Clutch problems but didn't see anything on this.
The car was hit in the front end and it is possible that the pully might be bent. Is that the water pump behind the fan clutch?
Thanks all.

 

[Big Daddy]

Yes that would be your water pump. I bet the pump shaft is bent and you will need to replace it and the fan.

 

[epj3]

Yes that would be your water pump. I bet the pump shaft is bent and you will need to replace it and the fan.

Or just bad bearings like mine.

Dont drive the car!! It's kind of a catestrophic failure... dan (frolf) knows this too!!

 

[Steve White]

Thanks Big Daddy: The problem is the water pump. It seems to be bent a little. I did solve the problem. Here is a good solution to fix it. If you have a ceiling fan at home that is out of balance you put weight on it. Well, I took two little washers and put them behind the place where it had the wobble. Well, believe it or not it balanced out. Thanks, for all the help.
Steve

 

[epj3]

Dude a wobbly waterpump means failure soon. I had the same wobbly water pump problem, and this is what ended up happening a week or two after the noise/wobblyness

I was fortunate enough to have it blow up in the winter, so i could fix it with numb fingers!

 

[Big Daddy]

Eric is correct, if it wobbles the bearings are bad and you should replace it before it launchs through your radiator.

 

[epj3]

Eric is correct, if it wobbles the bearings are bad and you should replace it before it launchs through your radiator.

Fortunately I had the old steel super-strength radiator from yesteryear. You know the kind that could stop a tank buster.

 

[Kirby]

DON"T DRIVE IT - This is an imminent failure - fix it now or risk needing a new radiator when the water pump self destructs.......

 

[Steve White]

Hate to be the smart butt, I have checked the water pump with a lazer and there is no wobble at all on the water pump pullie. Like I said the car was hit in the front end and it looks like the clutch fan was bent. Like I said earlier I put a washer behind it and now it
runs smoooth. I really thank all for the help and I think this board is one of the coolest.
Steve

 

[Big Daddy]

Good, gald that it is not the pump.

 

[tool fan]

Hey Big Daddy I am "gald" it wasn't the pump too!!!!

 

[Kirby]

DON"T DRIVE IT - This is an imminent failure - fix it now or risk needing a new radiator when the water pump self destructs.......

I wish you the best of luck, but with broken fan blades and a washer attempting to balance it, sooner or later you're headed for a failure of either the clutch assembly or the water pump bearings.

 

[epj3]

I agree with kirby... even the slightest wobble from a fan will make those bearings fail prematurely.